[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners of the
Town of Bel Air 3-19-2012 by Ord. No. 749-12.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Personnel — See Ch. 82.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
43, Ethics, Code of, adopted 3-11-1980 by Ord. No. 310, as amended.
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
The provisions of this chapter apply to all officials, candidates,
employees, and appointees to boards and commissions of the Town of
Bel Air.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Any partnership, association, corporation, firm, institution,
trust, foundation, sole proprietor, or other organization (except
the state and the Town of Bel Air or any agency thereof), whether
or not operated for profit.
A person filing for election to a municipal office.
Money or any other valuable thing, regardless of form, received
or to be received by a person from an employer for services rendered.
Ownership of an interest as the result of which the owner
has received within the past three years, is currently receiving,
or in the future is entitled to receive, more than $1,000 per year;
or an official, employee or spouse of an official or employee has
ownership of more than 3% of a business entity.
The transfer of anything of economic value, regardless of
form, without adequate and lawful consideration. A gift does not include
the solicitation, acceptance, receipt, or regulation of a political
contribution that is regulated in accordance with the Election Law
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland or any other state law regulating
the conduct of elections or the receipt of political contributions.
Any legal or equitable economic interest that is owned or
held, in whole or in part, jointly or severally, directly or indirectly,
whether or not the economic interest is subject to an encumbrance
or condition. However, "interest" shall not include an interest held
in the capacity of an agent, custodian, fiduciary, personal representative,
or trustee, unless the holder has an equitable interest in the subject
matter; an interest in a time or demand deposit in a financial institution; an
interest in exchange-traded funds (like a mutual fund); an interest
in an insurance policy, endowment policy, or annuity contract by which
an insurer promises to pay a fixed amount of money in a lump sum or
periodically for life or some other specified period; or a common
trust fund or a trust that forms part of a pension or a profit-sharing
plan that has more than 25 participants and is determined by the IRS
to be a qualified trust or college savings plan under the Internal
Revenue Code.
[Amended 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
Any Town Commissioner of the Town of Bel Air or person employed
by and receiving compensation from the Town of Bel Air in any capacity;
or on boards or commissions of the Town.
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
A spouse, parent, child or sibling.
Land owned, leasehold interest, or option to purchase.
Any Town office, department, institution, board, commission
or corporation which is recognized as a branch or segment of Town
government, either by the Town Charter or by any ordinance or resolution
of the Town.
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
Any proceeding, application, submission, request for filing
or other determination, any contract, claim or case, any sale or purchase,
any computer transfer of moneys or information, or other such matter
that the Town of Bel Air or any of the agencies, boards, commissions
and offices thereof may be a party to or in which the Town of Bel
Air may reasonably be expected to be a party.
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
A.
The
Board of Ethics is hereby established for the purpose of administering
this Code of Ethics and recommending necessary changes to the Board
of Town Commissioners from time to time. The Board of Ethics shall
consist of five Town of Bel Air residents, not less than 21 years
of age, who shall be appointed by the Board of Town Commissioners
of Bel Air. Members shall serve staggered four-year terms and shall
be removed only for cause. No member of the Board shall be otherwise
an official or employee of the Town of Bel Air, nor shall any member
receive compensation.
B.
The
Board of Ethics of Bel Air shall:
(1)
(2)
Develop procedures and policies for advisory opinion requests and
provide published advisory opinions to persons subject to this chapter
regarding the applicability of the provisions of this chapter to them.
(3)
Develop procedures and policies for the processing of complaints
to make appropriate determinations regarding complaints filed by any
person alleging violations of this chapter.
(4)
Conduct a public information program regarding the purposes and application
of this chapter.
C.
The
Town Attorney shall advise the Board of Ethics.
D.
The
Board of Ethics shall certify to the State Ethics Commission, on or
before October 1 of each year, that the Town is in compliance with
the requirements of State Government Article, Title 15, Subtitle 8,
Annotated Code of Maryland, for elected local officials.
E.
The
Board of Ethics shall determine if changes to this chapter are required
to be in compliance with the requirement of State Government Article,
Title 15, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and shall forward any
recommended changes and amendments to the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners
for enactment.
F.
The Board of Ethics may adopt other policies and procedures to assist
in the implementation of the programs established in this chapter.
A.
Participation
prohibitions.
(1)
Except as permitted by the regulations or opinion of the Board of
Ethics of the Town of Bel Air, an official or employee may not participate
in:
(a)
Any matter in which, to the knowledge of the official or employee,
the official or employee, or a qualified relative of the official
or employee, has an interest, except in the exercise of an administrative
or ministerial duty that does not affect the disposition or decision
of the matter.
(b)
Any matter in which any of the following is a party, except
in the exercise of an administrative or ministerial duty that does
not affect the disposition or decision with respect to the matter:
[1]
A business entity in which the official or employee has a direct
financial interest of which the official or employee may reasonably
be expected to know;
[2]
A business entity for which the official, employee, or a qualified
relative of the official or employee is an officer, director, trustee,
partner, or employee;
[3]
A business entity with which the official or employee or, to
the knowledge of the official or employee, a qualified relative of
the official or employee is negotiating employment or has any arrangement
concerning prospective employment;
[4]
A business entity that is a party to an existing contract with
the official or employee, or which, to the knowledge of the official
or employee, is a party to a contract with a qualified relative, if
the contract reasonably could be expected to result in a conflict
between the private interests of the official or employee and the
official duties of the official or employee;
[5]
A business entity doing business with the Town in which a direct
financial interest is owned by another entity in which the official
or employee has a direct financial interest, if the official or employee
may be reasonably expected to know of both direct financial interests;
or
[6]
A business entity:
[a]
Which the official or employee knows is a creditor or obligee
of the official or employee or of a qualified relative of the official
or employee with respect to a thing of economic value; and
[b]
In which a creditor or obligee of the official or employee or
of a qualified relative of the official or employee is in a position
to directly and substantially affect the interest of the official
or employee or of a qualified relative of the official or employee.
(c)
A
case, contract, or other specific matter, legislative or otherwise,
for one calendar year after terminating their lobbyist registration(s)
if they previously assisted or represented another party in the matter.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
[1]
Does not apply to uncompensated or minimally compensated elected
or appointed officials or employees earning less than $4,000 in a
twelve-month period.
B.
Employment
and financial interest restrictions.
(1)
Except as permitted by regulation of the Board of Ethics, when the
interest is disclosed or when the employment does not create a conflict
of interest or appearance of conflict, an official or employee may
not:
(2)
This prohibition does not apply to:
(a)
An official or employee who is appointed to a regulatory or
licensing authority pursuant to a statutory requirement that persons
subject to the jurisdiction of the authority be represented in appointments
to the authority;
(b)
Subject to other provisions of law, a member of a board or commission
in regard to a financial interest or employment held at the time of
appointment, provided the financial interest or employment is publicly
disclosed to the appointing authority and the Board of Ethics;
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
(c)
An official or employee whose duties are ministerial, if the
private employment or financial interest does not create a conflict
of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, as permitted
by and in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board of Ethics;
or
(d)
Employment or financial interests allowed by regulation of the
Board of Ethics if the employment does not create a conflict of interest
or the appearance of a conflict of interest or the financial interest
is disclosed.
C.
Post-employment
limitations and restrictions.
(1)
A former official or employee may not assist or represent any party
other than the Town for compensation in a case, contract, or other
specific matter involving the Town if that matter is one in which
the former official or employee significantly participated as an official
or employee.
(2)
Until the conclusion of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Board of Town Commissioners that begins after the elected official
leaves office, a former official or member of the Bel Air Board of
Town Commissioners may not assist or represent another party for compensation
in a matter that is the subject of legislative action.
(3)
Elected or appointed Town officials and employees may not engage
in lobbying legislative matters for one calendar year after leaving
office or employment with the Town of Bel Air.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
D.
Contingent compensation. Except in a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding,
an official or employee may not assist or represent a party for contingent
compensation (i.e., dependent or conditioned by something happening)
in any matter before or involving the Town.
E.
Use of prestige of office.
(1)
An official or employee may not intentionally use the prestige of
the office or public position for the private gain of that official
or employee or the private gain of another.
(2)
This subsection does not prohibit the performance of usual and customary
constituent services by an elected official without additional compensation.
(3)
An official or employee may not inappropriately influence the award
of a government contract to a specific person.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
(4)
An official
or employee may not initiate a solicitation for a person to retain
the compensated services of a particular lobbyist or firm.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
(5)
An official
or employee may not use public resources or title to solicit a political
contribution regulated in accordance with the State of Maryland Election
Law Article.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
F.
Solicitation and acceptance of gifts.
(1)
An official or employee may not solicit any gift.
(2)
An official or employee may not directly solicit or facilitate the
solicitation of a gift, on behalf of another person, from an individual
regulated lobbyist.
(3)
An official or employee may not knowingly accept a gift, directly
or indirectly, from a person that the official or employee knows or
has the reason to know:
(a)
Is doing business with or seeking to do business with the Town
office, agency, board or commission with which the official or employee
is affiliated;
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
(b)
Has financial interests that may be substantially and materially
affected, in a manner distinguishable from the public generally, by
the performance or nonperformance of the official duties of the official
or employee;
(c)
Is engaged in an activity regulated or controlled by the official's
or employee's governmental unit; or
(d)
Is a lobbyist with respect to matters within the jurisdiction
of the official or employee.
(4)
Notwithstanding Subsection F(3) of this subsection, an official or employee may accept the following:
(a)
Meals and beverages consumed in the presence of the donor or
sponsoring entity;
(b)
Ceremonial gifts or awards that have insignificant monetary
value;
(c)
Unsolicited gifts of nominal value that do not exceed $20 in
cost or trivial items of informational value;
(d)
Reasonable expenses for food, travel, lodging, and scheduled
entertainment of the official or the employee at a meeting which is
given in return for the participation of the official or employee
in a panel or speaking engagement at the meeting;
(e)
Gifts or tickets or free admission extended to an elected official
to attend a charitable, cultural, or political event, if the purpose
of this gift or admission is a courtesy or ceremony extended to the
elected official's office;
(f)
A specific gift or class of gifts that the Board of Ethics exempts
from the operation of this subsection upon a finding, in writing,
that acceptance of the gift or class of gifts would not be detrimental
to the impartial conduct of the business of the Town and that the
gift is purely personal and private in nature;
(g)
Gifts from a person related to the official or employee by blood
or marriage, or any other individual who is a member of the household
of the official or employee; or
(h)
Honoraria for speaking to or participating in a meeting, provided
that the offering of the honorarium is not related in any way to the
official's or employee's official position.
(5)
Subsection F(4) does not apply to a gift:
(a)
That would tend to impair the impartiality and the independence
of judgment of the official or employee receiving the gift;
(b)
Of significant value that would give the appearance of impairing
the impartiality and independence of judgment of the official or employee;
or
(c)
Of significant value that the recipient official or employee
believes or has reason to believe is designed to impair the impartiality
and independence of judgment of the official or employee.
G.
Disclosure of confidential information. Other than in the discharge
of official duties, an official or employee may not disclose or use
confidential information that the official or employee acquired by
reason of the official's or employee's public position and
that is not available to the public, for the economic benefit of the
official or employee or that of another person.
H.
Participation in procurement.
(1)
An individual or a person that employs an individual who assists
a Town agency in the drafting of specifications, an invitation for
bids, or a request for proposals for a procurement may not submit
a bid or proposal for that procurement or assist or represent another
person, directly or indirectly, who is submitting a bid or proposal
for the procurement.
(2)
The Board of Ethics may establish exemptions from the requirements
of this section for providing descriptive literature, sole-source
procurements, and written comments solicited by the procuring agency.
This section applies to all elected officials and candidates
to be elected officials.
B.
Deadlines for filing financial disclosure forms.
(1)
An incumbent elected official shall file a financial disclosure form
annually, no later than April 30 of each year for the preceding calendar
year.
(2)
An individual who is appointed to fill a vacancy in an office for
which a financial disclosure form is required and who has not already
filed the form shall file a financial disclosure form for the preceding
calendar year within 30 days after appointment.
(3)
An individual who, other than by reason of death, leaves an office
for which a financial disclosure form is required shall file the complete
form within 60 days after leaving the office.
D.
Candidates to be elected officials.
(1)
Except for an official who has filed a financial disclosure form
under another provision of this section for the reporting period,
a candidate to be an elected official shall file a financial disclosure
form each year beginning with the year in which the certificate of
candidacy is filed through the year of the election.
(2)
A candidate to be an elected official shall file a financial disclosure
form required under this section:
(a)
In the year the certificate of candidacy is filed, no later than
the filing of the certificate of candidacy; or
(b)
If the year of the election if different from the year the certificate
of candidacy was filed, on or before April 30; and
(c)
In all other years for which a statement is required, on or before
April 30.
(3)
(4)
If a candidate fails to file a financial disclosure form required
by this section after written notice is provided by the Town Clerk
or Board of Ethics, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn the
candidacy.
(5)
The Town Clerk and Board of Ethics may not accept any certificate
of candidacy unless a financial disclosure form has been filed in
proper form.
(6)
Within 10 days of the receipt of a financial disclosure form required
under this section, the Town Clerk shall forward the statement to
the Board of Ethics.
E.
Public record.
(1)
The Town Clerk's office shall maintain all completed financial
disclosure forms filed under this section.
(2)
Financial disclosure form shall be made available during normal office
hours for examination and copying by the public, subject to administrative
procedures and reasonable fees, as established in the Town's
Fee Schedule passed by the Board of Town Commissioners.
(4)
Upon request by the official or employee whose financial disclosure
form was examined or copied, the Board of Ethics shall provide the
official with a copy of the name and home address of the person who
reviewed the official's financial disclosure form.
(5)
Retention requirements. The Town Clerk's office shall retain
financial disclosure forms for four years from the date of receipt.
(6)
The home address of the elected official or candidate to be an elected
official, as identified by the individual, shall be redacted prior
to making it publicly available. This applies to all disclosure statements,
whether posted on the internet or viewable only in the office.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
F.
Contents of financial disclosure forms from incumbents and elected
officials.
(1)
Interests in real property. A financial disclosure form filed under
this section shall include a schedule of all interests in real property,
wherever located. For each interest in real property, this schedule
shall include:
(a)
The nature of the property and the location, by street address,
mailing address or legal description, of the property.
(b)
The nature and extent of the interest held, including any conditions
and encumbrances on the interest;
(c)
The date when, the manner in which, and the identity of the
person from whom the interest was acquired;
(d)
The nature and amount of the consideration given in exchange
for the interest or, if acquired other than by purchase, the fair
market value of the interest at the time acquired;
(e)
If any interest was transferred, in whole or in part, at any
time during the reporting period, a description of the interest transferred,
the nature and amount of the consideration received for the interest,
and the identity of the person to whom the interest was transferred;
and
(f)
The identity of any other person with an interest in the property.
(2)
Interest in corporations and partnerships. A financial disclosure
form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests
in any corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership, or
limited liability corporation, regardless of whether the corporation
or partnership does business with the Town.
(b)
For each interest reported under this subsection, the schedule
shall include:
[1]
The name and address of the principal office of the corporation,
partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability corporation;
[2]
The nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions
and encumbrances on the interest;
[3]
With respect to any interest transferred, in whole or in part,
at any time during the reporting period, a description of the interest
transferred, the nature and amount of the consideration received for
the interest and, if known, the identity of the person to whom the
interest was transferred; and
[4]
With respect to any interest acquired during the reporting period:
(c)
An individual may satisfy the requirement to report the amount
of the interest held by reporting, instead of a dollar amount:
(3)
Interests in business entities doing business with the Town. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule of all interests in any business entity that does business with the Town, other than interests reported under Subsection F(2). For each interest reported under this subsection, the schedule shall include:
(a)
The name and address of the principal office of the business
entity;
(b)
The nature and amount of the interest held, including any conditions
to and encumbrances in the interest;
(c)
With respect to any interest transferred, in whole or in part,
at any time during the reporting period, a description of the interest
transferred, the nature and amount of the consideration received in
exchange for the interest, and, if known, the identity of the person
to whom the interest was transferred; and
(d)
With respect to any interest acquired during the reporting period:
(4)
Gifts. A gift disclosure form filed annually under this section shall
include a schedule of each gift in excess of $20 in value or a series
of gifts totaling $100 or more received on or before April 30 of each
year from or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any one person
who does business with or is regulated by the Town. For each gift
reported, the schedule shall include:
(5)
Employment with or interests in entities doing business with the
Town. A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include
a schedule of all offices, directorships, and salaried employment
by the individual or member of the immediate family of the individual
held at any time during the reporting period with entities doing business
with the Town. For each position reported under this subsection, the
schedule shall include:
(6)
Indebtedness to entities doing business with the Town. A financial
disclosure form filed under this section shall include a schedule
of all liabilities, excluding retail credit accounts, to persons doing
business with the Town owed at any time during the reporting period:
(7)
For each liability reported under this subsection, the financial
disclosure form shall include:
(a)
The identity of the person to whom the liability was owed and
the date the liability was incurred;
(b)
The amount of the liability owed as of the end of the reporting
period;
(c)
The terms of payment of the liability and the extent to which
the principal amount of the liability was increased or reduced during
the year; and
(d)
The security given, if any, for the liability.
(8)
A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include
a schedule of the immediate family members of the individual employed
by the Town in any capacity at any time during the reporting period.
(9)
Sources of earned income.
(a)
A financial disclosure form filed under this section shall include
a schedule of:
[1]
The name and address of each place of employment and of each
business entity of which the individual or a member of the individual's
immediate family was sole or partial owner and from which the individual
or a member of the individual's immediate family received earned
income, at any time during the reporting period.
(b)
A minor child's employment or business ownership need not
be disclosed if the Town does not regulate, exercise authority over,
or contract with the place of employment or business entity of the
minor child.
(c)
An elected or appointed official or employee, or candidate for
such position, of the Town of Bel Air, whose spouse is or was a regulated
lobbyist, within one calendar year of said position or candidacy,
must disclose the entity or entities that engaged the spouse to lobby.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
(10)
A financial disclosure form filed under this section may also include
a schedule of additional interests or information that the individual
making the statement wishes to disclose.
A.
This
section applies to the following employees:
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
(1)
Town Administrator.
(2)
All department heads.
(3)
All deputy department heads.
(4)
All information technology personnel.
(5)
Armory Facilities Manager.
(6)
Financial Officer.
(7)
All planners.
(8)
Chief of Operations.
(9)
Facilities Manager.
(10)
Assistant Chief of Operations.
(11)
Shop Supervisor.
(12)
Sanitation Supervisor.
B.
A
financial disclosure form under this section shall be filed with the
Board of Ethics under oath or affirmation.
C.
On or before April 30 of each year during which an official or employee holds office, an official or employee shall file a gift disclosure form disclosing gifts, as defined in § 43-4, that were received during the preceding calendar year from any person that contracts with or is regulated by the Town, including the name of the donor of the gift and the approximate retail value at the time of receipt.
D.
Submitting
a conflict of interest form to the Board of Ethics, an official or
employee shall disclose employment and interests that raise conflicts
of interest or potential conflicts of interest in connection with
a specific proposed action by the employee or official sufficiently
in advance of the action to provide adequate disclosure to the public.
F.
For the purpose of § 43-5F of this chapter, the following interests are considered to be the interests of the individual completing the financial disclosure form:
(1)
An interest held by a member of the individual's immediate family,
if the interest was, at any time during the reporting period, directly
or indirectly controlled by the individual.
(2)
An interest held by a business entity in which the individual held
a 30% or greater interest at any time during the reporting period.
(3)
An interest held by a trust or an estate in which, at any time during
the reporting period:
(a)
The individual held a reversionary interest or was a beneficiary;
or if a revocable trust, the individual was a settlor.
(4)
An interest disclosed under this subsection need not include exchange-traded
funds (ETF), such as mutual funds.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
(5)
Indebtedness
disclosed under this subsection only applies to debts to entities
doing business with or regulated by the individual’s governmental
unit.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
G.
The Board of Ethics shall review the financial disclosure forms submitted
under this section for compliance with the provisions of this section
and shall notify an individual submitting the form of any omissions
or deficiencies.
H.
The Town Board of Ethics may take appropriate enforcement action
to ensure compliance with this section.
I.
The home address of the employee or appointed official, as identified
by the individual, shall be redacted prior to making it publicly available.
This applies to all disclosure statements, whether posted on the internet
or viewable only in the office.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
J.
An elected
or appointed official or employee, or candidate for such position,
of the Town of Bel Air, whose spouse is or was a regulated lobbyist,
within one calendar year of said position or candidacy, must disclose
the entity or entities that engaged the spouse to lobby.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
A.
A
lobbyist shall file a lobbying registration form with the Board of
Ethics on or before the later of January 15 of the calendar year or
within five days after first performing an act that requires registration
in the calendar year with the Board of Ethics if the person:
(1)
Personally appears before a Town official or employee with the intent
to influence that person in the performance of the official duties
of the official or employee; and
(2)
In connection with the intent to influence, expends or reasonably
expects to expend in a given calendar year in excess of $100 on food,
entertainment, or other gifts for officials or employees of the Town.
B.
The
lobbying registration form covers a defined registration period, not
to exceed one calendar year, and shall identify:
C.
Within 30 days after the end of any calendar year during which a
person was registered under this section, the person shall file a
written report with the Board of Ethics disclosing:
D.
The Board of Ethics shall maintain the registrations and reports
filed under this section as public records available for public inspection
and copying at the Town Clerk's office for four years after receipt
by the Board of Ethics.
E.
A lobbyist who serves on a Town of Bel Air board, commission, or
committee must submit financial disclosure forms that mirror the forms
for elected officials.
[Added 12-3-2018 by Ord. No. 787-18]
[Amended 11-5-2012 by Ord. No. 755-12]
The Board of Ethics may grant exemptions and modifications to the provisions of §§ 43-4 and 43-6 of this chapter to employees and to appointed members of the Town Board and commissions when the Board of Ethics finds that an exemption or modification would not be contrary to the purposes of this chapter and the application of this chapter would:
A.
The
Board of Ethics may issue a cease-and-desist order against any person
found to be in violation of this chapter.
B.
Upon
a finding of a violation of any provision of this chapter, the Board
of Ethics may:
C.
D.
Upon
request of the Board of Ethics, the Town Attorney may file a petition
for injunctive or other relief in the Circuit Court of Harford County,
or in any other court having proper venue, for the purpose of requiring
compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
E.
The court may:
(1)
Issue an order to cease and desist from the violation;
(2)
Void an official action taken by an official or employee with a conflict
of interest prohibited by this chapter when the action arises from
or concerns the subject matter of the conflict and if the legal action
is brought within 90 days of the occurrence of the official action,
if the court deems voiding the action to be in the best interest of
the public.
F.
The court may not void any official action appropriating public funds,
levying taxes, or providing for the issuance of bonds, notes, or other
evidences of public obligations.
G.
In addition to any other enforcement provisions in this chapter,
a person who the Board of Ethics or a court finds has violated this
chapter:
H.
The Town official or employee found to have violated this chapter
is subject to disciplinary or other appropriate personnel action,
including removal from office, disciplinary action, suspension of
salary, or other sanction.
K.
A finding of a violation of this chapter by the Board of Ethics is
public information.
