Two New Ethics Commission Appointees At their meeting Tuesday, January 22, the County Commissioners appointed two new members to the Ethics Commission and reappointed a third as an alternate. The new appointees are Benjamin Tilghman of Centreville and Harold Wilson of Chester.
Benjamin Tilghman is active in farming, managing his farm outside Centreville. He retired in 2004, following a career in book publishing. Mr. Wilson had a 30-year career in management of non-profit housing organizations and international development. He is currently a writer of fiction and poetry.
Returning Commission member Francis Roudiez was appointed to serve as alternate. The other members of the Commission are Robert Mueller, Kendall Ruffatto, and Nanese Hawthorne.
Ethics Matters would like to express its thanks to these six volunteer Ethics Commission members for the time and effort they devote to our County and to promoting ethical governance. Our county depends on volunteers like these men and women. They deserve the thanks and appreciation of every citizen.
Advisory Opinions Available Online! Ethics Matters is now publishing the Ethics Commission’s Advisory Opinions on our website (www.ethicsmattersinc.org) under “Documents.” The opinions are organized by issue (conflicts, financial disclosure, applicability) and then by date, beginning in 2007.
Through Advisory Opinions, the Ethics Commission advises regarding applicability and compliance with the Ethics Law. The Maryland Attorney General notes that publishing the substance and reasoning of Advisory Opinions benefits the public at large. Some counties and the State publish their Advisory Opinions on their websites.
Any person may request advice from the Ethics Commission regarding applicability or compliance with the County Ethics Law. Advisory Opinions are public documents, and information that might identify the person who is subject of the opinion should be absent to the extent possible.