§ 15-104. Additional requirements for appointment of Montgomery County commissioners.

MD Land Use Code § 15-104 (2019) (N/A)
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(a)    This section applies to each commissioner appointed by the Montgomery County Council under §§ 15–102 and 15–103 of this subtitle.

(b)    (1)    The Montgomery County Council may require an applicant for appointment as a commissioner to be interviewed by the County Council or its designated agent in private regarding possible or potential conflicts of interest.

(2)    Before the appointment is made, the County Council or its designated agent shall interview in private an applicant who is selected for appointment regarding possible or potential conflicts of interest.

(c)    An applicant may not be appointed unless the applicant:

(1)    has filed a financial disclosure statement as required by § 5–824 of the General Provisions Article; and

(2)    has been interviewed as required by subsection (b) of this section.

(d)    (1)    In an interview under this section, the applicant shall be interviewed:

(i)    under oath;

(ii)    in a question and answer format; and

(iii)    about information and interests including all sources of income, property holdings, business interests, and financial interests of the applicant and the applicant’s spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister.

(2)    The County Council may require the applicant to produce relevant documents.

(e)    (1)    A written transcript shall be made of all questions and answers in an interview under this section.

(2)    Unless the examination is waived by the applicant:

(i)    the transcript shall be submitted to the applicant for examination;

(ii)    the transcribing officer shall make any changes in the transcript that the applicant desires to make, accompanied by a statement of the reason given by the applicant for the changes; and

(iii)    the applicant shall sign the transcript.

(3)    The transcribing officer shall certify on the transcript that:

(i)    the applicant was sworn by the officer; and

(ii)    the transcript is a true record of the testimony given by the applicant.

(4)    The County Council shall:

(i)    publicly disclose the complete transcript of an appointee within 3 weeks after the date of the appointment; and

(ii)    when the appointee takes office, destroy immediately the complete transcript of any other applicant without disclosure of any information contained in the transcript.

(f)    (1)    On or before June 1 of each year, an appointee shall disclose, in writing, to the County Council all information available to make current the property holdings, business interests, and financial interests in the State and the greater Washington metropolitan area of the appointee and the appointee’s spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister.

(2)    The County Council shall publicly disclose the information received from the appointee.

(3)    If the County Council determines it necessary, the County Council may require substantiation and additional information.