LOBBYIST FILING AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made this 1st day of October, 2007, by
and between Ragina Cooper Averella, lobbyist for AAA Mid-Atlantic and William
J. Colquhoun, Staff Counsel, to the Maryland State Ethics Commission (hereinafter
“Staff Counsel”).
The State Ethics Commission (“the Commission”) is the
executive agency of the State of Maryland established by Chapter 513, Acts of
1979 for the purpose of enforcing the Maryland Public Ethics Law (State
Government Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland, hereinafter the
Ethics Law) including the provisions of Subtitle 7, the lobbying disclosure
program.
Ragina Cooper Averella (“the filer”) is an individual
whose lobbying activities on behalf of AAA
Mid-Atlantic during the period of November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007 required
her to register as a lobbyist with the State Ethics Commission.
The filer did not timely register on behalf of the
employer AAA Mid-Atlantic, (“the employer”) as required by the Md. Code Ann.,
State Gov’t. Art., §15-703(d)(1)(Supp.2006).
The filer subsequently registered on June 22, 2007 for
the period of November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007.
The filer is voluntarily entering into this agreement to
admit her failure to timely file a lobbyist registration with the Commission
and to pay a sum of money in lieu of potential late filing fees and other fines
pursuant to Section 15-405 of the Ethics Law.
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the submission of the required lobbyist registration form by
the filer on June 22, 2007 and the admissions and agreements herein contained,
the filer and the Executive Director stipulate and agree as follows:
1. The filer did
not timely file her lobbyist registration form on behalf of AAA Mid-Atlantic for
the period of November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007, as required by
§15-703(d)(1) of the Ethics Law.
2. The filer
reported her delinquency to the Commission on June 22, 2007. She filed her registration form (a copy of
which has been attached hereto and made a part thereof) on June 22, 2007.
3. The filer
understands that failure to comply with the lobbying disclosure provisions of
the Ethics Law may subject her to a formal complaint by the Commission and,
upon finding of a violation, late fees and the possibility of civil fines.
4. Based on the
facts stated in this agreement the filer agrees to pay as settlement of the
late filing matter, the amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00) at
the time of the execution of this agreement in lieu of a potential late fees
and in lieu of civil fines for the above admitted late registration statement
(paragraph 1).
5. The Staff
Counsel will, upon execution of this Agreement by the filer, recommend that the Commission not institute
any proceedings on her failure to timely register. The filer understands that
the Commission is under no obligation to accept this agreement and may decide
to take other action, including issuing a complaint.
6. The filer
waives a formal hearing on this matter (if the agreement is accepted by the
Commission) to which she would be entitled if a complaint were issued, and she
understands that this Agreement and materials relating to this matter are not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Ethics law, and will be public
information unless otherwise protected.
7. The filer
understands a copy of this agreement will be mailed to her employer.
8. The filer and Staff
Counsel have entered into this Agreement for the sole purpose of resolving the
late submission of a lobbyist registration statement and for the payment of
late fees and other fines and for no other purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
Ragina Cooper Averella, and William J. Colquhoun, Staff Counsel, State Ethics
Commission, have hereunto set their hands.
/s/
_______/s/______________________
William J. Colquhoun Ragina
Cooper Averella
State Ethics Commission Lobbyist
(410) 260-7770
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State
of
County
of: _______________________, to wit:
Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared Ragina Cooper Averella, who
made oath on this day of ____________________, 2007 in due form
of law that the matters and facts hereinabove set forth are true to the best of
her knowledge, information and belief, and are her voluntary act and that she
executed this document for the purpose set forth herein.
__________________________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires: ______________________
---------------
State
of
County
of: _______________________, to wit:
Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared William J. Colquhoun, Staff
Counsel to the State Ethics Commission, who made oath on this day of ________________, 2007 in due form of
law that he executed this agreement for the purposes set forth herein.
__________________________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires:
_____________________
---------------
Accepted by the Commission
_____________/s/_____________________
Robert F. Scholz, Chairman
for the Commission
Date: November 29, 2007