LOBBYIST FILING AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made this 31st day of March, 2008, by
and between Joan Pitkin, lobbyist for the Prince George’s County 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.
Joan Pitkin (“the
filer”) is an individual whose lobbying activities on behalf of
On January 3, 2008, the filer met with the Staff Counsel
to discuss whether or not the activities she was conducting required
registration. At that time the filer
informed Staff Counsel that she had been advised that her activities would not
require registration as she represented a municipality and that the was similar
to exemption for individuals lobbying on behalf of Maryland Association of
Counties. Staff Counsel at that time
determined that the filer’s activities and compensation required
registration.
The filer did not timely register on behalf of the
employer Prince George’s County, (“the
employer”) as required by the Md. Code. Ann., State Gov’t. Art.,
§15-703(d)(1)(Supp.2007).
On February 20, 2008, the filer submitted the registrations
for the years 2003 through 2007 along with the required activity reports for
the same period.
The filer is voluntarily entering into this agreement to
admit her failure to timely file the lobbyist registrations and the activity
reports 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 forms
filed and activity reports filed on February 20, 2008 by the filer, and the
admissions and agreements herein contained, the filer and Staff Counsel stipulate
and agree as follows:
1. The filer did
not timely file her lobbyist
registration forms on behalf of the Prince
George’s County for the years 2003 through 2007 as required by §15-703(d)(1) of
the Ethics Law.
2.
The filer did not timely file her activity reports on behalf of the Prince George’s County for the activity
conducted during the years 2003 through 2007, as required by §15-704(a) of the
Ethics Law.
3. The filer voluntarily
reported her delinquency to the Commission on January 3, 2008. She filed the aforementioned registrations and
activity reports on February 20, 2008 (a copy of which has been attached hereto
and made a part thereof).
4. 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.
5. Based on the
facts stated in this agreement the filer agrees to pay as settlement of the
late filing matter, the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) 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).
6. 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.
7. The filer
waives a formal hearing on this matter (if the agreement is accepted by the
Commission) to which he would be entitled if a complaint were issued, and he
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.
8. The filer
understands a copy of this agreement will be mailed to her employer.
9. The filer and the
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,
Joan Pitkin, and Staff Counsel, State Ethics Commission, have hereunto set
their hands.
/s/ __________/s/_________________
William J. Colquhoun, Staff Counsel Joan
Pitkin
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 Joan Pitkin, who made oath
on this day of ____________________, 2008 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 ________________, 2008 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: April 17, 2008