LOBBYIST
FILING AGREEMENT
This
Agreement, made this 22nd day of March, 2006, by and between Heather Barthel,
lobbyist for Johns Hopkins Institutions and Jill B. Martin, Esquire, who has
been designated Staff Counsel for this matter by the Maryland State Ethics
Commission (hereinafter the Staff Counsel).
W
I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, 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;
WHEREAS, Heather
Barthel (“the filer”) is an individual whose lobbying activities on behalf of
Johns Hopkins Institutions, during the period of November 1, 2004 through
October 31, 2005 required her to register as a lobbyist with the State Ethics
Commission;
WHEREAS, the filer
was registered on behalf of the employer, Johns Hopkins Institutions (“the
employer”) for the period November 1, 2004 through October 31, 2005 as required
by the State Gov.Md.Code Ann., §15-703(d)(1)(Supp.2005);
WHEREAS, on August
10, 2005, the employer sponsored a special event for all members of the House
Environmental Matters Committee;
WHEREAS, on
November 30, 2005, the filer submitted a lobbying activity report on behalf of
the employer for the period May 1, 2005 through October 31, 2005; the filer reported
expenditures of $333.00 for the special event held on August 10, 2005 for all
members of the House Environmental Matters Committee; $12,139 in total
compensation; $1,000 in salaries, compensations and reimbursed expenses for
staff; $3,124 in office expenses; $561 in expenses for publications and other
expenses which encourage persons to communicate with officials or employees;
and $280 in other expenses;
WHEREAS, the filer
did not file Form 13E (“Five Day Notice”) within 5 days of the special event or
a 13F (“Fourteen Day Report”) for the special event within 14 days of the
event, as required by the State Government Article, Section 15-708(d)(1)
of the Ethics Law;
WHEREAS, the filer
subsequently filed the Fourteen Day Report on January 11, 2006;
WHEREAS, the filer
is voluntarily entering into this agreement to admit her failure to timely file
the Five Day Notice and the Fourteen Day Report with the Commission and to pay
a sum of money in lieu of potential late filing fees pursuant to Section 15-405(d)(1)
of the Ethics Law;
NOW
THEREFORE,
in consideration of the submission of the required Fourteen Day Report by the
filer on January 11, 2006 and the admissions and agreements herein contained,
the filer and the Staff Counsel stipulate and agree as follows:
1. The filer admits she did not timely file her
Five Day Notice and Fourteen Day Report on behalf of the special event hosted
by the Johns Hopkins Institutions as required by §15-708(d)(1) of the Ethics
Law.
2. The filer reported her delinquency to the
Commission on January 11, 2006 by filing her Fourteen Day Report (a copy of
which have been attached hereto and made a part thereof).
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 potential late fees for the above admitted late report
(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 file. 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 receiving the late submission of
the Fourteen Day Report and for the payment of late fees and for no other
purpose.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF,
Heather Barthel and Jill B. Martin, Staff Counsel, State Ethics Commission, have
hereunto set their hands.
/s/ _________/s/____________________
Jill B.
Martin, Designated Staff Counsel Heather
Barthel
State
Ethics Commission Lobbyist
9
State Circle, Suite 200 Johns
Hopkins Institutions
Annapolis,
MD 21401
(410)
974-2068
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State of Maryland
County of: _______________________,
to wit:
Before me,
the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared Heather Barthel who made oath on this day of ____________________, 2006 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 Maryland,
County of: _______________________,
to wit:
Before me,
the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid,
personally appeared Jill B. Martin, Staff Counsel to the State Ethics
Commission, who made oath on this day of
________________, 2006 in due form of law that she executed this agreement for
the purposes set forth herein.
__________________________________
Notary
Public
My Commission Expires: _____________________
---------------
Accepted by
the Commission
___________/s/_______________________
Julian L.
Lapides, Chairman
for the
Commission
Date: April 6, 2006