LOBBYIST
FILING AGREEMENT
This
Agreement, made this 27th day of July, 2006, by and between Sierra Club
Maryland Chapter., and Jill B. Martin, Esquire, who has been designated Staff Counsel
for this matter by the Maryland State Ethics Commission (hereinafter the Staff
Counsel).
RECITALS
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;
Sierra Club
Maryland Chapter (hereinafter the “organization”) is an organization who had
lobbying activities during the period of November 1, 2005 through October 31,
2006;
The
organization was not timely registered for the period of November 1, 2005 to
October 31, 2006 as a non-exempt employer;
The organization subsequently registered on May 22, 2006 for the period November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2006;
The
organization, through its Chapter Coordinator has stated the late filing was an
inadvertent error and will not be repeated in the future;
The
organization is voluntarily entering into this agreement to admit its failure
to timely file a lobbyist registration 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 lobbyist registration form
by the organization on May 22, 2006 and the admissions and agreements herein
contained, the filer and the Staff Counsel stipulate and agree as follows:
1. The organization did not timely file the
organization lobbyist registration form for the period November 1, 2005 through
October 31, 2006 as required by §15-703(d)(1) of the Ethics Law.
2. The organization reported the delinquency to
the Commission on May 22, 2006 by filing the registration form (a copy of which
has been attached hereto and made a part thereof).
3. The organization understands that failure to
comply with the lobbying disclosure provisions of the Ethics Law may subject the
organization 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
organization 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
registration statement (paragraph 1).
5. The Staff Counsel will upon execution of
this Agreement by the organization recommend that the Commission not institute
any proceedings on the organization’s failure to timely register. The
organization 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 organization waives a formal hearing on
this matter (if the agreement is accepted by the Commission) to which it would
be entitled if a complaint were issued, and 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 organization and Staff Counsel have
entered into this Agreement for the sole purpose of receiving the late
submission of a lobbyist registration statement and for the payment of late
fees and for no other purpose.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF,
Elizabeth Johnson, representing Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, and Jill B.
Martin, Staff Counsel, State Ethics Commission, have hereunto set their hands.
Sierra
Club Maryland Chapter
/s/ By: _________/s/________________
Jill B.
Martin, Designated Staff Counsel
State
Ethics Commission _________________________
45 Calvert
Street, 3rd Floor
(Printed Name)
Annapolis,
Maryland 21401
(410)
260-7770 __________________________
(Title)
----------
State of ______________,
County of: _______________________,
to wit:
Before me,
the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid, personally
appeared _________________, who acknowledged herself or himself to be the
________________of Sierra Club Maryland Chapter and that he or she as such
____________________ (officer) and being authorized to do so, executed this
document for the purpose set forth herein on behalf of Sierra Club Maryland
Chapter on this_______ day of
____________________. In witness
whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.
__________________________________
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: August 15, 2006