Bowie City Council Votes To Police Itself

The Bowie City Council will decide itself what action to take if a council member violates the city’s ethics ordinance, the council voted Tuesday night.

The vote was part of a larger piece of legislation to modify the city government’s ethics ordinance to be in line with state law. The ethics code affects city elected officials, employees and lobbyists.

The Bowie Ethics Commission, which advises the council and mayor on ethics, had recommended that it be responsible for enforcing the ethics law involving council members if a violation occurred, including taking a matter to court if needed.

To do otherwise would place council members in the uncomfortable position of taking action against one of their own, which could potentially “create unnecessary political pressure and tensions,” wrote Ethics Commission Chairman Benjamin Woolery to the council.

Councilman James Brady (At Large) agreed, offering an amendment that would have the Ethics Commission pursue violations of the ethics code regarding a council member. “We need to set the bar high,” said Brady. “The whole reason for doing this is to ensure public confidence in the people making the decisions.”

But Mayor G. Frederick Robinson and Councilman Todd M. Turner (District 3) said the role of the Ethics Commission was to make recommendations.

Robinson said he had faith that council members could put personal feelings aside and take the necessary steps if a violation were to occur. “The Bowie City Charter states the City Council is responsible for actions of the council,” said Robinson. “The Ethics Commission is an advisory board.”

Turner noted that the state had examined the city’s proposed ethics law and not recommended any changes.

Brady’s amendment was defeated on a 4-3 vote. Voting for the amendment was Brady, Councilman James Marcos (District 1) and Councilwoman Diane Polangin (District 2). Voting against it were Robinson, Turner, Councilman Henri Gardner (At Large) and Councilman Isaac Trouth (District 3).

The main piece of legislation, the modification of the city ethics law to match state code, passed unanimously. Now, anyone who believes a council member, the mayor, or a city employee has acted unethically can file a complaint with the Ethics Commission. The commission would investigate and then make a recommendation to the council. Any action the council takes regarding ethics violations could then be appealed to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court.

Also during the council meeting:

• Connie Carter, president of Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare (CLAW), asked the council to move up the city’s 2014 plans for a short-term, local animal shelter. The group has $100,000 contributed by an anonymous donor for the project, she said. Also, CLAW should know by early next year if it has been approved for a $50,000 state grant.

Carter noted that next to the city’s Kenhill Center are the empty trailers formerly occupied by the Bowie Police. Using funds from CLAW and spending no tax dollars, Carter said those trailers could be soundproofed and retrofitted into an animal shelter. Currently when lost domestic animals are picked up by city animal control, the animals stay in city trucks until the end of the day and are then transported to the county’s crowded animal shelter in Upper Marlboro, she said.

If Bowie had its local own animal shelter, Carter said there would be a better chance stray animals would be reunited with their families, there would be less stress placed on the animals and city animal control officers would save time because they wouldn't have to drive to Upper Marlboro each day.

• The council heard from Maryland’s Department of the Environment how Bowie, and Prince George’s County, will have to decrease the amount of untreated storm water runoff from paved surfaces. That runoff flows into the Patuxent River and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay. The effort is part of an unfunded federal mandate to continue cleaning up the bay, and Bowie’s role and costs will be determined next year.