No Financial Disclosure For Bel Air Police, Volunteers

Volunteering in Bel Air no longer means you have to disclose your finances.

The Bel Air Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of changes to the town ethics code that allow town police officers and volunteers to be exempt from financial disclosure.

Town staff feared requiring financial disclosure statements from voluntary board members would discourage volunteering in the future.

Find a minute by minute break down of Monday's town meeting below:

7:50 p.m.: The meeting is adjourned.

7:49 p.m.: Hopkins added that Veterans Day is coming up and it’s important to thank our U.S. veterans. “It’s because of what they did that we have the form of government and the freedoms we do.”

7:48 p.m.: Burdette said she heard comments from community members that Bel Air was easier to travel with traffic lights out of power than any other area they drove through.

7:47 p.m.: Hopkins also urged residents to remember that a small amount of leaves in the roadway can dam up storm drains and cause potential for hydroplaning in rainy weather.

7:45 p.m.: Hopkins and Preston commend Bel Air Public Works employees for their work before, during and after Superstorm Sandy.

7:44 p.m.: There are no public comments. The only meeting attendees are two members of the media.

7:43 p.m.: All vote in favor of awarding the bid.

7:41 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Preston moves to award a bid of $24,459 to Harford Alarm Company to remove and replace closed circuit television in the Hickory Parking Garage.

7:40 p.m.: All vote in favor of approving the bid.

7:38 p.m.: Burdette moves to approve a bid from Team Service Corporation for $12,290 for new 25 horsepower variable drives for the English Country Manor Pump Station.

7:36 p.m.: Carey moves to reappoint Ms. Rose to the Board of ethics for a term of four years. The motion carries in a unanimous vote.

7:36 p.m.: Robert Reier moves to reappoint Peg Lucas to the Historic Preservation Committee. The motion carries unanimously.

7:35 p.m.: Susan Burdette moves to reappoint Sallee Filkins to the cultural arts board for a term of three years. The motion carries unanimously.

7:35 p.m.: The motion carries in a unanimous vote.

7:34 p.m.: Carey moves to approve the ethics code. Commissioner Susan Burdette seconds the motion.

7:34 p.m.: Carey thanked staff for getting an answer about jurisdictional decision on groups.

7:34 p.m.: There are no public comments.

7:33 p.m.: Oliver said the town talked with the state’s counsel determined it is up to the town to decide which volunteer organizations are exempt.

7:32 p.m.: The public hearing on town ethics code continues. Joyce Oliver, director of Administration, said at the last meeting Commissioner David Carey urged the town to contact the state ethics council before moving forward.

7:31 p.m.: It is proclaimed that November is municipal government month by de facto mayor, Edward Hopkins.

7:30 p.m.: The meeting is called to order.