Jones resumes bid for liaison job

The Baltimore Sun

Former Commissioner Perry L. Jones Jr. has asked the Carroll County Ethics Commission for an exemption to the two-year nonemployment rule so he can take a liaison position with the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association.

Jones had been unanimously approved by the association at its June meeting to replace Leon Fleming, who retired June 29 after 10 years as liaison between the firefighters/Emergency Medical Services group and the county government.

However, a question arose from the county's ethics policy that states that former employees and officials cannot hold a position with any county agency or organization that receives county funds, for two years, for fear of conflict of interest.

Ethics Commission administrator, Richard J. Simmons, ruled last month that Jones could not accept the position since the association receives about $9 million in county funds.

But after doing some research and finding a possible opening that would allow him to take the job, Jones went back to the Ethics Commission for a hearing to ask for an exemption.

"There's another clause that allows an exemption if there is no other qualified person available for the job," Jones said.

"I was on the 57th Board of Commissioners and they are in the 58th board, and I had nothing to do with this current budget," Jones added. "I looked back at the projects we funded and everything we did is finished, so there's no way I could influence anything now."

The liaison job is also "like a public information officer - just an information person," Jones said.

Jones went before the commission Thursday, along with Richard Green Sr., the association president, who testified on his behalf.

County Attorney Kim Millender said the commission would notify Jones by letter of its decision.

The liaison position is for 30 hours a week, paying $18 an hour with no benefits, which has made the job harder to fill, Green said.

It is paid for under the association's administrative budget, partially funded by the county commissioners.

The liaison's chief function is to attend government and other meetings on behalf of association officers and members and take back information to the group.

"He's just a messenger," Green said. "I really stressed that there's no decision-making on his part and stressed the need for someone to do the job."

Fleming agreed to stay on in an as-needed capacity until the position is filled, Green said.

ellie.baublitz@baltsun.com

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