Applicable Commission Guidelines

(Excerpted from Section 2-5 of the “Chevy Chase Village Public Ethics Ordinance”)

(a) There shall be a Village Ethics Commission which shall consist of three (3) members appointed for three-year staggered terms by the Chairman of the Board of Managers, with the concurrence of the Board of Managers. The commission shall be assisted in carrying out its responsibilities by the Village counsel.

(b) The Commission shall be the advisory body responsible for interpreting this chapter and advising persons subject to it as to its application.

(c) The commission shall be responsible for hearing and deciding on advice of the Village counsel (or other Legal Counsel if appropriate), any complaint filed regarding an alleged violation of this chapter by any person.

(d) The commission or an office designated by the commission shall be the custodian of all forms submitted by any person in accordance with this chapter.

(e) Any official or other person subject to the provisions of this chapter may request the commission for an advisory opinion concerning the application of this chapter. The commission shall respond promptly to these requests, providing interpretations of this chapter based on the facts provided or reasonably available to it. Copies of these interpretations, with the identity of the subject deleted, shall be made available to the public in accordance with any applicable state or Village law regarding public records.

(f) Any person may file with the commission a complaint alleging a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. These complaints shall be written and under oath, and may be referred to the Village counsel or other Legal Counsel, if appropriate, for investigation and review. If after receiving an investigative report, the commission determines that there are insufficient facts upon which to base a determination of a violation, it may dismiss the complaint. If there is a reasonable basis for believing a violation has occurred, then the subject of the complaint shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing conducted in accordance with the Village's applicable rules of procedure for actions taken on the record. Any final determination resulting from the hearing shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law. Upon a finding of a violation, the commission may take any enforcement action provided for in accordance with section 2-9 of [“Chevy Chase Village Public Ethics Ordinance”]. After a complaint is filed and until a final determination by the commission, all actions regarding a complaint shall be treated confidentially.

Click here to view the entire “Chevy Chase Village Public Ethics Ordinance”.