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<p class="MsoNormal">Mayor Archer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prior to my resignation I asked staff to research an issue I feel bordered on a violation of Maryland Ethics.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Resolution 2011-R-19 was sponsored by CM Thompson and adopted 6/20/2011 and reads as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Whereas the Riverdale Park Mayor and Council want to show their appreciation for local volunteers who participate on Town Committees and host Town events; and<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whereas the Riverdale Park Mayor and Council want to express their gratitude for the hard work and dedication given to our children by area teachers;”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Volunteer/Teacher Proclamations since adoption of 2011-R-19 on June 20, 2011<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">September 2011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Karen Venable-Croft<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">October 2011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteer Recognition: Nova Johns<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November 2011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteer Recognition: Emily Fanning<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Lorrie Ann Armfield<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">December 2011<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Tracy Peele<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">February 2012<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Christine Wilson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">September 2012<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Kelly Lama<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Howard Knights<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November 2012<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Neville Adams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May 2012<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Melissa Rabano<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">January 2013<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Stacy Tomlinson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">October 2013<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Melanie McLaughlin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Brian Brown<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November 2013<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Adrian Burney<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">April 2014<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Hannah Jardine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Johnny Gomez-Garcia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May 2014<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">Teacher Appreciation: Erica Berry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">October 2014<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Juliana Ocampos-Barry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November 2015<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teacher Appreciation: Gladoria M. Dawes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Section 5-506 of the Maryland Ethics Law prohibits the use of prestige of office. As citizens of town understand that you are a teacher at William Wirt Middle School and are familiar with the ‘teachers’ portion of the legislation etc.,
but part of adhering to ethics laws is ensuring that even the appearance of impropriety in our elected officials cannot be alleged.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the 5 years and 19 proclamations only 2 town volunteers have been recognized. Volunteers were recognized October and November 2011 and in the 5 years after, only teachers have received such recognition. I am sure your professional
teaching colleagues and peers enjoy the recognition, but I find it a bit incredulous that 15 paid teachers have been recognized since November 2011 and ZERO unpaid town volunteers.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We all know numerous volunteers that never receive a word of thanks for performing service to the town in an unpaid capacity that are being overlooked in favor of teachers doing a job they are paid to do. In reading the town history, we
had a much more robust volunteer spirit and active community committees than have existed during your administration.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In lieu of having to file for an advisory opinion for this potential ethical violation, please ensure that future proclamations recognize only volunteers. A 17-2 record favoring people paid to do a job, in my mind, violates the spirt and
purpose of the legislation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">JWE <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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