Robert A. Hahn, Staff Counsel

Room 1515
301 W. Preston St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-7813

By Chapter 513, Acts of 1979, the State Ethics
Commission was established for the purpose of
guarding against improper influence on public of-
ficials and officers by requiring disclosure of their
financial affairs and by setting minimum stan-
dards for the conduct of State and local business.
The act establishing the Commission abolished
the Maryland Public Disclosure Advisory Board
and the State Board of Ethics.

The Commission's authority encompasses con-
flicts of interest, financial disclosure, and lobby-
ing disclosure.

The State Ethics Commission has the following
major functions: First, it renders advisory opin-
ions concerning the application of the Maryland
Public Ethics law at the request of persons sub-
ject to the law and Commission's jurisdiction.
The Commission may issue an advisory opinion
concerning the application of the law at the re-
quest of anyother person if the Commission
deems the request appropriate. Second, it investi-
gates complaints made to the Commission alleg-
ing a violation of the provisions of the Maryland
Public Ethics Law. The Commission may also is-
sue and investigate complaints on its own initia-
tive. Third, the Commission receives and reviews
financial disclosure statements filed by those cov-
ered by the law and required to file with the
Commission. Fourth, it receives and reviews lob-
byist registration and activity reports. Fifth, it as-
sists and monitors the activity of local govern-
ment in enacting local government public ethics
laws as required by the State statute. Sixth, the
Commission provides training and information to
those covered by the statute and to the general
public. Seventh, the Commission coordinates with
the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics and
the Judicial Branch in carrying out the provisions
of the Maryland Public Ethics Law.

The Commission consists of five members
appointed by the Governor for five-year terms.
One member is nominated by the president of the
Senate, and one by the speaker of the House of
Delegates. Of the three remaining members, one
must be a member of the other principal political
party to which the incumbent governor does not
belong. The Commission elects its own
chairperson and appoints an executive director, a
general counsel, and a staff counsel.

Independent Agencies/367

Financial disclosure forms and lobbyists' re-
ports are available for public inspection.

MARYLAND FOOD CENTER
AUTHORITY

Chairperson: Henry L. Hein, 1984
Vice-Chairperson: Melvin R. Kenney, Sr., 1985

Ex officio members: Louis L. Goldstein, Comp-
troller of the Treasury; J. Max Millstone, Secre-
tary of General Services; Wayne A. Cawley, Jr.,
Secretary of Agriculture; John M. Curtis, Coop-
erative Extension Service, University of Mary-
land.

Appointed members: Raymond E. Nicholas, Sr.,
1983; James V. Melton, 1984; T. Allen
Stradley, 1985; John J. Davis, 1986; John B.
Foard, Jr., 1986; Austin A. Zimmer, 1987.

J. Gary Lee, Executive Director
Shirley Fernkas, Assistant to Director
George P. Maroulis, Market Manager

Administrative Office
201 West Preston Street, Room LL-4
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2000

Maryland Wholesale Produce Market
7460 Conowingo Avenue
Jessup 20794 Telephone: 799-3880

The Maryland Food Center Authority original-
ly was created in 1967 as the Greater Baltimore
Consolidated Wholesale Food Market Authority
(Chapter 145, Acts of 1967). The Authority was
formed to establish, operate, and maintain a con-
solidated food center within the Greater Balti-
more Region. By Chapter 475, Acts of 1972, the
Authority assumed the liabilities and interim op-
eration of the Baltimore Wholesale Produce Mar-
ket administered by the former New Marsh
Wholesale Produce Market Authority. On Janu-
ary 15, 1976, the Baltimore Wholesale Produce
Market facility reverted by deed to the City of
Baltimore to be used for purposes other than as a
produce market.

The Maryland Food Center Authority consists
of twelve members. These include four ex officio
members: the Comptroller of the Treasury, the
Secretary of General Services, the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the Director of the Cooperative
Extension Service of the University of Maryland.
The remaining eight members are appointed for
five-year terms by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate. Of these, one must be
a resident of Howard County. One or more terms
expire each year and any member may be