3144

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 805

agency are incompatible or adverse one to the, other, and the
official has been assigned to so appear or give evidence in
accordance with his duty, or where such participation in
matters with the county has no relationship to the official
duties of such official.

(6)  Contracts. No public official shall have
any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract with the
county commissioners or any agency or department or receive
any benefit or profit therefrom except as provided under
subsection (g) of this section.

(7)  Ex parte communications generally. When a
public official shall receive any ex parte communication
concerning a case where a determination or decision is
required by law to be made only after a public hearing for
interested parties, such official shall make the ex parte
communication public and a part of the record of such
proceedings.

(8)  Ex parte communications with public
officials. When a public official shall receive any ex
parte communication dealing with the merits of a case
wherein that official's determination or decision is
required by law to be made only after a public hearing for
interested parties, and if the communication be oral, the
substance of such communication shall be duly noted for the
purposes of the record, and if such communication be in
writing, then the entire writing shall be placed upon the
record.

(e)  Any public official who has, will have or later
acquires an interest in any actual or proposed contract with
Prince George's County, shall publicly disclose the nature
and extent of such interest in writing to the office of the
senior resident judge of the circuit court for Prince
George's County as soon as he has knowledge of such actual
or prospective interest. Notwithstanding, the provisions of
this [section] SUBSECTION, disclosures shall not be required
in the case of an interest in a contract described in
[section 61A-7 hereof] SUBSECTION (G) OF THIS SECTION.

(f)  Any public official who willfully and knowingly
violates the foregoing provisions of [sections 61A-4 and
61A-5] SUBSECTIONS (D) AND (E) of this [subtitle] SECTION is
punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years,
or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
[($1,000.00)], or by both.

(g)  The provisions of [section 61A-4] SUBSECTION (D)
of this [subtitle] SECTION shall not apply to:

(1) A contract with a person, firm, corporation
or association in which a public official has an interest
solely by reason of employment as an employee thereof, if
the remuneration of such employment will not be directly
affected as a result of such contract and the duties of such