Legislators introduce bill to exempt inspectors general from restrictions on records

Maryland’s inspectors general may now have a better chance of securing the reform they’re seeking to access records needed for investigations.

Del. Vaughn Stewart, a Democrat who represents Montgomery County’s District 19, and Republican Del. Ryan Nawrocki, who represents Baltimore County’s District 7A, have partnered up to introduce bipartisan legislation that would clarify in Maryland law that inspectors general are not subject to standard Maryland Public Information Act request restrictions when conducting official investigations.

This comes after Montgomery County Inspector General Megan Limarzi wrote a letter to the General Assembly asking for legislators to consider amending the state public records law to make it easier for inspectors general to obtain records necessary to their investigations.

Inspectors general in Baltimore, Baltimore County and Howard County co-signed the letter as a response to an advice letter from the state Office of the Attorney General to Sen. Antonio Hayes, who represents Baltimore in the General Assembly.

The letter said that local laws or provisions, including those granting investigative power to inspectors general, cannot preempt exemptions to the state’s public records law.

The attorney general’s advice letter was the result of an ongoing fight between Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming and Mayor Brandon Scott over withheld city documents. Following the release of the letter, Cumming took the issue to court.

Limarzi is facing her own disagreement after the Montgomery County attorney’s office denied a routine request for a record related to an investigation. Limarzi said this had never happened before.

The state attorney general’s office declined to comment on the situation and the joint letter.

“When the subject of an investigation gets to control the evidence, oversight is a sham,” Stewart said in a press release announcing the legislation. “Inspectors general don’t work for the agencies they investigate — they work for the public.”

The bill would restore the ability of inspectors general to obtain documents necessary to conduct independent oversight directly, and would prevent government agencies from blocking investigations through procedural technicalities.

It still could be tricky to get new legislation over the line this session. Bills filed earlier in the session, which concludes April 7, generally have a better shot at becoming law.

County GOP raises legal concerns over Marc Elrich’s council run

The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee is alleging that Marc Elrich’s County Council campaign is violating term-limit constraints, according to a letter the Republicans submitted to the county attorney’s office seeking advice.

Elrich, a Democrat, is running for an at-large seat on the County Council following the conclusion of his second county executive term later this year. Elrich previously served on the council for three terms, from 2006 to 2018. County Council members are limited to serving three consecutive terms.

The MCGOP argues that this system leaves a loophole — a politician can serve the maximum number of consecutive terms on the County Council and then run again after a break.

“This sequencing — maxing out on Council, then moving immediately into the Executive and potentially returning to the Council after many years — defeats the basic premise that voters endorsed: that no individual should dominate county government for an extended period,” the letter says.

The county attorney’s office confirmed to The Banner on Friday that they received the letter and that they do not issue legal opinions, advice or counsel to private citizens. They said that the MCGOP should seek outside counsel if it wishes to pursue the issue.

Elrich has maintained since announcing his campaign that it is within the bounds of county law for him to run for a fourth term on the council since it is nonconsecutive with his previous three terms.

Elrich’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the MCGOP letter on Friday.

This is not the first time the MCGOP has been involved in attempting to limit Elrich’s time in county government. Reardon Sullivan, former MCGOP chairman and current candidate for County Council District 1, was behind the successful ballot initiative that limited Elrich to two terms as county executive.

County minimum wage to increase on July 1

Montgomery County’s minimum wage will increase for small, midsize and large employers on July 1, in keeping with inflation, the county announced on Friday.

For large employers, those with 51 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase by 35 cents to $18 per hour. For employers with 11 to 50 employees, the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $16.50 per hour. And for employers with fewer than 10 employees, the rate will increase by 45 cents to $15.95 per hour.

This practice is required by a county law passed in 2017, and the increase is based on a 2% increase in the consumer price index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers in the Washington, D.C., metro area in 2025. The annual increase ensures that the local minimum wage keeps pace with inflation.

“When wages keep pace with inflation, working people aren’t forced to fall behind as everyday costs rise,” said Elrich, who sponsored the enabling legislation when he was a council member.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Del. Ryan Nawrocki is a Republican.