Arundel Council eyes revised measures to remove elected officials from office

Measures would go to voters if approved by council

With former Anne Arundel County Council member Daryl D. Jones about to be released from federal prison for not filing tax returns and County Executive John R. Leopold fighting allegations of misusing his police security detail, council members proposed measures to allow removal of members for a conviction and tweaking those for removing an executive to mirror them.

One proposal, introduced at Monday evening's council meeting, for the first time paves a way for the seven-member council to remove a member who pleads guilty or no contest to certain crimes or has exhausted appeals of a conviction, or has become incapacitated and unable to work. The other would broaden the reasons for removing a county executive to mirror the first proposal.

If adopted, the proposed charter changes would go before voters in November. The council is expected to discuss, and perhaps vote on, the measures in July. The suggested changes are similar to ones that will appear on the ballot across the state, and could work hand-in-hand with those, Charter Revision Commission member Patric S. Enright said.

Jones is serving five months in prison. Council members removed him from office on the reasoning that, in prison, he would no longer live in his district. He appealed a court ruling that upheld the council's vote.

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