Frederick Council Delays Ethics Appointment Over Residency Questions

Frederick’s City Council unanimously postponed the reappointment of Ethics Commission member Philip Bowers after questions arose about whether he meets the requirement that commissioners live in the city. The council agreed to revisit the appointment at its Oct. 15 public hearing, giving the administration additional time to examine his eligibility, according to The Frederick News-Post. Council Vice President Katie Nash raised the issue, citing a Hood College trustee biography listing Bowers’ residence as Palm City, Florida. The newspaper also reported that Florida records show Bowers registered to vote in St. Lucie County in September 2023. Bowers, a co-founder of Brewer’s Alley, listed a Frederick address on his reappointment application, city Director of Government Relations Allen Etzler told the News-Post. Etzler said the city checks whether an applicant’s listed address is within city boundaries. Applicants seeking reappointment complete the same form as new candidates but generally do not repeat the interview process, he said. The postponement did not resolve whether Bowers satisfies the residency requirement. Bowers did not attend the hearing and did not respond to the newspaper’s requests for comment. Nash is separately appealing an Ethics Commission ruling against her in Frederick County Circuit Court. During the appointment discussion, she questioned whether Bowers’ residency could affect confidence in the commission’s work. The city adopted the commission’s residency requirement in October 2021, according to the report. Meeting minutes cited by the News-Post show that another commissioner stepped down in March 2022 because of that change. The discussion also expanded beyond Bowers’ application. Council President César Díaz said council members need sufficient information about candidates before voting on appointments. Etzler said the existing application form had been approved by the mayor and council president and that the administration would continue working with the council on the information it receives. Nash also questioned why Bowers’ reappointment was advancing while another seat remained vacant. The commission is supposed to have five members but had four, including Bowers, at the time of the report. Etzler said applications are considered as they arrive and that the city works to schedule interviews promptly. The News-Post reported that Bowers’ term was set to expire Monday, although he could continue serving until a successor is appointed or he is removed.