Pittler's Streak Ends

All streaks come to an end.

And so it is that another one bites the dust today.

Leslie Pittler's 14 year streak of having never missed a meeting of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority meeting ended today when Pittler failed to show up.

It is not clear why Pittler missed the meeting.

In recent years Pittler has fashioned himself a reputation as a conscience on the authority board—questioning the board's handling of open meetings and records issues, no-bid contracts and the lack of applicable ethics rules.

Ironically, the board took up a vote on a proposal to voluntarily apply county ethics laws to employees and board members of the authority.

The board voted 4-0 to tentatively approve a motion to voluntarily submit to the county's ethics rules pending a review by its lawyer, who will make suggestions on customizing the laws to fit the authority.

Pittler originally raised the issue of abiding by the new county laws (minus the legal review) in December. The board shot it down two months ago but last week Donald Hutchinson, the board's chairman, told state legislators that the five-member board would revisit the issue at today's meeting.

Hutchinson told legislators in Annapolis last week that adoption of the rules was likely.