Olszewski: Oliver's Job Appears To Violate Charter

Baltimore County Council Chairman John Olszewski Sr. said Friday that, based on published reports, he believes a state job held by a colleague violates the County Charter.

Olszewski made his comments after being asked about Councilman Ken Oliver's job as a finance specialist with the state Department of Business and Economic Development. Oliver's state employment was .

"It sounds like a clear violation in my opinion," Olszewski said. "He can't continue to do both."

The County Charter prohibits council members from holding state jobs during their term in office.

Oliver said in an exclusive interview with Patch Wednesday that the law didn't apply to him because he is a contract employee working for the state but paid through a third-party company he refused to name.

The Thursday at the request of Patch that showed Oliver works directly for the agency.

Olszewski said he believes it makes little difference that Oliver is working under a contract.

"Even if he's working as a contract employee with a state agency, in my opinion, it is a conflict of the charter," Olszewski said.

The chairman added that he doesn't "know all the details to make a final determination."

He said the council's legal adviser is "doing his due diligence" about the matter.

"If the reports that are out there are true, then it sounds like there is a violation of the charter," Olszewski said.

Olszewski said he hopes that Oliver will "do the right thing."