Document: Oliver Contracted Directly by State

A contract between the state and Ken Oliver more clearly defines the Democratic three-term councilman's relationship with the Department of Business and Economic Development.

The four-page document outlines the nature of Oliver's employment with the agency and specifies that he is not eligible for pension and health benefits as a contract worker. (See attached document.)

The contract appears to contradict the Baltimore County councilman's claim that he works for an accounting firm that contracts with the state.

Oliver was hired in February as a financial specialist at the department—for which he is paid $62,000, or $30.16 per hour for a 40-hour work week.

A Patch story published Wednesday .

The County Charter prohibits council members from being employed by the state.

A copy of the document was released by the Department of Business and Economic Development Thursday afternoon at the request of Patch.

Oliver, in an interview Wednesday, said the charter provision did not apply to him because he was a contract employee. The contract was not between Oliver and the agency but between a third-party company employing Oliver and the state, the councilman said.

He declined to name the firm.

"I don't have to disclose that," Oliver said.

In that same interview, Oliver said he was not paid directly by the state.

The contract makes no mention of the accounting firm for which Oliver said he worked. It is signed by the councilman, who makes $54,000 in his elected position.

Karen Glenn Hood, a spokeswoman for the department, told Patch Thursday she had no knowledge of the firm for which Oliver claimed to work.

Language in the contract makes it clear that the agency pays Oliver directly and withholds all taxes and Social Security payments as required.

The last page is signed by the councilman and a state human resources official.