Recall Petition Says OfficialShould Be Removed for 'Malfeasance in Office'

By Vincent J. Swanson

Managing Editor

The Ethics Commission of the city of Fairmount Heights has moved to recall councilwoman Madeline Richardson from the town council, citing "malfeasance in office" when she accepted a block grant to renovate her parents' house.

The petition, addressed to the town council, says that "pursuant to the charter of the town of Fairmount Heights, article VI, section 1-29-A, the below named persons qualified to vote in elections in the town of Fairmount Heights hereby petition to recall of Councilwoman Madeline Richardson for malfeasance in office, misfeasance in office, and nonfeasance in office."

The recall effort arises from the councilwoman's acceptance of a $20,000 block grant to restore her parents' home on Addison Road. Richardson, a member of the town council since May 6, 2002, was selected by the town government on October 15, 2002 to be one of nine residents to receive funding.

The city applied for $118,000 in federal monies in October 2002 as part of a Community Development Block Grant, a federal housing program administered by the Prince George's County housing department.

But Richardson maintained it was project manager Sonya Williams who selected her parents' house for renovation. Moreover, Richardson denied having anything to do with the site selection, and said in April 2004 that the house was chosen prior to winning her council seat in May 2002.

According to grant documents, the $20,000 renovation of the Richardson home included $6,000 for a new roof, $6,000 for new windows, $1,500 in aluminum siding, a $1,000 front door, $750 for new rain gutters, $1,000 in lawn care, $2,500 for a new porch, $750 for yard fencing, $350 for a new sidewalk, and $150 to clean the front curb. An additional $650 was allowed to remove trash from the residency. Also, a $100 was spent to replace the house number.

Although the grant narrative for the Richardson renovation says that each of the nine homes selected would receive an "average of $11,500 [to] be used on each property to update or upgrade the exterior of the house," the Richardson home received $20,000. According to county records, the other homes received $11,750, $4,350, $2,250 and $1,450, respectively. Two other homes during the grant period also received $20,000 in renovations.

When The Sentinel first reported the block grant issue in May 2004, Jim Peck, the director of research at the Maryland Municipal League, said that the key issue for officials to avoid "the appearance of impropriety" is public disclosure.

The Ethics Commission has also drafted a petition to recall Mayor Lillie T. Martin, alleging "malfeasance in office, misfeasance in office and nonfeasance in office." A former town official said that although Richardson may not have been a councilwoman during the early planning of the block grant in question, Mayor Martin was fully aware that a conflict of interest could arise once Richardson was sworn into office, but did nothing to stop the renovation.

"They were counting on that no one would look, or see what they were doing," said Dean Cooks, the town's civic association president and former mayor. "The [Maryland Municipal League] makes it clear during orientation for all elected officials in Maryland, that you or your family members cannot be enriched through the power of your office."

Photo by Marketa Ebert