Frush wants impeachment provision

Prince George’s lawmaker wants to update charter

‘‘I think it’s wise to do,” she said as the crowd of about 100 people cheered. ‘‘I love this county. This is my county. This will be one of my first bills [next session]. I hope my colleagues will co-sponsor it. It’s the right thing to do.”

She said the legislation could be part of a ‘‘good government” package that addresses lobbying and other issues in the county.

The other lawmakers at the meeting — Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Dist. 21) and Dels. Ben Barnes (D-Dist. 21) and Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Dist. 21), all of College Park — did not express support or opposition.

Barnes said afterward that he couldn’t comment on Frush’s proposal, since he just heard about it Monday, but that he supported changes that would allow for any state or county official who engages in misconduct to be removed.

‘‘We need to ensure there’s sufficient mechanisms ... if there’s misconduct in office, there’s a mechanism for removal, like we’ve seen on the school board for example,” he said.

School board member Nathaniel B. Thomas resigned last week after sex charges were filed against him because of alleged misconduct involving a student.

Frush announced her charter proposal in response to questions by community members, who were critical of County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D).

‘‘Hit the road, Jack,” HGCA member Paul Joyal called out.

After the meeting, Joyal pointed to what he said were Johnson’s ethical lapses regarding giving government contracts to friends.

‘‘This government is incompetent. We have major problems,” he said.

Johnson and members of the County Council have come under fire for abusing their county credit card privileges. State legislation that would have required an annual audit of such credit card use died this year in the Senate.

Johnson said in a recent meeting with The Gazette that ‘‘I don’t have any ethical issues surrounding me.” But a series of scandals involving deputy directors appointed by him has continued to draw negative attention to the county.

HGCA board member Mary Frances Orlosky, who put the question to the lawmakers Monday, said after the meeting that she wants a better checks-and-balance system because of credit card scandals.

‘‘It’s to the point where I’m ashamed of Prince George’s County,” she said.

County Councilman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel said state delegates and senators should be covered under any impeachment provision Frush is seeking.

But he cautioned during the meeting that to change the charter, the state constitution would need to be amended.

The only ways the constitution could be amended would be by a referendum or for the General Assembly to set a Maryland Constitutional Convention, Dernoga said. The assembly last authorized a convention in the 1960s, he said.

‘‘He’s wrong,” Frush said afterward. ‘‘We created the charter. We can amend the charter. I will put an amendment to allow for that in the charter.”

Staff Writers Judson Berger and Dennis Carter contributed to this report.