Returning home from the Maryland Municipal League convention in Ocean City earlier this week, Aberdeen City Council Member Ruth Elliott offered her first public comments on the controversy over the hiring of Churchville CPA Stephen M. Wright as a consultant to audit the city?s budget. Mayor S. Fred Simmon?s campaign manager/treasurer and business partner, Wright was paid almost $100,000 for less than six months work.
“I think it is a hairline away,” she said about the ethical implications surrounding Wright?s hiring. “I think it?s too close.”
Wright previously told The Examiner that prior to being hired, “the mayor and I insisted on me meeting with Councilwoman Ruth Elliott and Councilman Michael Hiob to alleviate potential concerns.” He also said that at a public meeting, the City Council voted 5-0 in favor of retaining his services.
But Elliott denied those claims. She said she was never consulted about the hiring of Wright and never cast a vote on the matter.
Elliott confirmed that she has ties to Wright ? Wright?s mother was Elliott?s maid of honor at Elliott?s wedding nearly 50 years ago ? but Elliott said that this relationship in no way affected Wright being hired.
Hiob also told The Examiner that the first time he learned of Wright being hired to work for the city was when he saw Wright at City Hall, stating there was never a council vote on the matter.
Council President Ron Kupferman confirmed Hiob and Elliott?s stance on the issue. “We did not bring it up at a formal meeting,” he said. Kupferman said Wright was hired after Kupferman, Simmons and Council Member Dave Yensan agreed it was in the best interest of the city to get moving on figuring out the budget. They constituted a majority of the council, which they felt alllowed them to move forward without consulting Hiob and Elliott, Kupferman said.
As to possible ethical questions regarding Wright?s relationship with Simmons, Wright said that “reportedly the city?s Ethics Commission was also notified. My understanding is that it was determined that no ethical violation was committed.”
“Nothing came before the Ethics Commission,” said Aberdeen resident Maria Fothergill, who has served on the Aberdeen Ethics Commission for approximately 10 years.
Elliott did defend Wright?s work product though, saying, “He did help us unscramble some financial woes.”
mplum@baltimoreexaminer.com
