Brian L. Jones

Brian L. Jones is a American politician. As of 2016, he is the Mayor of Rock Hall, Maryland.<ref name="State Archives" /><ref name="Official bio" />
Early life
Jones attended the Kent County High School. He graduated in 2001. He has earned an Associate degree in Computer Information Management from Ashworth University.<ref name="Official bio" />
Career
Jones has worked for the Kent County Public Schools as a Technology Assistant and as a Lead Technology Technician since 2001.<ref name="Official bio" />
Activities
Jones has been a member and official of the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company.<ref name="Official bio" />
Jones has also served on the Rock Hall Parks & Recreation committee; the Rock Hall Elementary PTA and Middle School PTA; and the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company Oversight Committee.<ref name="Official bio" />
Political activities
Jones was appointed to the Rock Hall Town Council in 2011. He was elected to the Rock Hall Town Council in 2013 and appointed as Vice Mayor. In May 2015 Jones was elected Mayor of Rock Hall.<ref name="Official bio" /><ref name="StarDem-Elected-7May15" /> He defeated former mayor Robert Willis.<ref name="StarDem-Elected-7May15" />
Dispute with Mayor Willis
In 2014, while Jones was a Town Council member and Vice Mayor, a dispute arose between the Council and the then Mayor, Robert Willis. Willis sued the Jones and two other members of the Council, claiming that his authority as mayor had been usurped.<ref name="MES-Resolution-13Oct14" /><ref name="StarDem-Hearing-29Oct14" /> According to a news report in the Star Democrat, "The lawsuit alleges that the council majority has instructed town staff to deny Willis access to financial and personnel records, and has told the town’s attorney to withhold from Willis legal advice and opinions."<ref name="StarDem-Sues-11Sep14" /> Jones voted to introduce a resolution which assigned various powers jointly to the Mayor and Council, rather than solely to the Mayor.<ref name="MES-Resolution-13Oct14" /> The changes to the charter were passed by resolution on December 1, 2014, with then-Mayor Willis voting against them, and then-Vice Mayor Jones voting in favor.<ref name="StarDem-Charter-4Dec14"/> The Town Attorney Charles MacLeod said that the charter changes would make the mayor's lawsuit moot.<ref name="StarDem-Charter-4Dec14" />
During the course of the dispute, the Town Council met in executive session to discuss the lawsuit. A complaint from resident Grenville Whitman alleged that the Council had violated the Open Meetings Act by going into closed session without providing "sufficient explanation and justification for the Council members to move into closed session...".<ref name="StarDem-Open-20Oct14" /> The reported reason for the closed session was simply the word "legal".<ref name="StarDem-Open-20Oct14" /> Willis claimed that since he did not participate in the closed session, the legal paperwork was the responsibility of Jones.<ref name="StarDem-Open-20Oct14" />

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