District B Councilman Aaron Penman has been removed from the Harford County Council, as of 5 p.m., Wednesday.

Penman’s removal follows a Wednesday decision from the Supreme Court of Maryland not to hear his case on whether he should be allowed to serve as both a sergeant with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and as an elected member of the County Council.

Penman, a Republican, is both a council member and a sergeant with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and nets an annual income of about $145,000 from the county via the two positions. A Harford County Circuit Court judge ruled in January that Penman’s dual employment is a conflict of interest that violates the county charter.

In his ruling, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland Matthew J. Fader lifted the stay order Penman was given earlier this month that allowed him to continue serving on the council.

Penman said his case is still moving through the Appellate Court — which denied his request to stay on the council Jan. 23 — and that he is unsure of a timeline for when that court will rule.

Penman said that he is disappointed in the Supreme Court ruling and said he felt he would win his case and remain on the council.

“I thought we were on good standing with merit for the case but they ruled otherwise,” Penman said. “This is merely because I provided opposition to the county executive and advocated for good governance and I was targeted.”

This story will be updated. 

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