ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking applicants interested in serving on the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection. The applicants for these openings should be affiliated with a civic group that advocates for consumer issues in Howard County. The deadline to apply for these vacancies is Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Howard County has robust programs to protect consumers from bad business practices and scams. The more public collaboration we can engage helps to identify and find resolutions to ever-evolving scams and address negative business issues as they emerge. I hope qualified residents will step forward to enhance our efforts to improve available consumer protection services in the county and promote education and support for vulnerable consumers in the community.
Under Howard County Code §17.402(c), the Board is composed of seven voting members including two members representing consumer interest groups, two members representing business interest groups, one member representing an economically-disadvantaged group, and two members representing the general public. Board member responsibilities include participating in community activities, developing programs, conducting research, reviewing legislation, and advising the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) and the County Executive on policies, programs and practices that can improve consumer protection-related services in the county.
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be Howard County residents, be 18 years of age or older, have an interest in consumer issues, and be able to participate in board meetings, as well as needed activities and programs throughout the year for the term of service. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. either virtually or at the Department of Community Resources and Services, 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia.
For additional information about serving as a commission member and to apply, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions. For questions regarding the application process, please email ApplyBC@howardcountymd.gov.
The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for consideration. If approved, the appointment will be forwarded to the County Council for confirmation.
About the Office of Consumer Protection
The OCP assists in resolving consumer-merchant and landlord-tenant disputes, enforces Howard County consumer protection laws, and provides information about current scams. The Advisory Board on Consumer Protection works with the OCP to educate and protect Howard County consumers.