The provisions of this Article relate to the transition from the existing commissioner form of government to the form of government provided by this Charter. Whenever the provisions of this Article are inconsistent with the previous provisions of this Charter, the provisions of this Article shall constitute exceptions to those previous Articles.
This Charter shall become effective on the thirtieth calendar day following the adoption of this Charter.
Except as expressly provided in this Article, all the provisions of Articles 1 through 7, inclusive, of this Charter shall be operative on the effective date of this Charter.
(a) 
The public local laws of the County and all rules, regulations, resolutions, and ordinances enacted by the County Commissioners of the County in force at the time of the effective date of this Charter shall continue in full force until repealed or amended. To the extent that any of the public local laws of the County or rules, regulations, resolutions, or ordinances, or any parts thereof, are inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, they are repealed.
(b) 
The provisions of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as they relate to planning and zoning authority, stand adopted on the effective date of this Charter to the extent they are not repealed by the provisions of this Charter and shall remain in effect until repealed, amended, or superseded.
All references in the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland to the Dorchester County Commissioners shall be construed, at such time as this Charter becomes effective, to refer to the Council whenever the construction would be reasonable.
(a) 
All appointed officers and employees of the Government holding office at the effective date of this Charter, unless specifically abolished by this Charter, shall continue to be employed at their existing compensation, subject, however, to the provisions of any relevant personnel laws, rules or regulations.
(b) 
Provisions relating to the qualifications for the appointed offices provided in this Charter shall become effective whenever vacancies occur in the appointed offices after the effective date of this Charter.
(c) 
On the effective date of this Charter the position of County Administrator shall be titled the County Manager, and all the powers and responsibilities provided the County Manager in this Charter shall apply. On the effective date of this Charter, all references to the County Administrator in any law, ordinance, rule, or regulation shall be construed to refer to the County Manager whenever the construction would be reasonable.
(d) 
On the effective date of this Charter the position of County Finance Officer shall be titled the Director of Finance, and all the powers and responsibilities provided the Director of Finance shall apply. On the effective date of this Charter, all references to the County Finance Officer in any law, ordinance, rule, or regulation shall be construed to refer to the Director of Finance whenever the construction would be reasonable.
The members of all boards and commissions holding office at the effective date of this Charter shall continue to hold the same or corresponding office until completion of their terms of office, unless removed in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.
At the effective date of this Charter the Office of County Commissioner shall cease to exist in the County.
The County Commissioners in office immediately prior to the effective date of this Charter shall become councilmembers at the effective date of this Charter. Together they shall exercise all of the powers provided to the Council under this Charter.
The terms of office for members of the first Council shall commence on the effective date of this Charter and shall expire at such times as their successors, elected at the next quadrennial election as provided in this Charter, shall qualify for office.
The salary provided to each of the County Commissioners immediately prior to the effective date of this Charter shall be the salary provided to each councilmember, respectively.
All powers and duties imposed by law upon the Treasurer of the County shall continue to be exercised and performed by the Treasurer until the first Tuesday in December 2006;thereafter the Office of the Treasurer shall stand abolished and all powers and duties of the Treasurer shall be performed by the Director of Finance. All references to the Treasurer in any law, ordinance, rule or regulation shall, after the abolition of the Office of Treasurer, be construed to refer to the Director of Finance whenever such construction would be reasonable.