The Clerk shall serve as Clerk to the Council of Commissioners.
He shall attend every meeting of the Council and keep a full and accurate
account of the proceedings of the Council. He or a Deputy Clerk shall
also act as Secretary for the Planning Commission and the Board of
Zoning Appeals. He shall keep such other records and perform such
other duties as may be required by this Charter or the Council of
Commissioners.
The Mayor with the approval of the Council may appoint a Town
Attorney. The Town Attorney shall be a member of the bar of the Maryland
Court of Appeals. The Town Attorney is the legal adviser of the town
and shall perform such duties in this connection as may be required
by the Council. His compensation shall be determined by the Council.
The town has the power to employ such legal consultants as it deems
necessary from time to time.
The town may employ such officers and employees as it deems
necessary to execute the powers and duties provided by this Charter
or other state law and to operate the town government.
The town may provide by ordinance for appointments and promotions
in the administrative service on the basis of merit and fitness. To
carry out this purpose, the Council may adopt such rules and regulations
governing the operation of a merit system as it deems desirable or
necessary. Among other things, these rules and regulations may provide
for competitive examinations, the use of eligible lists, a classification
plan, a compensation plan, a probation period, appeals by employees
included within the classified service from dismissal or other disciplinary
action, and vacation and sick leave regulations. The town may request
and avail itself of the facilities of the Commissioner of State Personnel
for the administration of its merit system, as provided in state law.
The town may do all things necessary to include its officers
and employees, or any of them, within any retirement system or pension
system under the terms of which they are admissible, and to pay the
employer's share of the cost of any such retirement or pension
system out of the general funds of the town.
The compensation of all officers and employees of the town shall
be set annually, and provisions for payment thereof shall be included
in the annual budget. This provision is subject, however, to the restrictions
imposed by this Charter against pay for Commissioners.
The town by ordinance may provide for or participate in hospitalization
or other forms of benefit or welfare programs for its officers and
employees and may expend public moneys of the town for such programs.