The town shall have the power to 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 shall have the
power to 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, 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.
A.
The civil service of the town shall be divided into
the unclassified and classified service.
(1)
Unclassified service. The unclassified service shall
comprise the following offices and positions, which shall not be included
within the merit system:
(2)
Classified service. The classified service shall comprise
all positions not specifically included by this section in the unclassified
service. All offices and positions included in the classified service
shall be subject to any merit system rules and regulations which may
be adopted.
A.
The compensation of all officers and employees of
the town shall be set from time to time by an ordinance passed by
the Council, subject to the restrictions imposed upon establishing
the salaries of the Councilmen.
B.
The town is authorized and empowered, by ordinance,
to provide for or participate in hospitalization or other forms of
benefit or welfare programs for its officers and employees and to
expend monies of the town for such programs.
The town shall have the power to 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.
A.
Prohibitions. No person in the classified service
of the town or seeking admission thereto shall be appointed, promoted,
demoted, removed or in any way favored or discriminated against because
of his political or religious opinions or affiliations or any other
factors not related to ability, to perform the work; no person shall
willfully or corruptly commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing
the impartial execution of the personnel provisions of this Charter
or of the rules and regulations made thereunder; no officer or employee
in the classified service of the town shall continue in such positions
after becoming a candidate of nomination or election to any public
office; no person seeking appointment to or promotion in the classified
service of the town shall either directly or indirectly give, render
or pay money, service or other valuable thing to any person for, or
on account of, or in connection with his appointment, proposed appointment,
promotion or proposed promotion; no person shall orally, by letter
or otherwise, solicit or be in any manner concerned in soliciting
any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party
or political purpose whatever from any person holding a position in
the classified service of the town; no person holding a position in
the classified service of the town shall make any contribution to
the campaign funds or any political party or any candidate for public
office or take any part in the management, affairs or political campaign
of any political campaign of any political party or candidate for
public office, further than in exercise of his right as a citizen
to express his opinion and to cast his vote.
B.
Penalties. Any person who, by himself or with others,
willfully or corruptly violates any of the provisions of this section
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof,
be punished by a fine or[1] not more than five hundred dollars ($500.) or by imprisonment
for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and
imprisonment. Any person who is convicted under this section shall
for a period of five (5) years be ineligible for appointment to or
employment in a position in the town service and shall, if he be all
officer or employee of the town, immediately forfeit the office or
position he holds.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. Probably should
read "of."
The Council shall appoint a Clerk-Treasurer,
who shall serve at its pleasure. The Clerk-Treasurer shall be the
chief financial officer of the town under the supervision of the Council.
The Clerk-Treasurer shall serve as Clerk to the Council, attend every
meeting of the Council, keep a full and accurate account of the proceedings
of the Council and keep such other records and perform such other
duties as may be required by this Charter or the Council.
The President of the Council, with the approval
of the Council, may appoint a Town Attorney. The Town Attorney shall
be a member of the bar of Maryland Court of Appeals. The Town Attorney
shall be the legal advisor of the town and perform such duties in
connection[1] as may be required by the Council. His compensation shall
be determined by the Council. The town shall have the power to employ
such legal consultants as it deems necessary from time to time.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original. Probably should
read "this connection."
