[Amended 5-12-2008 by Res. No. R-08-04; 1-12-2015 by Res. No. R-15-12; 5-7-2018 by Res. No. CA-18-02; 12-7-2020 by Res. No. CA-21-06]
There shall be a Chief Financial Officer appointed pursuant to § C-701(b) whose compensation shall be determined by the Council. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the financial officer of the City. The financial powers of the City, except as otherwise provided by this Charter, shall be exercised by the Chief Financial Officer under supervision of the City Manager.
[Amended 1-16-2018 by Res. No. CA-18-01; 12-7-2020 by Res. No. CA-21-06]
There shall be a City Clerk appointed pursuant to § C-701(b). The City Clerk shall attend every meeting of the Council and keep such other records and perform such other duties as may be required by this Charter or the Council. The City Clerk shall be supervised by and be under the direction and control of the City Manager and is accountable to the City Manager. Except as otherwise directed by the City Council through the City Manager, or except as required to fulfill a duty or responsibility expressly imposed upon the City Clerk by this Charter, the City Clerk shall work exclusively for the City Manager.
There may be a City Attorney appointed by the Council. He shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and his compensation shall be so determined by the Council. The City Attorney shall be a member of the bar of Maryland Court of Appeals. The City Attorney shall be the legal advisor of the City and shall perform such duties in this connection as may be required by the Council. The City shall have the power to employ other legal consultants as it deems necessary from time to time.
[Amended 12-7-2020 by Res. No. CA-21-06]
The City Manager with Council consent establish, disestablish, or combine City departments, offices, or agencies in addition to those created by this Charter and may prescribe the functions of all departments, offices, and agencies. The departments of the City government established by this Charter are the Department of Finance, Environmental Justice, Police, Economic Development, Human Resources, Public Engagement, and City Clerk. The Public Safety Department shall be under the direction and supervision of the Chief of Police who shall be appointed in accordance with § C-701(b) of this Charter.
[Amended 1-12-2015 by Res. No. R-15-12; 10-3-2016 by Res. No. R-17-01; 5-7-2018 by Res. No. CA-18-02; 8-17-2020 by Res. No. CA-21-01; 12-7-2020 by Res. No. CA-21-06]
All departments, offices and agencies shall be under the direction and supervision of the City Manager. However, the City Manager may only with Council consent appoint an officer to assist him or her in administration of said departments, offices, or agencies.
The City 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 City 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 City Council may do all things necessary to include its officers and employees, or any of them, within any retirement systems 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 City.
The compensation of all officers and employees of the City 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 City Council.
[Amended 5-3-2021 by Res. No. CA-21-08]
The City 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 City for such programs. The City Council shall approve any benefit program on an annual basis.
(a) 
No officer or employee in the service of the City shall continue in a paid status after becoming a candidate for nomination or election to any public office in the City.
(b) 
No person shall orally, by letter or otherwise, solicit or be in any manner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any City political purpose whatever from any person holding a position in the service of the City.
(c) 
No person holding a position in the service of the City shall make any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or any candidate for public office in the City or take any part in the management, affairs, or political campaign of any political party or candidate for public office in the City, further than in the exercise of his right as a citizen to express his opinion and to cast his vote.
(d) 
No person shall hold any one position at one time, unless the Council determines that an interim capacity not to exceed one (1) year is necessary until a vacancy can be filled. No person shall hold any City office or position and have an outside business interest in a commercial enterprise doing business with the City. For the purpose of this section, City office or position shall mean all elective, appointive, and classified positions of the City with no distinction made between paid or unpaid positions.
[Amended 5-3-2021 by Res. No. CA-21-08]