The legislative branch of the County government shall consist
of the County Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, and
the officers and employees thereof.
All legislative powers which may be exercised by Wicomico County
under the Constitution and laws of Maryland, including all law making
powers heretofore exercised by the General Assembly of Maryland but
transferred to the people of the county by virtue of the adoption
of a Charter in 1967, shall be vested in the Council.
At its first meeting in December of each year, the Council shall
elect from among its members, by a vote of the majority of the total
number of Council members established by this Charter, a President
and a Vice-President. The President, or in his absence the Vice-President,
shall, establish the agenda and preside at all meetings. On all questions
before the Council the President and Vice-President shall have and
may exercise the vote to which each is entitled as a Council member.
[Amended 6-21-2022 by Res. No. 72-2022]
A. Committees
and quorum. In all of its functions and deliberations, the County
Council shall act as a body and shall have no power to create standing
committees or to delegate any of its functions and duties to a smaller
number of its members than the whole. A majority of the total number
of Council Members established by this Charter must be physically
present, or electronically present with the approval of the Council
President due to extenuating circumstances, to constitute a quorum.
B. Censure.
A County Council Person may be censured by an affirmative vote of
at least five members of the County Council for actions which are
repeated, substantial violations of this Charter.
The enumeration of powers in this Charter shall not be held
or deemed to be exclusive, but, in addition to the powers enumerated
therein, implied therein or appropriate to the exercise thereof, the
County Council shall have and may exercise all legislative powers
which, under the Constitution and laws of this state, it would be
competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate.
In the exercise of all its powers, the County Council shall
be subject to the express limitations imposed by this Charter and
by all applicable provisions of the Constitution and laws of this
state.
[Amended 8-2-2016 by Res.
No. 101-2016]
A. Director of Administration, Assistant Director of Administration,
department heads and the initial appointment of deputy directors.
Appointment by the County Executive of the Director of Administration,
the Assistant Director of Administration, department heads or the
initial appointment of a deputy director of a department in the executive
branch of the county government shall be subject to confirmation by
the County Council. If the Council fails to act to confirm or reject
any appointment within 45 days of its submission to the County Council,
at its legislative session, by the County Executive, the appointment
shall stand approved.
[Amended 7-3-2018 by Res.
No. 65-2018]
B. Boards and commissions. Appointment by the County Executive to membership
on a board or commission shall be subject to confirmation by the County
Council. If the Council fails to act to confirm or reject any appointment
within forty-five days of its submission to the County Council, at
its legislative session, by the County Executive, the appointment
shall stand approved.