The executive branch of the County government shall comprise
the County Executive and all officers, agents, and employees under
the supervision and authority of the Executive.
There is a County Executive, who shall be the chief executive
officer of the County and shall faithfully execute the laws. All executive
power vested in the County by the Constitution and laws of Maryland
and this Charter shall be vested in the Executive. The Executive shall
see that the affairs of the executive branch are administered properly
and efficiently, and that employees of the executive branch faithfully
perform their duties. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive
shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) Supervising and directing offices, agencies and divisions of the
executive branch and ensuring that County employees as well as County
boards and commissions faithfully perform their duties;
(b) Preparing and submitting to the Council the annual County Budget.
(c) Preparing and submitting to the Council and the public within six
months after the close of the fiscal year an annual report on the
activities and accomplishments of the County government, including
a comprehensive annual financial statement;
(d) Providing the Council with any information the Executive deems necessary
or, as the Council by resolution may request, information concerning
the executive branch which the Council may require for the exercise
of its powers;
(e) Recommending to the Council such measures for legislative action
that the Executive may consider to be in the best interests of the
County; and
(f) Signing or causing to be signed on the County's behalf all deeds,
contracts, and other instruments.
In November 2012, and every four years thereafter, the Executive
shall be elected by the registered voters of the entire County in
the manner provided by law.
The Executive shall hold office for a term beginning at 12:00
noon on the first Monday of December next following the election of
the Executive and ending at 12:00 noon on the first Monday in December
in the fourth year thereafter, or until a successor is qualified.
[Amended 6-7-2022]
A vacancy in the Office of the Executive shall exist upon the death or resignation of the Executive, or upon forfeiture of office as provided in Section
408 of this Charter. A majority of the Council members shall appoint, within 30 days after receiving a list of three nominees from the local central committee, a person to fill the vacancy. An appointee, when succeeding a party member, shall be a member of the same political party as the person elected to such office. The County central committee of that party shall submit a list of three nominees within 30 days of the vacancy to the County Council. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall meet the qualifications provided in Section
405 of this Charter.
In the event of the temporary absence of the Executive, the
Director of Administration shall perform the duties of the Executive.
The Executive shall appoint a Director of Administration, subject
to confirmation by the Council, who shall serve at the pleasure of
the Executive. The Director of Administration shall be selected on
the basis of qualifications as a professional administrator, skill
in governmental budgeting and technical training for the duties of
the office. The Director of Administration shall be a resident of
the County within six months of appointment. The Director of Administration
shall, subject to the direction of the Executive, supervise all departments,
offices, and agencies of the executive branch, advise the Executive
on all administrative matters and perform such other duties as may
be assigned by the Executive or this Charter.
The Executive shall appoint a County Attorney, subject to confirmation
by the Council. The County Attorney shall be the chief legal officer
of the County, conduct all the law business of the County, be a legal
advisor to the Council, and be the legal advisor to the Executive,
all departments, and other instrumentalities of the County government.
The County Attorney may, with the approval of the Council, employ
special legal counsel to work on problems when the work to be done
is of such character or magnitude as to require services in addition
to those regularly provided by the County Attorney. The County Attorney
shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive.
When a vacancy occurs in the position of the Director of Administration
or the head of any principal operating department, office, or agency
of the executive branch, the Executive shall appoint an acting Director
of Administration or acting head of the department, office, or agency,
as the case may be, to serve for a period not exceeding six months.
This limit may be extended by the Council for a period of time not
to exceed an additional four months.
During an Executive's term, the Executive shall make an evaluation
of the organization, functions, powers, and duties of each department,
agency and office in the executive branch. By January 2014, and thereafter
as the Executive deems necessary, the Executive shall prepare a plan
of organization, which shall prescribe the principal operating departments,
agencies and offices in the executive branch, along with their powers,
functions and responsibilities. The Executive shall submit the plan
to the Council in writing. The plan shall become law 90 days after
its presentation to the Council, if by that time it has not been disapproved
by a vote of four members of the Council.