The Mayor may appoint, subject to the approval of the Council,
a Town Manager to be the chief administrative officer of the Town.
The compensation for the Town Manager shall be determined by the Council.
The Town Manager shall be responsible for the proper administration
of all affairs of the Town government and for carrying out the policies
determined and approved by the Council. The Town Manager shall attend
Council meetings (unless excused therefrom) and may take part in the
discussion of all matters coming before the Council. The Town Manager
shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter
or required by the Council not inconsistent with this Charter.
The Mayor, with approval of the Council, shall appoint a Town
Clerk who shall serve as Clerk to the Mayor and Council. The Clerk
shall serve at the pleasure of the Council, and the compensation of
the Clerk shall be determined by the Council. The Clerk or designee
shall attend meetings of the Council and keep a full and accurate
account of the proceedings of the Council. The Clerk shall serve as
custodian of all official Town records. The Clerk shall ascertain
that all taxable property within the Town is assessed for taxation
and arrange for collection of all taxes, special assessments, license
fees, liens, and all other revenues of the Town and any other revenues
for whose collection the Town is responsible. The Clerk shall perform
such other duties as may be required by this Charter or the Council.
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 shall be the legal advisor of
the Town and shall perform such duties in this connection as may be
required by the Mayor and Council. The Town Attorney's compensation
shall be determined by the Council. The Town shall have the power
to employ such other legal consultants as it deems necessary from
time to time.
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 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 shall have the power to include its officers and employees
within any retirement system or pension system 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 from time to time by a resolution passed by the Council.
The Town is authorized and empowered to provide for or participate
in, by ordinance, hospitalization or other forms of benefit or welfare
programs for its employees, and to expend public monies of the Town
for such programs.
