Except as otherwise provided in this Charter or in State law, all agencies of the County government are subject to the direction, supervision, and control of the County Manager under the authority of the Council.
(a) 
The Office of Law shall be administered by the County Attorney under the direct authority of the Council. Prior to his appointment, he shall be a resident of the County for at least two years, a member in good standing of the Bar of the Maryland Court of Appeals, and actively engaged in the general practice of his profession in the State of Maryland for at least five years.
(b) 
The County Attorney is the chief legal officer of the County, conducts all the law business of the County and is the legal advisor and legislative draftsman for the Council. He shall represent the County in all legal action in which the County is a party. Except as otherwise provided in State law, or with prior written approval of the Council, no agency of the County government, except the County Board of Appeals, has any authority or power to employ or retain any legal counsel other than the County Attorney.
(c) 
The Council may employ special legal counsel to work on problems of extraordinary nature when the work to be done is of a character or magnitude requiring services in addition to those regularly provided by the Office of Law.
(d) 
Neither the County Attorney nor any assistant in the Office of Law may, while holding office, practice as an attorney before the Council or any agency of the County government in any capacity other than representing the County's interests.
(a) 
The Office of Planning shall be administered by the County Planning Officer. He shall be a trained planner with wide and varied experience in the fields of planning and zoning. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident of Talbot County, but must reside in Talbot County promptly after his appointment.
(b) 
The County Planning Officer has the continuing responsibility and duty of planning for the physical development and growth of the County, including recommendations for the revision of the Comprehensive Plan and the preparation of revisions from time to time of rules and regulations concerning planning and zoning. He is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of a zoning map and zoning rules and regulations now in effect or as hereafter amended by the Council.
(a) 
There shall be a Planning and Zoning Commission consisting of five residents of the County who have been qualified voters for at least two years. Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be appointed by the Council for terms of five years, except that the respective terms of the five members first appointed shall be on a staggered basis (of the five initial appointments, one member shall serve for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years, and one for five years). At least one member of the Commission shall be a member of the principal minority party. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment. Each member shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified. A member of the Commission may be removed only for cause by the Council. The Commission shall elect its own officers on an annual basis.
(b) 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold regular monthly meetings; but special meetings may be held at any time at the call of the Chairman. The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction of its business. It shall hold hearings at its discretion or on resolution of the Council on any matter pending before the Commission. It shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, determinations, and decisions and it shall keep minutes of its proceedings, all of which shall be filed with the County Planning Officer and be public records.
(c) 
The Planning and Zoning Commission shall make advisory recommendations to the County Planning Officer and the Council relating to the Comprehensive Plan, the zoning maps, and rules and regulations relating to zoning. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall have final decision making authority over major subdivisions and commercial and industrial site plan review. The Council, by resolution, may provide for reference to the Commission for review and recommendations, any additional matters related to the Commission's functions and duties.
[Amended 12-11-2001 by Res. No. 92, approved at referendum 11-12-2002, effective 12-12-2002]
(a) 
The Department of Public Works shall be administered by the County Engineer. He shall be a registered professional engineer in compliance with state law. At the time of his appointment, he need not be a resident of Talbot County but must reside in Talbot County promptly after his appointment.
(b) 
The County Engineer is responsible for the performance of all functions and duties involving: (1) public works or utilities survey reports, maps, drawings, specifications, and estimates; (2) supervision of the execution of and performance of all contracts for capital projects; (3) the construction of capital projects by county employees; (4) such supervision of the county roads program as the Council may direct; (5) the acceptance of roads and dedicated ways as prescribed by law; (6) the regulation, operation, maintenance and control of water supply, sewage, garbage and sanitary facilities, except duties and functions of the Sanitary Commission; (7) the supervision of the office of the Plumbing Inspector and, if and when created, the office of the Building Inspector; (8) the regulation, operation, maintenance and control of county public landings, wharf facilities and parks; (9) the issuance of licenses, the conduct of inspections and the administration and enforcement of all laws and regulations relating to inspections, licenses and permits as designated by the County Council; and (10) other duties provided from time to time by legislative act of the Council not inconsistent with this Charter.
The Council shall have the authority to change the administrative organization of the county government by legislative act. This authority shall cover the agencies established in this Charter and shall include the abolition of agencies, the establishment of new agencies and the assignment or reassignment of functions, powers and duties among agencies.