The Town Secretary shall serve as clerk to the council. The
Town Secretary shall attend every meeting of the council and keep
a full and accurate account of the proceedings of the council. The
Town Secretary shall keep such other records and 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 is the legal advisor of the town
and shall perform such duties in this connection as may be required
by the council or the mayor. Compensation of the town attorney shall
be determined by the council. The town has the power to employ such
legal consultants as it deems necessary from time to time.
The town may employ such officers and employees as it seems
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 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 town 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 town may do all things necessary to include its officers
and employees, within any retirement system 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 town.
The compensation of all officers and employees of the town 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
councilpersons and mayor.
The town 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 town for such programs.