[Adopted by Exec. Order No. 79-1[1]; amended in its entirety by Exec. Order No. 23-08]
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was included as Ch. 2, Art. VII, of the 1978 Code.
A. 
There is hereby created the Department of Housing and Community Services pursuant to Sections 402 and 413 of the Charter of Harford County, Maryland, which shall be in the Executive Branch of the County government.
B. 
Director.
(1) 
The Department shall be administered by a Director of Housing and Community Services.
(2) 
The Director shall be thoroughly trained and educated in the areas relating to affordable housing, community service programs and administration.
(3) 
At the time of the Director's appointment, the Director shall have had at least five (5) years' experience and shall have held a responsible position in affordable housing and either community service OR social service.
(4) 
The Director shall have demonstrated the ability to manage and direct affordable housing programs, community services, social services or human resource programs or agencies.
The powers, duties and functions of the department of housing and community services are as follows:
A. 
To provide for the coordination, control and oversight of: offering affordable housing to the Harford County Community and its citizens, human resources and community service agencies and other related agencies assigned to the Department. The Department of Housing and Community Services may be assigned and shall do and perform such other related duties and functions as may be assigned to it by the County Executive or by legislative act not inconsistent with this order.
B. 
To be responsible for the conduct of community service program projects.
C. 
To provide for full and complete participation in federally and State of Maryland funded housing programs presently in existence, as well as those enacted from time to time for families of low and moderate income, including those programs which are of a substantially related nature.
D. 
To accept grants from state and federal governments for the support of safe and affordable housing for residents of Harford County.
E. 
To submit annual budget requests to the County Executive for approval.
F. 
To provide an annual report to the County Council and citizens of Harford County reflecting the activities and performance, thereby allowing the County Council to evaluate the Department.
G. 
To promote the well-being and best interests of all citizens of Harford County, Maryland, with respect to housing opportunities.
H. 
To provide information to the citizens of Harford County concerning their opportunity to participate in the housing programs.