City of College Park, MD Chapter 4 Administrative Organization

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park 5-10-1966 by Ord. No. 66-O-7. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Authorities — See Ch. 11.

Boards, commissions and committees — See Ch. 15.

Finance — See Ch. 42.

Personnel — See Ch. 62.

Police Commissioner — See Ch. 65.

Purchasing procedures — See Ch. 69.

§ 4-1 Statement of policy.

The benefits of proper organization and operation and the allied benefits of clear lines of authority and responsibility within an organization are many. In order that such benefits shall accrue to the City of College Park, it is the policy and intent of the Mayor and Council that a suitable form of organization be adopted for the government of the City and that henceforth the general operation of the City be carried forth within the framework of said form of organization.

§ 4-2 General form of organization.

[Amended 2-27-1973 by Ord. No. 73-O-1; 5-12-1987 by Ord. No. 87-O-5; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 7-6-1993 by Ord. No. 93-O-4; 3-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-O-3]

A. The general form of organization for the government of the City shall be as follows:

(1) The Mayor and City Council shall have final authority and responsibility over all of the affairs of the City.

(2) The City Manager shall be the chief agent of the Mayor and Council, shall be responsible for the general operations of the City government and shall be directly responsible to the Mayor and Council for the conduct of said operation.

[Amended 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01]

(3) Assistant City Manager. The Assistant City Manager shall be hired by the City Manager subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council. The Assistant City Manager shall perform such duties as the City Manager may require and shall act as the City Manager in the City Manager's absence.

[Amended 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01]

(4) City Clerk. The City Clerk shall be within the jurisdiction of the City Manager. During the absence or unavailability of the City Clerk, the City Manager may designate some other City employee to serve as acting City Clerk.

(5) Such Citizens Advisory Boards as the Mayor and City Council may from time to time establish shall be directly responsible to the Mayor and Council and shall also act in an advisory capacity to the City Manager.

(6) The City Attorney shall be directly responsible to the Mayor and City Council and shall also act in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the heads of the several departments.

(7) The heads of the several departments shall be directly responsible to the City Manager.

(8) The personnel employed by the several departments shall be directly responsible to the head of the department in which they are employed or to such supervisory personnel as said department head may designate.

B. The hierarchy of authority and responsibility within the government of the City as set forth in this section shall be visually construed as set forth in Table 1 hereinbelow.

[Amended 3-24-1998 by Ord. No. 98-O-3]

§ 4-3 Departments.

[Amended 2-27-1973 by Ord. No. 73-O-1; 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6; 10-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-O-7; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22]

A. The general government operations of the City shall be subdivided for administrative purposes in the following manner, each subdivision being designated a department and placed under the direct supervision of a department head appointed by the City Manager:

[Amended 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]

(1) Finance Department.

(2) Public Services Department.

(3) Public Works Department.

(4) Planning and Community Development Department.

[Amended 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06; 8-11-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-09]

(5) Youth, Family and Senior Services Department.

[Amended 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06]

(6) Human Resources.

[Added 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01]

B. The title of the several department heads shall be, respectively, as follows:

(1) Finance Director.

(2) Public Services Director.

(3) Public Works Director.

(4) Planning and Community Development Director.

[Amended 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06; 8-11-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-09]

(5) Youth, Family and Senior Services Director.

[Amended 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06]

(6) Human Resources Director.

[Added 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01]

§ 4-4 Finance Department.

[Amended 2-27-1973 by Ord. No. 73-O-1; 4-10-1984 by Ord. No. 84-O-2; 11-13-1990 by Ord. No. 90-O-4; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]

The Finance Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned thereto by the Mayor and City Council and/or the City Manager:

A. All of the several financial affairs and operations of the City.

B. Preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets.

C. Preparation of the annual financial report.

D. All purchases of goods and services.

E. [1]Maintenance of all City finance records.

[1] Editor’s Note: Former Subsection E, Personal affairs, was repealed 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01. This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections F through I as Subsections E through H, respectively.

F. Investments of City moneys made by the Finance Director and/or City Manager under the provisions of § 17-101 et seq., of the Local Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.

[Amended 11-10-2015 by Ord. No. 15-O-06]

G. All of the several financial affairs and operations of the City as to collections.

(1) The Director is authorized to write off uncollectible accounts, defined as those that do not lend themselves to collection in an economically practicable way. Any such account balance in excess of $1,000 would require the written approval of the City Manager.

[Amended 11-10-2015 by Ord. No. 15-O-06]

(2) Subject to review by the City Manager, the Director is authorized to establish collection procedures which will set appropriate levels of collection for various dollar amounts delinquent.

(3) Subject to review by the City Manager, the Director is authorized to negotiate payment terms with delinquent accounts, and this authorization extends to freezing additional penalties and/or interest if payments are received by the City as negotiated. Nothing herein shall be construed as authorizing forgiveness of any past due indebtedness or interest or penalties, unless such forgiveness of interest or lateness penalties is part of an advertised program of amnesty directed, not at an individual but at an inclusive group of code violators or an inclusive group of accounts for a given revenue source. Any such amnesty program shall be of limited duration, shall be effective for violations committed or delinquent accounts for a given revenue source during a specified period of time and shall require the authorization of the City Manager.

[Amended 3-10-1992 by Ord. No. 92-O-2]

H. Collection of all moneys due to the City, to include taxes, special assessments, penalties, interest, licenses, permits and charges for services.

§ 4-5 Public Services Department.

[Amended 10-24-1978 by Ord. No. 78-O-7; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]

The Public Services Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned thereto by the Mayor and City Council and/or the City Manager:

A. Enforcement of all codes and all rules and regulations pertaining thereto.

B. Issuance of all licenses and enforcement of all rules and regulations pertaining thereto.

C. Issuance of all permits and enforcement of all rules and regulations pertaining thereto.

D. Performance of all required inspections.

E. Enforcement of animal control laws.

F. Enforcement of fire regulations.

G. Enforcement of parking regulations.

H. Supervision of police personnel.

I. Enforcement of all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the City of College Park and, where jurisdiction lies with the City, of Prince George's County, the State of Maryland and the United States.

J. Research, analysis and recommendations on county legislative matters, zoning matters, licenses, permits, waivers, variances and similar matters.

K. Administration and control of City recreation facilities.

§ 4-6 Public Works Department.

[Amended 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]

The Public Works Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned thereto by the Mayor and City Council and/or the City Manager:

A. Refuse collection and disposal.

B. Street sanitation.

C. Road construction and maintenance.

D. Care and maintenance of buildings and grounds.

E. Operation of the central garage.

F. Equipment maintenance.

G. Storm drainage construction and maintenance.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former § 2-7, Department of Engineering Services, as amended 2-27-1973 by Ord. No. 73-O-1, and which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22.

§ 4-7 Planning and Community Development Department.

[Amended 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06; 8-11-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-09]

The Planning and Community Development Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned thereto by the Mayor and Council and/or the City Manager:

A. Administration of community development, planning and programs.

B. Administration of urban renewal programs.

C. Administration of housing assistance programs.

D. Liaison with College Park Housing Authority.

§ 4-8 Youth, Family and Senior Services Department.

[Amended 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 9-14-1993 by Ord. No. 93-O-6; 8-10-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-06]

A. The Youth, Family and Senior Services Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned thereto by the Mayor and City Council and/or the City Manager:

(1) Programs having as their objective the diversion of youths from activities and conduct that tend to lead them into the juvenile justice system.

(2) Programs having as their objective assistance to senior citizens.

(3) Programs having as their objective successful resolution of disputes within the City of College Park.

B. Subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council, the Director of the Youth, Family and Senior Services Department is hereby authorized to establish and collect reasonable fees for counseling services provided by the Youth and Family Services Program. No person shall be denied services because of inability to pay a fee. Subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council, the Finance Director and the Director of the Youth, Family and Senior Services Department shall establish a reasonable procedure for the collection of fees and the issuance of receipts for payment.

§ 4-9 Human Resources Department.

[Added 1-29-2019 by Ord. No. 19-O-01[1]]

The Human Resources Department shall be responsible for the following operations and such other operations as may hereafter be assigned by the Mayor and City Council and/or the City Manager:

A. Administer the personnel system.

B. Maintain all personnel records.

C. Oversee the employment process, including recruiting, examining, investigating and determining qualifications for all positions in the personnel system.

D. Administer employee benefits, insurance, pension and retirement.

E. Administer bargaining agreement.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former §§ 4-9 through 4-11 as §§ 4-10 through 4-12, respectively.

§ 4-10 Use of personnel.

[Amended 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]

The City Manager shall have the authority to employ personnel in dual capacities on an interdepartmental basis if such employment shall be deemed necessary in the interests of economy and efficiency.

§ 4-11 Construal of provisions.

[Amended 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6]

The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in such a manner as would render them in conflict with the provisions of the City Charter or the Personnel Ordinance.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 62, Personnel and Employee Benefits. Former § 2-12, Code of the City of College Park, as amended 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6, and which immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22.

§ 4-12 Addition and abolishment of departments.

[Added 7-20-1976 by Ord. No. 76-O-6]

The Mayor and City Council reserve the right to add or abolish departments within the plan of organization as may be necessary to carry forth the intent and purpose of this chapter.