There shall be a classification and pay plan, enacted by ordinance, for all positions in the classified service. The classification plan shall include minimum qualifications for each class of position and the pay plan shall allocate each class of position to a salary range. The County Executive shall promulgate personnel rules governing payroll costs, including but not limited to the hours of work, vacations, sick leave and other absences, salary steps of promoted employees, and salaries of incumbents whose positions are reallocated to a lower pay grade, provided that before taking effect, the rules shall be approved by the County Council by ordinance. The plans and rules may be amended from time to time, but the Council shall not increase or decrease the salary of any member of the classified service except through amendment of the pay plan, or the rules affecting payroll costs. In the maintenance and review of the pay plan and amendment by ordinance the County Executive and the County Council shall take into consideration prevailing salaries and wages of competing public and private employers for similar classes of positions.
(Bill No. 97-80)