§ 2-2-23. Authority of commissioners to abolish certain authorities and the like and establish department of public works.

   (a)   The board of county commissioners may abolish any water or sewer authority created by the board of county commissioners pursuant to the provisions of Title 9, Subtitle 9 of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, or by public local law enacted by the General Assembly, and may abolish any sanitary district or commission created pursuant to the provisions of Title 9, Subtitle 6 of the Environment Article or enacted by public local law by the General Assembly. After such an authority, district or commission has been so abolished, or if none exists, the board of county commissioners shall create a department of public works and shall provide for its organization and functions.

   (b)   A department of public works created hereunder may be granted responsibility for the construction, maintenance and control of the following:

      (1)   General county public works, buildings, publicly-owned water and sewerage facilities and capital projects;

      (2)   Roads, highways, bridges and streets, lanes, alleys, footways and culverts;

      (3)   Water supply facilities and projects;

      (4)   Wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities and projects;

      (5)   Solid waste collection, recycling and disposal facilities and projects;

      (6)   Storm drainage, erosion and sediment control facilities and projects;

      (7)   Lighting for roads, highways, alleys and other public places;

      (8)   Fire hydrants, mosquito control facilities and programs and snow and ice removal;

      (9)   Such other functions and duties which are not inconsistent herewith as may be assigned from time to time by the board of county commissioners.

   (c)   An ordinance or resolution creating a department of public works hereunder shall provide for the retiring, refunding, refinancing, transfer, or assumption of any existing applicable outstanding bonded indebtedness of the county authority, district or commission which preceded it.

   (d)   The powers granted to board of county commissioners hereunder may be exercised notwithstanding the existence of any public general law or public local law to the contrary which is in existence at the time the board of county commissioners exercise the power granted by this section.

(Code 1959, § 2-2A; 1974, Chapter 629, § 1; 2007, Chapter 5, § 1)

Cross reference:

   Abolishment of Department of Public Works, see § 1-18-1