GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 30.01 NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS DESIGNATED; ELECTION; COMPENSATION.

   At the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1942, there shall be elected 3 County Commissioners for Garrett County, and at every general election in every fourth year thereafter there shall be elected 3 Commissioners, and the Commissioners so elected shall receive the same compensation as now provided by law.

(1986 Code, § 20-1) (P.L.L., 1930, Art. 12, § 80; 1892, Ch. 321, § 31A; 1941, Ch. 172, § 80.1)

§ 30.02 COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS; PROCEDURES FOR ELECTION AND VACANCIES.

   (A)   Districts designated. For the purpose of electing County Commissioners, Garrett County shall be divided into 3 County Commissioner Districts as follows:

      (1)   The First County Commissioner District shall be composed of the First, Fourth, Tenth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth Election Districts and Precinct 1 of the Eighth Election District;

      (2)   The Second County Commissioner District shall be composed of the Second, Third, Fifth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Fifteenth Election Districts;

      (3)   The Third County Commissioner District shall be composed of the Sixth, Seventh and Fourteenth Election Districts and Precinct 2 of the Eighth Election District.

   (B)   Election. At all future elections for the office of County Commissioner, 1 Commissioner shall be elected from among the voters residing in each County Commissioner District by the general vote of the county.

   (C)   Procedure at primary elections. At primary elections to be held in Garrett County at which candidates are selected for the position of County Commissioner, 1 candidate for each party shall be chosen from each County Commissioner District by the county-wide vote of the members of the respective parties. The Supervisors of Elections of Garrett County shall place the names of all persons who file papers for the position County Commissioner upon the ballots to be used by the respective parties in the county by Commissioner Districts so that under each Commissioner District on the ballot will appear the names in alphabetical order of all candidates residing in the district. The candidate of each party from each County Commissioner District who receives the greatest number of votes shall be certified by the Supervisors of Elections as the nominee of the political party to which he or she belongs, and the name of the nominee shall be placed on the official ballot to be used in the general election.

   (D)   Vacancies. If the office of any of the County Commissioners becomes vacant during the term, the Governor shall fill the vacancy as provided in Md. Code, Art. 25, § 16.

(1986 Code, § 20-2) (P.L.L., 1930, Art. 12, § 81; 1892, Ch. 321, § 31B; 1941, Ch. 172, § 81; 1951, Ch. 111; 1976, Ch. 673; 1993, Ch. 43; Am. by Md. H.B. 201, passed 3-22-2011)

§ 30.03 MEETINGS; AMOUNT OF TIME DESIGNATED FOR OFFICE-RELATED DUTIES.

   The Board of County Commissioners will meet in public session at least twice a month. The Board may hold public meetings in person or through live video streaming. The Board may not meet solely through live video streaming for more than two consecutive meetings without a formal declaration of a state of emergency. The Board will provide notice of all public meeting dates and times to include notification of any change in schedule or cancellation. The Board will schedule/announce administrative sessions to review matters that may require executive action during forthcoming public sessions or to address personnel, administrative, or other subjects. Each Commissioner will attend appointed commission, board or committee meetings as scheduled or planned.

(1986 Code, § 20-3) (P.L.L., 1888, Art. 12, § 32; 1930, § 82; 1878, Ch. 108; 1892, Ch. 509; 1912, Ch. 72; 1931, Ch. 210, § 82; 1967, Ch. 537; 1973, Ch. 281; 1979, Ch. 4; 1989, Ch. 249; Am. Ord. —, passed - -; Am. by Md. H.B. 671, passed - -)

§ 30.04 CLASSIFICATION AND DISPOSAL OF BUSINESS; PAYMENT OF BILLS.

   The County Commissioners may classify the business of the county and designate the meetings at which the several classes of business shall be disposed of. The County Commissioners shall transact the business of the county and shall pay all bills by orders made payable to whomever due, and the orders shall be delivered directly to the Director of the Department of Financial Services. The Director shall issue a check as Director to pay the orders and shall deliver the checks to the payee.

(1986 Code, § 20-4) (P.L.L., 1888, Art. 12, § 33; 1930, § 83; 1957 Code, § 66; 1878, Ch. 108; 1939, Ch. 286, § 83)

Editorial note:

   Section 3 of ch. 286 of 1939 provided that if any County Commissioner or the County Administrator or the Director of Financial Services should violate any of the provisions of this section he or she should be liable to indictment and, upon conviction, should forfeit his or her office. Also, ch. 754 of 1941 proposed to add a new § 83A to the 1930 Edition of the local code concerning the appointment of an attorney by the County Commissioners. It was vetoed by the Governor. See 1941 Session Laws, pgs 1306 and 2052.

§ 30.05 COMPENSATION.

   Each County Commissioner shall receive $32,500 for the term beginning in 2006. The salary is set by the County Commissioners in accordance with the Public Local Laws of Garrett County, Ch. 91.

§ 30.06 COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

   (A)   Subject to division (B) of this section, the County Commissioners shall appoint a County Administrator on the terms and conditions of employment as the County Commissioners and County Administrator shall agree.

   (B)   The term of appointment of the County Administrator may not exceed 4 years or extend more than 6 months after the end of the term of the County Commissioners making the appointment.

   (C)   (1)   The County Administrator shall serve as Chief Administrative Officer of the county and, to the extent delegated by the County Commissioners, is responsible for executive, administrative, and management functions.

      (2)   The County Commissioners shall establish:

         (a)   A job description and job summary for the position of County Administrator; and

         (b)   The necessary experience, qualifications and training for any applicant seeking the County Administrator’s position.

   (D)   Notwithstanding Md. Code, Art. 25, § 1:

      (1)   In Garrett County, the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners shall be known as the County Administrator; and

      (2)   Any reference in state or local law to the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners shall mean the County Administrator.

(1986 Code, § 20-7) (P.L.L., 1888, Art. 12, § 35; 1930, § 85; 1957 Code, § 70; 1878, Ch. 108; 1945, Ch. 450; 1957, Ch. 258, § 85; 1959, Ch. 311; 1966, Ch. 70; 1967, Ch. 289; 1971, Ch. 16; 1973, Ch. 644; Md. H.B. 596, passed 2-24-1998)