Each of the judges of the sixth judicial circuit resident in Montgomery County is hereby authorized to appoint a competent secretary who shall have had some previous experience in secretarial work, involving duties that demonstrate the ability to take rapid dictation, typing and to exercise independent judgment. Each of said secretaries shall hold his or her position at the pleasure of the judge by whom he or she is appointed and shall receive compensation therefor in the following manner:
The judge who appoints his or her secretary shall fix such secretary’s salary in the discretion of such judge between step A in grade 12 and step E in grade 15 in the pay schedule for employees of Montgomery County in force at the time such salary is fixed. The salary shall be fixed annually and may be changed, within such limits, from year to year by such judge, without regard to length of service. The compensation for such salaries shall be levied annually by the County Council of Montgomery County and shall be paid as are the salaries of other county employees. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 7-20; 1957, ch. 77, § 1.)