The legislative and policy-making power of the County shall be vested in the County Council. Such powers and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To appoint and provide for the compensation and duties of the Clerk of Council and such other assistants as the County Council determines to be necesary for the efficient performance of its duties.
(2) To establish departments, and divisions and sections within departments, under the supervision of the County Executive, and such boards, agencies, commissions, and authorities as the County Council determines to be necessary for the efficient administration of the County.
(3) To establish procedures under which the County Executive may employ experts and consultants in connection with the administration of the affairs of the County.
(4) To establish procedures governing the making of County contracts and the purchasing of County supplies and equipment by competitive bidding.
(5) To adopt and amend the annual tax budget, the operating budget and the capital improvements program and to make appropriations for the County; however, County Council shall not have the power to levy and/or increase sales or use taxes by emergency measure by County Council to levy such taxes to a rate greater than the rate in effect and levied by County Council prior to January 1, 1993, shall not go into effect unless approved by a majority of the electors of the County at a primary or general election.
(6) To determine which officers and employees shall give bond and to fix the amount and form thereof.
(7) To provide for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, administration, rental, and leasing of property, as provided by general law.
(8) To cooperate or join by contract with any municipality, county, state or political subdivision or agency thereof, for the planning, development, construction, acquisition, or operation of any public improvement or facility, or for a common service, and to provide the terms upon which the County shall perform any of the services and functions of any municipality or political subdivision in the County.
(9) To provide for the procedure for making public improvements and levying assessments for such improvements.
(10) To establish personnel procedures, job descriptions, rankings, and uniform pay ranges for all County employees of the County Fiscal Officer, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Medical Examiner, County Engineer, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, County Council, County Executive, including the Department of Jobs and Family Services and the Department of Human Resources.
Except for the purpose of inquiry, the County Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the County Executive and neither the County Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the County Executive either publicly or privately.
(Amended 11-6-84; 11-5-91; 11-2-93; 11-2-99; 11-7-00; 11-6-01; 11-8-05.)