Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-05-20

tain sovereign powers of the Peo-
pie and General Assembly of
Maryland, and desiring to OBJ
tain the full benefits of efficiency,
economy, adequate planning, and
non-partisanship in the admins
tration of the local Government
of our County and to vest con-
troll of the Government in the
People of the County, do adopt
and establish as our charter and
form of government this
CHARTER OF MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, MARYLAND
ARTICLE 1.
BILL OF RIGHTS
SEC. 1. The Government of
this County originates from the
People who maintain their right
at all times to alter or reorganize
their form of Government pur-
suant to law.
SEC. 2. The officers and en-
ployees of the Government of the
County are the trustees of the
People thereof and are charged
with the duty of executing the
laws solely in the public interest,
impartially, without fear or favor,
and faithfully and fully in ac-
cordance with the terms thereof;
and all inhabitants of the County
shall be impartially accorded all
the rights and privileges to which
A.. o,,4s41o1 bxv loxr
Sec. 8. The People have the
right in a peaceful and orderly
manner to petition their County
Council and be heard by it for
redress of grievances and in the
same manner to assemble in law
full organizations of their own
choosing to consider their needs
and propose measures for meet
ing them.
SEC. A. The People have the
right to expect that under a nom
partisan Government qualified in
habitants of the County, not ex-
Guiding Federal officers and en-
ployees, will participate in the
Government and within reasona-
BILE limits serve it freely when
called by the People or their
County Council.
SEC. 5. The farms and homes
of the County are the foundation
for its character and it is in the
public interest that each farm
and home community shall be pre-
served from encroachments with
out its assent.
ARTICLE 2.
COUNTY COUNCIL
SEC. 1. Composition. There
shall be a County Council of
Montgomery County, Maryland,
composed of nine members as fol-
lows: One from each of the five
commissioner districts as estab-
lished by law in force July 1,
1913, and four from the County
at large. The commissioner dis
tricts shall hereafter be known
as council districts. The MEN,
bers shall be elected by the quail
fled voters of the County at the
quadrennial elections.
Sec. 2. Qualifications. a. No
person shall be eligible for cleo
ton to the office of member of
the County Council or hold such
office unless he is qualified voter
of the Couny and, in the case
of council member from any
council district, unless he is a
qualified voter of that council dis
trict.
b. No person shall hold the
office of member of the County
Council if he holds any other
office or employment for profit of
or under the State or County or
any agency or political subdivision
Of the State or County except in
the military or naval service of
the State, and no officer or EN-
ployee of the Legislative or Exec
utive Branches of the County
Government, other than a MEM
Der of the County Council, shall
be eligible for election to the
office of member of the County
Council.
c. No Federal elective officer
shall be eligible for election to
the office of member of the Coun-
ty Council or hold such office.
SEC. 8. Term of Office. Mem
bers Of the County Council shall
be elected at the quadrennial cleo
tons for county and state officers.
They shall hold office for terms
of four years commencing from
the time of their election and un-
til their successors shall qualify,
and they shall qualify as soon
after their election as practicable
and shall enter upon the duties
of their office Immediately upon
their qualification.
SEC. 4. Compensation. The
members of the County Council
shall serve without compensation
but the County Council may by
law provide for the payment to
each member, in lieu of reim-
bursement for expenses, of an
amount not to exceed SIS for each
meeting of the County Council in
Legislative or Executive Session
which the members attend in per-
son but not to exceed SIS for any
one day or $500 during any cal
endar year. No member of the
County Council shall receive any
salary, expenses, or compensation,
directly or indirectly, for the per-
Torrance of public duties for the
County, except as provided in
this Charter.