Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1947-05-22
II " I IO11I III
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

ARTICLE III
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Sec. /. Composition. The Execu-
tive Branch of the County Govern
ment shall be composed of the
County Council in Executive SEES
sion, the County Manager, the
heads of the several departments
of County Government, the County
Personnel Board, the Office of the
County Attorney, and other adj
ministrative agencies of the Coun-
ty Government.
Sec. 2. General Executive Pow
ers. The County Council is the
chief executive authority of the
County and is vested with the ex-
ecutive power thereof and consti-
tutes the county commissioners
| thereof. For the exercise of such
powers the County Council shall
sit in Executive Session at least
cnce in each calendar month and
at such other times as it may de-
termine. The Executive Sessions of
the County Council shall be open
or closed to the public from time to
tins as the County Council may
determine.
Sec. 8. Specific Executive Pow
ers. The County Council shall have
power in Executive Session to:
a. Exercise all powers, except
powers to enact legislation, hereto
fore or hereafter
% Vested in the County Coun-
Gil pursuant to the requirement of
Article XI-A of the Maryland Con-
stitution that all references in the
Constitution and laws of the State
to county commissioners shall be
construed to refer to the County
Council whenever such construc-
ton would be reasonable, including
all powers of the Board of County
Commissioners, or any of them, as
local board of health or as a dis
triet council or otherwise to adopt
and prescribe policies, rules, regu-
lations, and ordinances e r
ltaalth, sanitation, coming, Mont
gomery County Suburban District,
and other laws.
(2) Otherwise vested in the
County Council, the Board of
County Commissioners for Mont
gomery County, or any of them by
the Maryland Constitution, public
general laws, or other law, or vest
ed in the County Council by this
Charter.
b. Adopt expense and capital
budgets as provided in this Char
ter.
c. Prepare and hold hearings on
legislative program to be consid-
cred by the County Council in Leg
islative Session.
d. Appoint County Manager
and fix his compensation within
limits provided by this Charter,
and remove him at will or suspend
him without pay, provided that in
either such event he shall be given
a written statement of reasons and
prompt public hearing if request
ed. The County Manager shall be a
citizen of the United States, shall
be selected on the basis of merit
and shall have had adequate ex-
Lerience as an administrator in
municipal government and must
reside in Montgomery County
promptly after his appointment.
e. Elect from it's members a
President of the County Council
who shall be the presiding officer
thereof, and Secretary who shall
be responsible for the minutes and
records of the County Council in
Executive Session.
f. Establish by resolution gen.
eral policies, orders, or instructions
in conformity with law for admin
istering the functions of the Exec
utive Branch.
Sec. A. Veto. To guard against
hasty legislation and afford the
People of the County adequate OPP
portunity to express their will, no
bill shall become law until the 18TH
day of August following the close
of the Legislative Session. Prior to
such date any person shall have
the right to petition the County
Council or on written application
to appear in person before it in
Executive Session and state his
reasons why the bill should not be-
come law. Prior to such date the
County Council in Executive Ses-
sion shall have the right as the
chief executive authority of the
County by the affirmative vote of
four members to veto a bill and if
vetoed the bill shall not become
law. If not vetoed bill shall be-
come law on said 18th day of Au-
gust next following its passage I'M
less the bill is subjected to a valid
referendum under this Charter. In
the latter event, the bill shall be-
come law on the fifteenth day fol-
lowing approval by the voters at
the election, but not otherwise.
Sec. 5. Limitations on Members
of County Council.
a. The County Council in estab-
fishing as hereinbefore provided
any policies, orGers, or instructions
for administering the functions Of
the Executive Branch, shall act as
body; but no member thereof in
dividually shall do or attempt to
do any of the foregoing acts or su-
pervise, direct, administer or inter
fere with any of the functions of
the Executive Branch. @
b. The County Council shall ex-
ereise as a body such authority
with regard to the appointment,
compensation and removal of the
County Manager and the heads of
the several departments and spec
ial agencies as is specifically vested