The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1957-05-09
Attorney Feels
Board Has Right
TO Hire Workers
Cites Decision Of Court Of
Appeals In Giving
His Opinion

The Board of County Commits
sioners received a reserved opinion
this week that would indicate that
it has authority to employ such Of
ficers, agents and servants needed
to perform the duties of the board.
There has been some question
about this since the passage of a
bill in the recent legislature which
declares that the clerk to the Coun-
ty Commissioners must perform all
the duties of his office without any
additional help and stipulates that
the office shall be kept open from
9 to IL and from l to 4, daily ex-
cept Sunday.
At present there is a clerk to the
County Commissioners, Reginald I.
BrOhawn; an assistant clerk, Mrs.
Virginia Fizer, and two stenogra-
pliers in the Assessors office. The
latter two are paid directly by the
County Commissioners but work
comparatively with the State Tax
Commission and the local super
visor of assessments.
The opinion was written by w.
Dwight Slower, attorney TO the
Board Quoting the law which goes
into effect June | which says that
the clerk shall be in charge of the
office OF the County Commissioners,
shall perform the duties pertaining
TO his office and such other duties
as may be prescribed by the County
Commissioners or imposed by law"
it set the clerks salary at $500 in
stead Of $780, II also declares that
The Clerk shall perform all the
duties of his office without addi-
tional help"
Mr.. Slower quoted sections of the
constitution, and opinions from the
Court of Appeals, one section stat
ing that the county commissioners
of each county are declared to be
a corporation and shall have full
powers to appoint road supervisors,
collectors of taxes, trustees of the
poor, clerk to the board and all
other officers, agents and servants
required for county purposes not
otherwise provided for by law or
by the constitution, and they shall
have charge of and control over the
property owned by the County
He said the Court of Appeals had
interpreted this section many
times and that such words were
intended TO confer upon the COM
miSsioncrS a power to appoint "all
other officers, agents, and servants.
required for county purposes" in
addition TO those whose existence
was provided for either by the con-
Stitution or act of assembly.
Slower declared in his opinion,
therefore, it would appear from
the cases | have referred TO that
your board does possess the au-
thority to employ such officers,
agents and servants needed to per-
form the duties of your board"
Slower pointed out that the clerk
should be in charge of the office of
County Commissioners and must
perform his duties without any as
SiStance
His duties he interpreted as be
ing in charge of a true meridian
line, compiling a list of male tax
able inhabitants for jury purposes,
delivering all orders for payment
of monies to the treasurer, check
ing animal skins for bounty pur-
poses and any duties imposed upon
the clerk by the board
II. d. SWartZcntruber, president
of the County Commissioners said
yesterday that the Board was still
undecided just what action to take
in regard to the number of work
crS TO maintain in the office, in
order TO adequately do the Job.
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