712                              Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 348

political affiliation and he shall hold office during good behavior
and shall be removable only for incompetency or immorality upon
charges furnished in writing by the board setting forth the grounds
for dismissal and after opportunity for hearing.

(b-1) Garrett County.—In Garrett County, the majority clerk
and the minority clerk each shall receive an annual salary of three
thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600.00).

(c)    Harford County.—The board in Harford County shall ap-
point a chief clerk at an annual salary to be fixed by the county
commissioners. The chief clerk so appointed shall be skilled in
typing and clerical work and he shall have charge of the proper
maintenance of the registration and voting records in Harford County,
subject to the general supervision of the board. He shall be appointed
upon the basis of his skill and ability in record keeping without
regard to political affiliation and he shall hold office during good
behavior and shall be removable only for incompetency or immorality
upon charges furnished in writing by the board setting forth the
grounds for dismissal and after opportunity for hearing.

(d)    Montgomery County.—The board in Montgomery County
shall employ and appoint a majority clerk, a minority clerk, and
two registrars who shall constitute the permanent board of registry,
and each member of the permanent board of registry shall be paid
the sum of $1,200 per annum for the expenses incident to the
operation of their automobiles. The board shall also employ and
appoint sufficient and appropriate staff for the performance of duties
required by this article. All salaries shall be established in the
annual appropriations resolution and levy in Montgomery County.
The number of clerks and other employees appointed by the board
for the majority party shall not exceed, at any time, the number of
clerks or employees of the principal minority party by more than
one. The majority clerk of the board and one person who shall be
appointed by the Governor in the same manner and on the same
terms and conditions as the members of the board are appointed
and who shall belong to the principal minority party, and who will
be the minority clerk, shall constitute the board of registry for the
county.

(e)    Prince George's County.—The County Commissioners of
Prince George's County may provide supplementary funds for the
payment of compensation or other expenses which had not been
included in the original appropriation. The full-time permanent
employees of the board including the chief clerk shall be qualified,
employed and compensated in accordance with the rules and regu-
lations of the merit board of Prince George's County and subject
to its privileges and responsibilities, provided that, however, (1)
the chief clerk of said board shall be considered the department head
for purposes of such rules and regulations, (2) there shall be two
registers for positions under such department head, one for each of
the two leading political parties, and (3) the positions filled from
each register shall not exceed the other by more than one.

(f)    Queen Anne's County.—In Queen Anne's County, the clerk
of the board shall receive an annual salary of $500.

(g)    Somerset County.—In Somerset County, the clerk of the
board shall receive an annual salary of $700.