1334 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 904

gomery County, shall be a member of the classified service
and subject to the provisions of this sub-title except that
the following employees shall not be included: The County
Supervisor, the County Comptroller and Accountant, the
Counsel and Assistant Counsel to the County Commissioners,
the County Purchasing Agent, the County Civil Service Com-
missioner, the Chief of Police (but not other members of the
County Police Department), the County Engineer and As-
sistant County Engineers, the County Road Supervisors, the
Clerk and Assistant Clerk to the County Commissioners, the
Clerk in the County Building at Bethesda and the Clerk in the
County Building at Silver Spring.

678. (a) The Commissioner shall make such rules and regu-
lations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this
sub-title, and the Commissioner may abolish, add to, change or
amend all such rules. All such rules when approved by the
Board of County Commissioners shall have the force and effect
of law.

(b) The Commissioner shall advise any administrative au-
thority, upon request, concerning personnel policies and the
Commissioner shall have authority to adjust any dispute aris-
ing under the rules and regulations promulgated under the
authority contained in this section.

679. The Commissioner shall establish classes and classify
therein all positions held by employees of Montgomery County,
and shall from time to time, thereafter as may be necessary,
establish additional classes and classify therein new positions
created, and may combine, alter or abolish existing classes.
Each such class shall embrace all positions similar in respect
to the duties and responsibilities appertaining thereto and the
qualifications required for the fulfillment thereof and shall be
given a classification title indicative of the character and rank
of the employment.

680. (a) The Commissioner shall hold examinations to estab-
lish lists of persons eligible to hold the various classes of
positions. Such examinations may be written or oral in the
form of a demonstration of skill or 'any combination of these
and shall be of a character fairly to test and determine the
relative abilities of candidates to perform the duties of the
class of position to which they seek to be appointed. Such
examinations shall be competitive, free and open to all per-
sons with such limitations as to age, sex, health, habits, moral
character, physical condition, and other qualifications as are
in the judgment of the Commission prerequisite to the per-
formance of the duties of the positions for which examination
is sought.