THEODORE R. MCKELDIN, GOVERNOR 595

to the Council for the administration of the affairs of the City;
to see that the ordinances of the City and the laws of the State
and of Montgomery or Prince George's County are enforced
within the corporate limits of the City; to make to the Council
such recommendations concerning the affairs of the City as
may seem to him desirable; to keep the Council advised as to
the financial condition of the City and its future needs; to pre-
pare and submit to the Council such reports as may be required
by that body; to supervise all administrative officers of the
City other than the Corporation Counsel; and to perform such
other duties as are prescribed by this charter or as may be
required of him by ordinance or resolution of the Council not
inconsistent with this charter.

2. (Purchases and Contracts. ) It shall be the duty of the
City Manager to control the purchase, storage and distribu-
tion of all supplies, materials, equipment and contractual serv-
ices required by the City; to establish and enforce standard
specifications with respect to such supplies, materials and
equipment, and to ascertain their quality, quantity and con-
formance to specifications; and to transfer to or between City
offices or departments or with the approval of the Council to
rent or sell surplus, obsolete or unused supplies, materials and
equipment. Before making any purchase or contract for sup-
plies, materials, equipment or contractual services, oppor-
tunity shall be given for competition, under such rules and
regulations, and with such exceptions, as the Council may by
ordinance prescribe. Every contract involving a total expendi-
ture by the City of $2, 500. 00 $1, 500. 00 or more shall be ap-
proved by the Council; ANY CONTRACT ENTERED INTO
IN VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION SHALL BE NULL
AND VOID, UNLESS LATER EXPRESSLY RATIFIED
BY THE COUNCIL.

3. (Departments and Offices. ) The administrative branches
of the City government shall include the departments of finance,
police, fire, and public works, and the office of the Corporate
OFFICES OF THE CITY CLERK AND CORPORATION
Counsel, except that the Council may by ordinance (a) combine-
any of the above; (b) create such additional departments or
offices as may be needed; (c) provide that the City Manager
shall without additional pay perform the functions imposed on
the head of any one or more of the various departments or
offices; or (d) amend or repeal any ordinance adopted under
the authority herein granted. The Council shall not have power
to discontinue any function or duty assigned by this charter
to any department or office, or to assign any such function or
duty to any other department or office except as provided in
clause (a) of this paragraph. The City Manager shall be re-