MONTGOMERY COUNTY                                  2115

Section 403. Personnel Board

There is established a Personnel Board composed of three members
who are qualified voters of the County appointed by the Council. One
member shall be appointed each year for a term of three years. Any
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of a
term shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. Appointments
shall be made so that not more than two members of the Board shall be
members of the same political party. No member shall hold political office
or participate in any campaign for any political or public office during his
term of office. Members of the Board shall be compensated as prescribed
by law.

Section 404. Duties of the Personnel Board

The County Personnel Board shall, subject to the approval of the
County Council, adopt regulations not in conflict with this Charter, cover-
ing the classification of all positions in the Executive and Legislative
Branches under the merit system; minimum qualifications for any such
positions, methods of determining such qualifications, and methods of
selection for any such position; probationary periods, promotions, trans-
fers; causes for removal from any such position and methods of removal,
including demotions, furloughs and reduction of staff; annual, sick and
other leave; prohibitions against political activity; maintenance of per-
sonnel records; and similar personnel matters. Such regulations shall have
the force and effect of law. The Board shall prepare and recommend to
the County Council a system of retirement pay and from time to time
may prepare and recommend modifications thereof. Any employee under
the merit system who is removed, demoted, or suspended shall have, as
a matter of right, an opportunity for a hearing before the Personnel
Board, and in such event the charges against him shall be stated in writ-
ing, in such form as the Board shall require. The decisions of the Person-
nel Board in such appeals shall not be subject to review except by a court
of competent jurisdiction.

Section 405. Prohibition Against Political Activity

No officer or employee of the County whose salary or expenses are
payable in whole or in part from County funds shall participate in any
campaign for any political or public office. This prohibition shall not apply
to an elected officer, or a person appointed to fill an elected vacancy,
or a member of a board or commission unless otherwise provided in this
Charter.

Section 406. Prohibition Against Private Use of Public Employees

No member of the Council, the County Executive, or any officer or
employee of the County shall detail or cause any officer or employee of
the County to do or perform any service or work outside of his public
office or employment.

Section 407. Prohibition Against Additional Compensation

No member of the Council and no officer or employee of the County
whose salary is fixed, in whole or in part, by this Charter, the laws of
the County, or its personnel regul