The Chief Administrative Officer is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, secs. 210, 211).
ETHICS COMMISSION
Annually, the Commission submits a report to the State Ethics Commission, showing County compliance with State law governing the public ethics of local officials with respect to conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, and lobbying (Code General Provisions Article, secs. 5-804 through 5-812).
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Ethics Commission consists of five members (County Code, secs. 19A.06.01.01 through 19A.23.01).
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE
The Task Force develops interagency coordination of strategies to respond to and prevent human trafficking. Moreover, the Task Force seeks to increase the identification and prosecution of those supporting the organized crime of human trafficking, and improve identification of and services for its victims.
INTERAGENCY COORDINATING BOARD FOR COMMUNITY USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES
Nine members constitute the Board. Three are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent. One member is appointed by the Superintendent of Schools with Board of Education consent, and one member is appointed by the Montgomery County members of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. One member represents the County Council. Two nonvoting members represent the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel.
COMMISSION ON JUVENILE JUSTICE
State and County-funded programs and services for juveniles and families involved in the juvenile justice system are evaluated by the Commission in terms of capacity, use, and effectiveness. The Commission also Informs and advises the Juvenile Court, County Council, County Executive, and State legislators on the needs and requirements of minors and the juvenile justice system. Further, the Commission studies and recommends procedures, programs, or legislation to prevent juvenile delinquency and child abuse or neglect. In addition, the Commission periodically visits juvenile facilities, and informs the community regarding juvenile needs and the effectiveness of programs (County Code, Art. 6, secs. 12-36 through 12-43).
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
The Police Accountability Board receives complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public. On a quarterly basis, the Board meets with heads of law enforcement agencies, and works with those agencies and County government to improve County policing.
Legal mandates providing for the Board also authorized Charging Committees and Trial Boards, whose civilian members are appointed by the Police Accountability Board. On a quarterly basis, the Board reviews disciplinary matters considered by Charging Committees.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to three-year terms, the Board consists of nine members. Nonvoting members also may be appointed. The Chair is designated by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Code, Chapter 35, art. 4, sec. 35-24).
Meeting at least monthly, the Committee reviews the findings of each law enforcement agency’s investigation of police misconduct complaints forwarded by the agency to the Committee. The Committee makes determinations and recommendations from information related to the investigation. It may review body camera footage, call a police office before the Committee, determine if a police officer should be administratively charged, recommend discipline, and submit written opinions to the director of the law enforcement agency, the accused police officer, the complainant, and Police Accountability Board.
Five members constitute the Committee. Two are appointed by the County Executive, and two by the Police Accountability Board. The Chair of the Police Accountability Board serves ex officio. Members serve three-year terms (County Code, chapter 35, art. 4, sec. 35-24).
REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE
The Task Force is to focus on building a more equitable and inclusive County by promoting safe neighborhoods and communities that are better for all County residents. It will recommend changes to the County Police Department, and related public safety and other programs.
COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
The Commission advises the County Executive and County Council on issues of inequity in laws and policies as they pertain to women.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission's fifteen members serve three-year terms (County Code sec. 27–29).
OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES
The Department oversees the Office of Procurement, and four divisions: Building Design and Construction; Facilities Management; Fleet Management Services; and Real Estate and Management Services (Code of County Regulations, secs. 11B.00.01/03, 11B.45.01/02, 11B.65.01). The Department also is aided by the Interagency Coordinating Board for Community Use of Public Facilities.
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY & ENTERPRISE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
The County's information and communication systems are managed by the Department as is the County’s 311 call center, which allows residents to access these services by phone.The Department also designs and maintains MyMontgomery, a website showing public and commercial services within the County (Code of County Regulations, Division 11D, secs. 02.58D.01/02; 08A.08.01; 08A.02.01; 08A.29.01).
The Office of Cable Communications, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are overseen by the Department.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Committee's nine members serve three-year terms.
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
In September 2001, the Office opened the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton. Relocating to the Mid-County Regional Service Center in Wheaton in 2011, the Center expanded its services to include programs at the Wheaton Library, and the Upcounty Regional Service Center in Germantown. With civic and nonprofit organizations, the Office presents educational programs at the Gilchrist Center and its outreach sites. Courses cover citizenship, civics, computers, cultural understanding, English, English as a second language, and French and Spanish. The Center also provides a pro bono legal clinic at the Center.
OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Office investigates complaints of unfair or deceptive business practices, and works in cooperation with federal, State and County agencies to pursue legal action against contractors and companies found in violation of consumer protection laws. Offering consumer education and outreach, the Office publishes annual reports on consumer guidelines and concerns, as well as legal actions taken (County Code, secs. 11-1 through 11-11; Code of County Regulations, secs. 11.04A.01.01 through 11.04A.01.06).en (County Code, secs. 11-1 through 11-11; Code of County Regulations, secs. 11.04A.01.01 through 11.04A.01.06).
Under the Office are the Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection, and the Cable Compliance Commission.
OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT
Maintaining a central data bank of grants, the Office serves as a hub for grants that the County receives or awards. The Office tracks County involvement in grants, publicizes grant possibilities, and works with the Office of Procurement to ensure grants are aligned with the County's racial equity and social justice goals. Moreover, the Office helps develop policy and procedures, and provides training and technical support for grants management.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Office is assisted by the Commission on Hate/Violence, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, nineteen members comprise the Commission. Of these, nine serve ex officio as nonvoting members (County Council Resolution nos. 19-24, 19-291).
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Committee advises the County Executive, County Council, and County agencies on the status of racial equity and social justice. It recommends policies, programs, legislation, or regulations necessary to reduce inequity in housing, education, and public services.
Seventeen members constitute the Committee. Ten public members are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to three-year terms. (County Code, Art. XIV, sec. 27-83).
Search the Manual
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMISSION
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission coordinates criminal justice policies among criminal justice and law enforcement agencies in the County. The Commission provides analysis and information to support these agencies and evaluates the adequacy and organization of law enforcement and the administration of justice in the County (County Code, sec. 2-60).
The Ethics Commission enforces and interprets the County Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics regulates conflicts of interest, solicitation and receipt of gifts, other employment of present and former public employees, lobbying, financial disclosure by public employees, the use of County property or the County insignia, and the use of the prestige of office (County Charter, sec. 410).
In 2014, the Human Trafficking Task Force was created by the County Executive.
The Interagency Coordinating Board for Community Use of Public Facilities advocates for policies to increase public use of schools and other County facilities (County Code sec. 44-3).
The Commission on Juvenile Justice began in 1981 as the Juvenile Court Committee. It advised the County Council and County Executive on matters relating to the Juvenile Court, which started in 1931. The County Council reformed the Committee as the Commission on Juvenile Justice in July 2000.
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly required each Maryland county to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Montgomery County, the County Council established the
Police Accountability Board in May 2022 (County Council Bill no. 49-21).
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
In May 2022, the Administrative Charging Committee was formed by the County Council (County Council Bill no. 49-21).
In August 2020, the County Executive formed the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force.
The Commission on Veterans Affairs, created in 2008, advises the County Executive and Council on the status of programs and services related to the needs of veterans (County Code, secs. 24-61).
In 1972, the Commission for Women was established by the County Council.
Support to local farmers is provided by the Office of Agriculture through regulatory marketing and technical assistance; farmland preservation; agricultural education; and governmental partnerships. The Office also oversees the work of agricultural agencies at the Agricultural History Farm Park at Derwood.
The Department of Finance is the custodian of all County funds, securities, and insurance policies; and collects County taxes, special assessments, license fees, and other revenue. The Department manages indebtedness; invests and disburses County funds; and prepares an annual financial report containing a detailed account of all monies received and paid out by the County (County Charter, sec. 214; County Code, secs. 20-1 through 20-81).
For all County property and purchasing, the Department of General Services is responsible. For the County, the Department designs, builds, and maintains buildings; manages vehicles; repairs property and vehicles, and purchases new properties and equipment, as needed.
The Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions started as the Department of Technology Services, and adopted its present name in April 2021.
OFFICE OF CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
The Office of CableCommunications is assisted by the Cable Communications Advisory Committee.
CABLE COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Cable Communications Advisory Committee helps oversee the County cable television franchise agreement, and advises the County on use of the cable system, allocation of grants for public service, and technology issues.
Promoting the civic advancement of ethnic communities in the County, the Office of Community Partnerships provides outreach to local nonprofit organizations and religious institutions to provide access to government and opportunities for civic service.
Established in 1971, the Office of Consumer Protection reported directly to the County Executive. In 1996, the Office transferred to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs as the Division of Consumer Protection. In 2006, the Division moved back under the County Executive as the Office of Consumer Protection.
Authorized in July 2021, the Office of Grants Management was established by the County Council on July 1, 2022 (County Council Bill no. 36-19; County Code, Chapter IA, sec, IA-203).
The Office of Human Resources supervises the County merit system in accordance with the County Charter, and federal, State and local laws, and rules and regulations. The Office assists all appointing authorities in implementing the merit system Charter provisions and the personnel regulations of the County Executive. The Office also helps the County Executive develop and administer a career service and a comprehensive management personnel program; and provides cooperative personnel services to County municipalities; the County Revenue Authority; and agencies supported (in whole or in part) by taxes levied by the County Council (County Code, sec. 2-64I).
Investigating complaints of discrimination and incidents of hate or violence, the Office of Human Rights administers the County’s Partnership Fund for Victims of Hate Violence. Created in 1987, the Fund assists communities and victims of hate crimes by funding community education, and monitoring, law enforcement and victim assistance (County Code, sec. 27-4).
REMEMBRANCE & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Authorized in January 2019, the Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission works with the Equal Justice Initiative to claim and install the monument commemorating lynchings in 1880 and 1896 in Montgomery County. The Commission is to create and install historical markers for the locations of these lynchings; collect and display soil from each of these locations; and design programs to advance the dialogue that the monument, historical markers, and soil should foster.
The Office of Intergovernmental Relations responds to the County's interest in legislation and budget issues being prepared or undertaken by the State government; monitors the State legislature; and communicates with the County's legislative delegation, and State departments, agencies, commissions, and committees. On legislative, regulatory or other policy issues, the Office also works with nearby counties or states, municipalities within the County, regional agencies, the District of Columbia, and the federal government.
The Office of Management and Budget prepares and administers the annual operating budget, the annual capital budget, the six-year capital improvements program, and the six-year public services program. The Office plans for County facilities; evaluates programs; and coordinates work to improve productivity through management, organization, and systems analyses and projects (County Code, sec. 2-64K).
The Office of Public Information serves as a focal point for communications with citizens and community organizations; establishes and maintains a public information program; and provides professional editing and design support and coordination for Countywide publications and to County departments and agencies. An information and referral program also is maintained by the Office (County Code, sec. 2-64H).
RACIAL EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In 2019, the Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee was formed.
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance
Maryland Manual On-Line
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov
|
|| Search the Archives || Education & Outreach || Archives of Maryland Online ] Governor General Assembly Judiciary Maryland.Gov
|