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).
Serving three-year terms, five members appointed by County Council constitute the Commission (County Code, secs. 60-1 through 60-7).
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 to four-year terms by the County Council, the Police Accountability Board consists of seven members. The County Council chooses the Chair (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104; County Code art. 5, 24-15 through 24-22).
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. From information related to the investigation, the Committee makes determinations and recommendations. It may review body camera footage, call a police officer before the Committee, determine if a police officer should be charged administratively, or recommend discipline. The Committee may submit written opinions to the director of the law enforcement agency, and to the accused police officer, the complainant, and the Police Accountability Board.
Five members constitute the Committee. Two are appointed to two-year terms by the County Council, and two by the Police Accountability Board. One member serves ex officio. Annually, the Chair is chosen by the Committee (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104; County Code art. 5, 24-15 through 24-22).
The Ethics Commission advises all County officials and employees subject to State and County ethics laws. Complaints of ethics violations are heard and ruled upon by the Commission, which can assign penalties for their infraction. The Commission also maintains forms submitted by County employees and officials on conflict of interest matters, lobbying, and matters of financial disclosure.
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly required each Maryland county to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Talbot County, the County Council established the Police Accountability Board in June 2022 (Bill no. 1497).
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
In June 2022, the Administrative Charging Committee was formed by the County Council (Bill no. 1497).
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Two units fall under the Department: Human Resources, and Purchasing.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Annually, the Finance Department creates the County’s operating and capital budgets, which are submitted to the County Manager and the County Council. The Department also submits an annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which includes a summary of all fiscal activity by the County government (County Charter, secs. 601-623; County Code, secs. 97-1 through 97-14).
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
The Department designs, implements, and maintains networks and hardware, and develops software to provide for communication and data accessibility in the County. It provides technology services and support to all agencies within County government, as well as some public/private partners in State and local government and the nonprofit sector. To support users, the Department maintains a help desk and service technicians.
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The Administrative Services Department develops and coordinates purchase and acquisition plans for County agencies. The Department also is responsible for County employee recruitment and training, evaluation and discipline, as well as promotions, benefits, and salary guidelines.
The Finance Department collects all County revenue, including County and State property taxes, and handles all County billing, including utility bills. The Department also prepares the payroll for County government.
The Information Technology Department was created in 2000 as Information Systems under the Administrative Services Department. In 2001, it was restructured under its current name as a separate department under the County Manager.
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