ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

[photo, Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. (from Northwest St.), Annapolis, Maryland]

The Administrative Office is headed by the Chief Administrative Officer who supervises the executive branch offices and departments of County government (County Charter, secs. 504-509; County Code, Art. 2, sec. 1-301).

Directly under the Administrative Office are eight offices: Budget, Central Services, Communications, Community Support Grants, Finance, Government Relations, Information Technology, and Personnel.

Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. (from Northwest St.), Annapolis, Maryland, July 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL

The Council was formed to identify and address concerns involving the law enforcement, judicial and correctional components of the criminal and juvenile justice systems. It also serves as the County's Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001). In addition, the Council monitors and directs the distribution of grants provided by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

ETHICS COMMISSION
Created in 1985, the Ethics Commission investigates allegations of violation of the County Public Ethics Law, and hears and rules on such allegations. Proposed resolutions that pertain to public ethics are reviewed by the Commission, which provides and maintains ethics forms and notices.

Annually, the Commission must certify to the State Ethics Commission that the County is in 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).

Seven members constitute the Ethics Commission. They are appointed by County Executive with County Council consent to four-year terms (County Charter, Art. X, secs. 1001-1001C; County Code, secs. 7-1-101 through 7-8-103).

LOCAL [VIDEO LOTTERY] DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
A local development council is established in each geographic area where a video lottery [slots gambling] facility is located (Chapter 5, Acts of 2007; Chapter 4, Acts of 2007 Special Session; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1A-31). In Anne Arundel County, a video lottery facility, called Maryland Live!, opened at Arundel Mills on June 6, 2012.

The Local Development Council advises the County on the impact of the video lottery facility on the communities in immediate proximity to the facility, and on the needs and priorities of those communities. The Council also makes recommendations to the County regarding the multi-year plans for expenditure of revenue from the facility.

Appointed by the County Executive in consultation with the County Council, and the senators and delegates who represent communities surrounding the video lottery facility, the Council consists of fifteen members (Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1A-31).

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly required each Maryland county to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Anne Arundel County, the County Council established the Police Accountability Board in April 2022 (County Council Bill no. 16.22).

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.

The Board consists of nine members. Eight members, including the Chair, are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent. One member is appointed by the Mayor of Annapolis with City Council consent (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE

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. The County Council appoints two members to two-year terms as does the Police Accountability Board. One member serves ex officio (Code Public Safety Article, sec. 3-104).

OFFICE OF BUDGET

The Office of the Budget is administered by the Budget Officer. Under supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer, the Budget Officer formulates the County budget, and helps agencies prepare their budgets, improve budget execution, and reduce costs (County Charter, Art. V, secs. 515-516; Art. VII, 701-722).

SPENDING AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE

The Committee is appointed to four-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, Art. VI, sec. 610).

OFFICE OF CENTRAL SERVICES

The Office of Central Services administers purchasing for the County. The maintenance, operation, and management of all land and buildings owned by or operated by the County also are overseen by the Office, which makes, renews, and cancels all contracts of insurance in which the County, or any office, department, institution, board, commission or other agency of the County government is named as insured.

Office of Central Services, Heritage Office Complex, 2660 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland, March 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

To other County offices, departments, boards, institutions, and agencies, the Office makes available duplicating, stenographic, mail, messenger, stores, transportation, central garage, automotive maintenance, data processing or other central services (County Charter, Art. V, secs. 523-524; Art. IX, secs. 901-911).

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Office of Communications started as the Office of Public Information, reformed as the Office of Multimedia Communications, and then as the Office of Communications.

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT GRANTS

Community Support Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations to help build up their capacity, increase their impact, and operate more efficiently and effectively to improve and enrich the quality of life in the community. Also, capital grants are awarded to enable nonprofit organizations to purchase equipment and related supplies, or to make capital improvements to renovate, remodel, restore, or construct buildings.

OFFICE OF FINANCE

For Anne Arundel County, the Office of Finance is headed by the Controller, who administers the financial affairs of the County, including the collection of State and County taxes, special assessments, utility assessments and charges, fees and other revenues and funds of every kind due to the County. Moreover, the Controller is responsible for the enforcement of the collection of taxes; the custody and safekeeping of all funds and securities belonging to or by law deposited with, distributed to, or handled by the County; the disbursement of County funds; the keeping and supervision of all accounts (County Charter, Art. V, secs. 511-514).

Office of Finance, Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St., Annapolis, Maryland, July 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In 1987, Information Services was part of the Office of Central Services. The Office of Information Technology was created in 2002.

The Office of Information Technology is responsible for all data processing needs of County government. The Office maintains the County’s electronic infrastructure and digital security, and offers staff training in updated applications. In addition, the Office oversees the County’s Geographic Information Services, Cable Television Administration; and the community television station (Channel 98).

Heading the Office, the Information Technology Officer is appointed by the County Executive (County Charter, Art. V, secs. 529A-529B).

CABLE TELEVISION ADMINISTRATION
In cooperation with the Federal Communication Commission, Cable Television Administration monitors and regulates all cable television providers operating in the County (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47).

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Geographic Information Systems is responsible for managing County geographic information. Additionally, this agency overseas automation projects, enterprise data viewing tools, software maintenance, and spacial data acquisition.

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL

The Office of Personnel is administered by the Personnel Officer. The Personnel Officer conducts or directs investigations into the character and fitness of applicants for appointment to the classified service; prepares and conducts examinations for the appointment or promotion of positions in the classified service; and organizes recruitment plans to attract qualified persons to County government. The Personnel Officer also maintains and certifies to the appointing authority eligibility lists setting forth the names and comparative qualifications of those eligible for appointment.

The Personnel Officer authorizes the payment of all payrolls for employees in the classified service; directs and enforces the maintenance by all County departments, boards, commissions, offices, and agencies of the personnel provisions in the County Charter and their related rules, regulations, and ordinances; and submits all proposed personnel rules and regulations to the Personnel Board for its review and comment prior to adoption (County Charter, Art. V, secs. 517-521; Art. VIII, secs. 801-814; County Code, Art. 6).

PENSION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION

The County Council provides the Pension Oversight Commission with a copy of any proposed ordinance or resolution pertaining to a County retirement plan. On or before the thirtieth day after receipt of the proposal, the Commission is to review it and report its findings and recommendations to the County Executive and County Council.

Before the County changes the manner of funding a County pension plan, the County must submit a written statement of its proposed action to the Commission. On or before the thirtieth day after receipt of the proposal, the Commission is to report its findings and recommendations to the County official responsible for the proposal. Unless the County Executive declares that an emergency exists which demands immediate action, the County may not take any action that commits the County to the proposed action until it either has received the Commission's report or the time period for its submission has expired.

On request of the County Executive, any member of the County Council, the Board of Appeals, the Personnel Officer, or any participant in a County pension plan, the Pension Oversight Commission shall provide a written interpretation of any provisions of a County pension plan.

Annually, the Commission submits an annual report on the status of each County pension plan to the County Executive and County Council.

The Commission consists of nine members appointed to four-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, secs. 606-609; County Code, secs. 7-101 through 7-102).

RETIREMENT & PENSION SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES
In 1996, the Board of Trustees of the County's Retirememt and Pension was authorized (County Code, secs. 5-2-101 through 5-2-502).

The Board of Trustees consists of thirteen members (County Code, sec. 5-2-105).

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ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND

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