With assistance from the Special Administrative Director, the Chief Administrative Officer administers and supervises the County's seventeen divisions of government: Animal Control; Budget; Citizens Services; Community Development; Economic Development; Emergency Management; Finance; Fire and Rescue Services; Health Services; Human Resources; Interagency Information Technologies; Parks and Recreation; Planning and Permitting; Public Works; Transit Services; Utilities and Solid Waste Management; and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services.
Responsible for informing residents of actions by the County Executive, and County agencies, the Office creates and reviews content for the County television station and primary social media accounts. It also distributes news releases, and coordinates press conferences and special events. Moreover, the Office works with the Interagency Information Technologies Division to maintain and update the County website.
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).
The Commission's seven members are appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Code, secs. 1-7.1-1 through 1-7.1-11).
OFFICE OF EQUITY & INCLUSION
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 three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Police Accountability Board consists of eleven members. The County Executive chooses the Chair (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104; County Code 1-2-800 through 1-2-808).
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 Executive with County Council consent, 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 1-2-806).
The Ethics Commmission develops procedures and policies for advisory opinion requests, and the processing of complaints. The Commission also has the power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas.
In December 2021, the Office of Equity and Inclusion was created (County Code, Art. 17, sec. 1-2-700 through 1-2-702).
EQUITY & INCLUSION COMMISSION
The Equity and Inclusion Commission formed in December 2021 (County Code, Art. 17, sec. 1-2-703 through 1-2-709).
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly required each Maryland county to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Frederick County, the County Council on behalf of the County Executive established the Police Accountability Board in June 2022 (Bill no. 2022-09).
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
In June 2022, the Administrative Charging Committee was formed by the County Council on behalf of the County Executive (Bill no. 2022-09).
FINANCE DIVISION
The Director of Finance is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, Art. 5, sec. 501).
Four units are overseen by the Finance Division: Accounting, Procurement and Contracting, Risk Management, and Treasury.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION
Assisting the Division are the Commission on Disabilities, and the Retirement Plan Committee.
The Commission advises the County Executive and other elected County officials on matters regarding compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), related legislation, and other pertinent issues.
Appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission consists of nine members. The Commission annually chooses the Chair.
INTERAGENCY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION
The Interagency Information Technologies Division oversees the management of County technology resources including data, telecommunications, and GIS. The Division provides County government with communication and computer networks and hardware, software applications, and data management services. To improve access to information and services, the Division partners with local, federal and State agencies within the County.
Three departments comprise the Division: GIS/Public Safety; Infrastructure; and Software Applications and Services Management.
SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
SUSTAINABLE MONOCACY COMMISSION
The Commission has eleven members. Nine are appointed to four-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent. Two are nonvoting members.
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Managing fiscal operations for the County government, the Finance Division serves as the primary procurement agency. The Division reports County finances to the County Executive, and the public. The Division also implements and monitors fiscal policies of County government. Units within the Division manage the County employee payroll, and collect and disburse County and State tax revenue (County Code, secs. 1-8-1 through 1-8-421; 2-7-1 through 2-7-201).
PROCURMENT & CONTRACTING
Procurement and Contracting was created as Purchasing, and assumed its present name in 2012. The Purchasing Director oversees the acquisition of all goods and services for County government, and develops and implements rules and procedures for procurement. The Director manages the bidding process for government contracts, and negotiates and awards contracts with the approval of the County Executive (County Code, secs. 1-2-16 through 1-2-40).
The Human Resources Division reviews and supervises hiring practices, sets wages and salaries, administers payroll processing, and manages employee and retiree benefits. The Division also offers employee counseling and assistance, and is responsible for affirmative action matters (County Code, secs. 1-2-121 through 1-2-127).
COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
In August 1993, the Commission on Disabilities was formed by the Board of County Commissioners.
Functions of the Interagency Information Technologies Division began in April 1975, when duties were performed by the Interagency Data Processing Authority, an independent agency overseen by a committee appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Renamed as the Interagency Information Systems Authority in June 1998, the Authority reformed as the Interagency Information Technologies Division in November 1998. It became a county government agency under the County Manager in 2001, and since 2014 under the Chief Administrative Officer.
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
In 2009, the Sustainability Commission was established to support a process by which community decisions will sustain a healthy, abundant and affordable environment.
In January 2020, the County Council formed the Sustainable Monocacy Commission (Bill no. 19-17).
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