OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
The Director of Administration is appointed by County Executive with County Council consent (County Charter, sec. 312).
Chaired by the County Council President, the Board consists of seven members (County Code, Art. IVA, secs. 9-20.1 through 9-20.5).
BOARD OF ESTIMATES
The Board consists of seven members. One is appointed by the County Executive, one by the County Council, and five serve ex officio. The County Executive chairs the Board.
BOARD OF ETHICS
Annually, the Board submits a report by October 1 to the State Ethics Commission, showing County compliance with State regulations (Code State Government Article, sec. 15-803(b)).
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Board's five members serve four-year terms (County Charter, sec. 801; County Code, secs. 23-1 through 23-10).
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL
The Council examines and reports on the needs and concerns of local law enforcement agencies. The Council also coordinates efforts among federal, State, County and municipal law enforcement agencies.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has fifteen members who serve for the duration of the appointing County Executive’s term.
OFFICE OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Personnel matters, including hiring guidelines, employee relations, and employee and retiree benefits, are overseen by the Department. In cases of collective bargaining, the Department negotiates on behalf of the County.
The Director of Human Resources serves as the County Personnel Officer, and hears complaints of violations of the County’s personnel law. If parties disagree with the ruling of the Director, cases may be appealed to the Personnel Advisory Board (County Charter, Art. VI, secs. 601-608; County Code, secs. 38-1 through 38-45).
Appointed by County Executive with County Council consent, three members constitute the Personnel Advisory Board (County Charter, Art. VI, secs. 606-607).
DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
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Directly under the County Executive is the Office of Governmental and Community Relations.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Providing public access to County government resources, the Public Information Office updates social media pages on behalf of County government, and maintains a calendar of government and community events and notices. Through the County website, the Office provides access to archived announcements, press releases, photos, and video files of County agencies, such as County Council meetings.
ADMINISTRATION
Authorized by County Charter in 1972, the Director of Administration is responsible for general oversight of executive agencies in the County, and provides for support of County agencies. The Director of Administration also serves as the County's chief budget officer, and as liaison to volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance companies throughout the County.
AUDIT ADVISORY BOARD
The Audit Advisory Board reviews the Auditor's annual plan and budget before submission to the County Council.
In Harford County, the Board of Estimates is responsible for the awarding of contracts and the supervision of purchasing by the County as provided by law (County Charter, sec. 415)
The Board of Ethics develops and revises the County ethics law as directed by the County Council. Maintaining all ethics forms for the County, the Board also develops procedures and polices for reporting complaints and violations. Advising those covered under the law, the Board conducts investigations of complaints, and rules on these matters. Records of complaints and hearings are kept by the County Department of Law (Code Local Government Article, sec. 12-107).
Advising the County Executive on matters of criminal justice, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council was established in 1988.
The Office of Information and Communication Technology provides technical support to all County government agencies. It acquires and develops computer hardware and software, and telecommunications. The Office also is responsible for website development; database, mainframe, and server maintenance; telephone and internet network development and maintenance; and technical support service desk operation (County Code, secs. 9-201.5, 9-201.6).
The Department of Human Resources originated as the Office of Personnel, and adopted its present name in 1991.
PERSONNEL ADVISORY BOARD
The Personnel Advisory Board advises the County Executive on developing new personnel rules, and submits recommendations for alterations to existing law. The Board also advises and consults County agencies and officials on matters pertaining to personnel rules and regulations. Personnel complaints appealed from the County Personnel Officer are heard by the Board. All rulings of the Board are final, and can not be appealed.
The Department of Procurement is responsible for purchasing or contracting for supplies and contractual services including capital projects and consultant services needed by all agencies of Harford County government. The Department also provides for the purchase, sale, or lease of real property by the County (County Charter, Art. IV, sec. 414).
The Department of the Treasury is administered by the Treasurer. The Treasurer is the custodian of all County funds, securities, and insurance policies. It is the duty of the Treasurer to collect taxes, special assessments, license fees, and other revenue; manage indebtedness; invest and disburse County funds; conduct internal audits of all County offices; and prepare an annual financial report containing a detailed account of all monies received and paid out by the County (County Charter, Art. IV, sec. 404).
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