The clerk shall serve as clerk to the council. He shall attend every meeting of the council and keep a full and accurate account of the proceedings of the council. He shall keep such other records and perform such other duties as may be required by this charter or the council. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 62; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 67.)
The mayor with the approval of the council may appoint a town attorney. The town attorney shall be a member of the bar of the Maryland Court of Appeals. The town attorney shall be the legal adviser of the town and shall perform such duties in this connection as may be required by the council or the mayor. His compensation shall be determined by the council. The town shall have the power to employ such legal consultants as it deems necessary from time to time. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 63; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 68.)
The town shall have the power to employ such officers and employees as it deems necessary to execute the powers and duties provided by this charter or other state law and to operate the town government. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 64; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 69.)
The town shall provide by ordinance for appointments and promotions in the administrative service on the basis of merit and fitness. To carry out this purpose the council shall have the power to adopt such rules and regulations governing the operation of a merit system as it deems desirable or necessary. Among other things these rules and regulations shall provide for competitive examinations, the use of eligible lists, a classification plan, a compensation plan, a probation period, appeals by employees included within the classified service from dismissal or other disciplinary action, and vacation and sick leave regulations. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 65; Res. January 26, 1968; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 70.)
(a) 
Civil service divided into unclassified and classified service. The civil service of the town shall be divided into the unclassified and classified service.
(b) 
Unclassified service. The unclassified service shall comprise the following offices and positions, which shall not be included within the merit system.
(1) 
The Mayor, the Councilmen, and persons appointed to fill vacancies in these positions.
(2) 
The heads of all offices, departments, and agencies and members of town boards and commissions who are elected officials or are appointed by the elected officials to committees or commissions at annual salaries of less than $3,500.00.
(3) 
Part-time, temporary, and unpaid offices and positions.
(c) 
Classified service. The classified service shall comprise all positions not specifically included by this section in the unclassified service. All offices and positions included in the classified service shall be subject to any merit system rules and regulations which may be adopted. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 66; Res. September 24, 1971; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 71.)
(a) 
Prohibitions. No person in the classified service of the town or seeking admission thereto shall be appointed, promoted, demoted, removed, or in any way favored or discriminated against because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations or any other factors not related to ability to perform the work; no person shall wilfully or corruptly commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of the personnel provisions of this charter or of the rules and regulations made thereunder; no officer or employee in the classified service of the town shall continue in such position after becoming a candidate for nomination or election to any public office; no person seeking appointment to or promotion in the classified service of the town shall either directly or indirectly give, render, or pay any money, service, or other valuable thing to any person for or on account of or in connection with his appointment, proposed appointment, promotion, or proposed promotion; no person shall orally, by letter or otherwise, solicit or be in any manner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution for any political party or political purpose whatever from any person holding a position in the classified service of the town; no person holding a position in the classified service of the town shall make any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or any candidate for public office or take any part in the management, affairs, or political campaign of any political party or candidate for public office, further than in the exercise of his right as a citizen to express his opinion and to cast his vote.
(b) 
Penalties. Any person who by himself or with others wilfully or corruptly violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person who is convicted under this section shall for a period of five years be ineligible for appointment to or employment in a position in the town service, and shall, if he be an officer or employee of the town, immediately forfeit the office or position he holds. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 67; Res. January 26, 1968; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 72.)
The town shall have the power to do all things necessary to include its officers and employees, or any of them, within any retirement system or pension system under the terms of which they are admissible, and to pay the employer's share of the cost of any such retirement or pension system out of the general funds of the town. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 68; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 73.)
The compensation of all officers and employees of the town shall be set from time to time by an ordinance passed by the council, subject to the restrictions imposed upon establishing the salaries of the councilmen and mayor. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 69; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 74.)
The town is authorized and empowered, by ordinance, to provide for or participate in hospitalization or other forms of benefit or welfare programs for its officers and employees, and to expend public monies of the town for such programs. (Res., March, 1963, sec. 70; P.L.L. 1963, sec. 75.)