Within one (1) year after this Charter takes effect, the County Council shall establish by ordinance a personnel administration program for all County employees under the direction of a Director of Personnel. There shall be a merit system within the program to cover all employees except as otherwise provided in this Charter.
The merit system is a method of personnel administration to cover the appointment of all County employees and the appointive officers, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, on the basis of merit ascertained as nearly as practicable by competitive examination and for the retention of said employees and officers on the basis of merit and ability. It is also the purpose of the merit system to provide a plan for classification of positions whereby, in determining the rate of basic pay which an employee will receive, the principle of equal pay for substantially equal work will be followed and variations in rate of basic pay paid to different employees will be in proportion to substantial differences in the difficulty, responsibility and qualification requirements of the work performed and to the contributions of the employees to the efficiency and economy of County activities, functions and services.
The merit system does not apply to the following persons: Any and all elected officials; any members of the executive staff of the County Executive, any employees of the County Council duly hired after the effective date of this amendment; the County Counselor; the County Engineer; the Medical Examiner; the County Auditor; the Circuit Clerk (if appointed); the Director of Corrections; the Public Administrator; the Director of Community Health and the Environment; the Director of Parks and Recreation; the First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Managing Attorney in the office of the Prosecuting Attorney as well as any and all members of boards and commissions appointed by the County Executive or the County Council. An elected official may appoint one (1) secretarial assistant to a position exempted from the merit system if such position is authorized in the County budget. If upon affirmative vote of the citizens, the offices of Recorder of Deeds, Collector, and Assessor become appointed positions, then the persons appointed occupy the positions of Recorder, Collector, and Assessor shall come under the merit system. The County Council shall determine by ordinance whether newly-created positions shall be exempted from the merit system. Should the voters make the position of Sheriff an appointed position, the person occupying that position shall be exempt from the merit system and the position of Chief Deputy Sheriff shall no longer be exempted from the merit system. The only other exemptions from the merit system shall be those recommended by the merit system Commission or by the County Executive and authorized by ordinance of the County Council.
The Director of Personnel shall be appointed by the County Executive and approved by the County Council and may not be removed without the approval of the Merit System Commission. The Director of Personnel will report to the County Executive. He shall exercise those powers and perform those duties required by ordinance, administer the Merit System and perform other managerial assignments made by the County Executive. He shall certify all additions, deletions and changes in payrolls of the Merit System employees. The Director of Personnel's decision to certify or not to certify changes in the payroll may be overturned by the Director of Administration. The Director of Personnel may appeal any modification of his or her certification by the Director of Administration to the County Council.
7.501. 
There shall be a Merit System Commission composed of five (5) residents of the County, not more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party, appointed by the County Executive and approved by the County Council. Members of the Commission shall be in sympathy with the merit system of public employment, shall hold no other public or political office and shall serve staggered terms, as provided by ordinance. The County Executive in consultation with the Director of Personnel will provide an independent person to function as Secretary to the Merit System Commission.
7.502. 
Merit System Commission Duties. The Merit System Commission shall review and evaluate the merit system operation and from time to time recommend to the County Council and the County Executive changes in policies and procedures for improved operation of the merit system and shall also:
7.502.1. 
Recommend to the County Council and County Executive, for establishment by ordinance, a basic pay plan, including the proposed assignment of position classifications to pay ranges contained in the basic pay plan as well as flat rates for full-time and part-time personnel and session rates for positions to which the Merit System applies; and
7.502.2. 
Set up and revise as necessary a position classification plan, and establish and amend rules for examination, certification, and payment of personnel within the appropriation of funds by the County Council and other necessary details of personnel administration; and
7.502.3. 
Hear appeals as provided by ordinance in case of disciplinary actions by appointing authorities, and from decisions of the Director of Personnel in cases involving examination and examination rating; and
7.502.4. 
Insure no discrimination or favoritism in employment or compensation of County employees on account of race; creed; disability; color; age; religion; national origin; gender; ancestry; political affiliation or activity or lack thereof; or union membership or non-membership; and
7.502.5. 
Insure employees under the merit system shall not be personally by any other employee, officer or elected official of the County solicited or required to pay any assessment or contribution or perform any service which will benefit anyone occupying or seeking employment, nomination, or election to any public office; and
7.502.6. 
Promulgate rules that employees under the merit system may voluntarily participate in political activities outside working hours; and
7.502.7. 
Promulgate rules that no officer or employee of the County shall promise or threaten to promote, remove or reduce any employee under the merit system for making or refusing to make any contribution for any political party or purpose or for rendering or refusing to render any political service.