The following terms have the meanings indicated.
BILL
Any proposed legislation enacting, amending, or repealing a law, and may include the enactment, amendment, or repeal of certain ordinances or resolutions.
CHARTER
The Charter of Cecil County, Maryland.
COUNCIL
The County Council of Cecil County.
COUNTY
Cecil County.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF BILLS
The date the legislation is to take effect.
EMERGENCY
A. 
A situation that:
(1) 
Requires immediate action to prevent, mitigate or respond to a threat to public security or to the loss of life or property; and
(2) 
Is unanticipated.
B. 
The term "unanticipated" means that the underlying situation is:
(1) 
Sudden, which means quickly coming into being or not building up over time;
(2) 
Urgent, which means a pressing and compelling need requiring immediate action;
(3) 
Unforeseen, which means not predicted or anticipated as an emerging need; and
(4) 
Temporary, which means not of a permanent nature. [Charter, Article 1 Section 104(c)]
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION
A law enacted by the Council in the event of an emergency as governed by Section 305 of the Charter.
EMERGENCY MEETING
A meeting called by the Council President, County Executive, or four Council members to act on a situation that requires an immediate response.
ENACTMENT OF BILLS
The date that legislation was adopted by the Council.
FINAL READING
The process by which a bill is presented to the Council in its final form and during which the Council votes on whether the bill, as presented in its final form, passes or fails.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
Activities that may result in the passage of a bill.
MEMBER
Council member.
PRESIDENT
President of the Council or the Vice President of the Council or other member while presiding in the President's absence.
In all matters not provided for in these rules, the applicable rules in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised govern.
A. 
Except for a rule that is required by law, the Charter, or ordinance, a motion to suspend one or more of these rules requires the affirmative vote of at least four members for adoption.
B. 
A separate suspension of the rules is required for each proposition.
C. 
A rule that is required by law, the Charter or ordinance cannot be suspended.
A. 
These rules may not be amended unless the proposed amendment is:
(1) 
Prepared in the same form and manner as that required for an amendment to a bill;
(2) 
Submitted to the Council at least one legislative meeting before it is considered; and
(3) 
Adopted by the affirmative vote of at least four members.
B. 
A rule that is required by law, the Charter or ordinance cannot be amended.
[Amended 9-19-2017]
A. 
Pursuant to Section 213 of the Charter of Cecil County, Maryland, the County Council may employ legal advisors as it deems necessary to perform its functions by resolution, at its discretion and subject to the provisions of its budget or supplemental appropriations. The County Council may use legal counsel as contracted by the Council, or the County Attorney, if Council has not contracted an attorney.
B. 
Any Council member(s) seeking a legal opinion must make their request to the Council President.
[Amended 10-20-2020 by Res. No. 53-2020]
C. 
Requests to seek a legal opinion must be approved by the Council President or approved by three members of the Council before submission to the Council Attorney.
D. 
The Council Manager will submit the request to the Council Attorney and convey the response to Council members.
E. 
During an open or closed Council session, the Council may request a legal opinion from the Council Attorney, approved by the majority of Council members.
[Added 10-20-2020 by Res. No. 53-2020]
A. 
Council members may be reimbursed for mileage to attend meetings, conferences, and training which are directly related to representing the County or their district. Expenses to attend fundraisers, social or recreational events will not be reimbursed. Attendance at retirements or honorary banquets will not be reimbursed.
B. 
Mileage reimbursement may be submitted for travel between their starting location at home or the office to their destination and, where applicable, the return trip. No reimbursement will be given for commuting to the administrative office for any meetings.
C. 
Mileage reimbursement will be based on the same rate as every County employee.
D. 
Expenses for tolls and parking are eligible for reimbursement.
E. 
Travel reimbursement must be submitted monthly on the form provided by the County so that the reimbursement can be processed and issued promptly.
F. 
The Council President will review and, when appropriate, approve expense reimbursements submitted by Council members. The Council Manager will process these expenses in the financial system.
G. 
Council members may be reimbursed for attendance at the Maryland Association of Counties conference, including registration, lodging, and meals. Expenses other than expenses, lodging, and meals are not reimbursable. Reimbursement for the cost of lodging is limited to only the days necessary to attend the scheduled events.
H. 
Council members who wish to attend out-of-state conferences or meetings must first obtain Council approval in order to be eligible for expense reimbursement. Reimbursement for attendance at out-of-state conferences, if approved, will be limited to expenses, lodging, and meals.
A. 
As per Charter § 412(c), Council appointments to boards and commissions established exclusively to advise the Council must be confirmed by the Council during legislative meetings.
B. 
Each candidate for appointment must complete a Personal Data Sheet (See Appendix A.[1]) prior to confirmation. Personal data for consideration of an appointment shall include contact information for the education, occupation and employer, community involvement, and councilmanic district.
A. 
Requests for proclamations and certificates from organizations, citizens, government agencies, and members of the Council or County Executive may be considered. Refer to Appendix B[1] for a copy of the request form.
B. 
Council members should forward requests for proclamations or certificates to the Council Manager.
C. 
In circumstances where a proclamation or certificate will be presented by the Council, the Council staff shall prepare proclamations or certificates in advance of the presentation, and the Council members will be asked to sign the proclamation or certificate.
D. 
Proclamations and certificates will be presented by Council using the following criteria:
(1) 
Assigned to the Council member who represents the district where the individual resides;
(2) 
Assigned to the Council member who is the official liaison to a committee or board;
(3) 
Assigned to the Council member who has requested the proclamation or certificate;
(4) 
Assigned to the Council President when countywide, out-of-county or state.
E. 
Requests for proclamations or certificates made within 10 days of the presentation may be declined.
A. 
The Council Manager will prepare a proposed department budget annually and present the budget to the Council for review and revisions during a work session. After the Council has approved the budget request, the Council Manager will submit the budget request to the Director of Administration.
B. 
The Council will adhere to County purchasing procedures. Council staff will process purchases in the financial system and the Council Manager will approve.
C. 
The Council Manager will prepare budget transfer requests within the Council departmental budget and present such requests to the Council for consideration at a work session. Budget transfers will be processed in the financial system by the Council Manager after the Council has approved the request.
D. 
The Council President will review and, when appropriate, approve expenses submitted by Council members. The Council Manager will process these expenses in the financial system.