The council shall appoint an officer of the town who shall have
the title of Town Administrator and shall have the powers and perform
the duties as provided in this charter. Neither the Mayor nor any
member of the council shall receive such appointment during the term
for which he shall have been elected, nor within one year after the
expiration of his term.
The Town Administrator shall be chosen on the basis of his/her
executive ability and administrative qualifications with special reference
being made to his actual experience in, or knowledge of, accepted
practice in respect to the duties of his/her office, as hereinafter
set forth. The Town Administrator need not be a resident of the town,
but must be a resident of St. Mary's County, Maryland.
The Town Administrator shall receive such compensation as the
Council shall determine from time to time.
The Council shall appoint the Town Administrator an indefinite
term and may remove him by majority vote of its members. At least
thirty days before such removal shall become effective, the Council
shall, by a majority vote of its members, adopt a preliminary resolution
stating the reason for his removal. The Administrator may reply in
writing and may request a public hearing, which shall be held not
earlier than twenty days nor later than thirty days after filing of
such a request. After such public hearing, if one be requested, and
after full consideration, the Council, by majority vote of its members,
may adopt a final resolution of removal. By the preliminary resolution
the Council may suspend the Administrator from duty, but shall in
any case cause to be paid him/her any unpaid balance of his/her salary
and his/her salary for the next two calendar months following adoption
of the preliminary resolution.
Neither the Council nor any of its members shall direct or request
the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the
Town Administrator or by any of his/her subordinates. Except for the
purpose of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the
administrative service solely through the Town Administrator and neither
the Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates
of the Town Administrator either publicly or privately.