Subtitle 2 – Office of Council Services
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 2-1 (2026)
§ 2-1 Office created; duties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Created.
The City Council Office of Financial Review is hereby abolished and there is hereby created the Office of Council Services.
(b)Duties.
It is the function of this Office:
(1)
to analyze the City’s budget and make recommendations thereon to the City Council, including both operating and capital budgets, revenues, taxation, and related matters;
(2)
to conduct studies of the organization and inter-relationships of the several departments, commissions, boards, and agencies of the City government;
(3)
to make recommendations on maximizing economy and efficiency in government;
(4)
to analyze legislation pending before the City Council;
(5)
to provide staff assistance to committees of the City Council; and
(6)
to provide such other assistance to the City Council and its committees as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the City Council.
History: Ord. 86-625
History: Ord. 05-008
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 2-2 (2026)
§ 2-2 Oversight Committee.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Establishment; composition.
(1)
The City Council shall establish an Oversight Committee, with the President serving as Chair.
(2)
The Committee shall comprise the Chairpersons of the Council’s standing committees and 2 additional members appointed by the President.
(b)Policies and procedures.
(1)
The Oversight Committee shall recommend such policies and procedures as are necessary for the effective operation of the Office of Council Services.
(2)
Said policies and procedures shall be approved by the City Council and may be amended or revised from time to time, as the Council deems necessary and/or appropriate.
History: Ord. 86-625
History: Ord. 05-008
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 2-3 (2026)
§ 2-3 Director – appointment; term; removal.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Appointment of Director.
The Committee shall appoint the Director of the Office of Council Services.
(b)Term and removal of Director.
(1)
The Director shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council, as expressed by the Oversight Committee.
(2)
Within 10 days of being notified that the Oversight Committee has acted by majority vote of its members to discharge the Director, the President shall convene a meeting of the Committee of the Whole to review the action of the Oversight Committee. In such an instance, discharge shall not occur without a majority vote of the members of the Committee of the Whole to sustain the action of the Oversight Committee.
(3)
When a vacancy occurs in the position of Director, the Oversight Committee shall designate a person to serve on an interim basis until a permanent director is appointed.
History: Ord. 86-625
History: Ord. 04-822
History: Ord. 05-008
History: Ord. 06-247
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 2-4 (2026)
§ 2-4 Director — qualifications; duties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
The Director of the Office of Council Services:
(i)
shall be a person who has prior experience in administration, supervision, taxation, and public finance and the legislative process; and
(ii)
shall have such qualifications, duties, and responsibilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the Oversight Committee as provided in <cite data-path="|1|§2-2">§ 2-2 of this subtitle</cite>.
(2)
The Director shall be a resident of Baltimore City and shall devote full time to the performance of the duties and assignments of the Office of Council Services.
(b)Reports.
The Director shall report to the Oversight Committee concerning the operations of the Office of Council Services in a manner specified in the policies and procedures adopted by the Council pursuant to <cite data-path="|1|§2-2">§ 2-2 of this subtitle</cite>.
(c)Supervision of staff.
(1)
The Director shall be responsible for the supervision of all employees in the Office of Council Services.
(2)
The Director, in consultation with the Oversight Committee, shall assign staff members to work with the various Council committees.
History: Ord. 86-625
History: Ord. 05-008
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 2-5 (2026)
§ 2-5 Staff; supplies; agency assistance.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Staff.
The Director of the Office of Council Services is empowered to hire such employees as deemed necessary to perform the duties and exercise the powers conferred by this subtitle and as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(b)Supplies.
The Office of Council Services shall be supplied with the necessary books, maps, charts, equipment, stationery, and other incidentals necessary to be paid from funds supplied in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(c)Agency assistance.
All departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, and commissions of the municipal government shall, upon request, provide responsible assistance and information to the Office of Council Services.
History: Ord. 86-625
History: Ord. 05-008