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<baltimore-city-law heading="Chapter 17 – Officers and Employees; Records">
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-1" heading="Selection">
    <para num="(a)">By President.<para num="(1)">In general. The President appoints all employees of the Office of the President.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Functions of the Office that may be assigned. The President shall assign the functions listed below to an employee of their Office, as provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection, or the Office of Council Services.<para num="(i)">keeps the files of the City Council and all official papers and other materials belonging to the Council;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">places appropriate endorsements on all bills and other papers presented to the Council; (iii)keeps a proper record of the progress of all matters in the Council;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">keeps indexed records of all bills and other matters introduced or present to the Council;</para>
        <para num="(v)">maintains all bill files; and</para>
        <para num="(vi)">maintains the legislative public information portal.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Roles that may be assigned. The President may assign the roles and related functions described in:<para num="(i)">Rule 17-4 {“Journal Clerk”};</para>
        <para num="(ii)">Rule 17-5 {“Reading Clerk”}; (iii)Rule 17-6 {“Sergeant-at-Arms”};</para>
        <para num="(iv)">Rule 17-7 {“Committee clerks”}; and</para>
        <para num="(v)">Rule 17-8 {“Secretary of Council”}.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)">By members. Members appoint employees as staff of their offices.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-2" heading="Supervision">
    <text>All employees of the City Council are under the control and direction of the President or the President’s designee.</text>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-4" heading="Journal Clerk">
    <text>The Journal Clerk:</text>
    <para num="(1)">prepares and compiles the minutes of the Council’s proceedings; and</para>
    <para num="(2)">performs all other duties that these Rules or the President directs.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-5" heading="Reading Clerk">
    <text>The Reading Clerk:</text>
    <para num="(1)">calls the roll when the President directs;</para>
    <para num="(2)">reads to the Council those bills and other papers the President specifies;</para>
    <para num="(3)">performs similar duties when the Council is sitting as a Committee of the Whole; and</para>
    <para num="(4)">performs all other duties that these Rules or the President directs.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-6" heading="Sergeant-at-Arms">
    <para num="(a)">In general. The Sergeant-at-Arms:<para num="(1)">attends the City Council while it is in session;</para>
      <para num="(2)">under the direction of the President, aids in the enforcement of order;</para>
      <para num="(3)">executes the commands of the City Council;</para>
      <para num="(4)">enforces all process issued under the authority of the City Council; and</para>
      <para num="(5)">performs all other duties that these Rules or the President directs.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)">Protecting seats. The Sergeant-at-Arms may not permit anyone but Councilmembers to occupy the members’ seats while the Council is meeting.</para>
    <para num="(c)">Mace. When executing their duties, the Sergeant-at-arms may bear the symbol of the office, the mace.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-7" heading="Committee clerks">
    <text>Committee clerks:</text>
    <para num="(1)">attend meetings of the various committees; and</para>
    <para num="(2)">perform all other duties the committee chair or the President directs.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-8" heading="Secretary of Council">
    <text>The Secretary of the City Council:</text>
    <para num="(1)">maintains files of all bills, together with all correspondence, plats, and other documents relating to them; and</para>
    <para num="(2)">performs all other duties that these Rules or the President directs.</para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-9" heading="General duties of personnel">
    <para num="(a)">Presidential assignments. The President may assign or reassign all clerks, officers, and employees of the City Council from one position to another as the need requires.</para>
    <para num="(b)">Diligence required. All clerks, officers, and employees shall:<para num="(1)">be prompt in their attendance of City Council meetings; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">unless specifically excused, remain at their assigned posts throughout a meeting.</para>
    </para>
  </section>
  <section prefix="Rule" num="17-10" heading="Records">
    <para num="(a)">Public inspection. Except only as specifically provided by law, all files kept by the City Council are open to public inspection.</para>
    <para num="(b)">Copies.<para num="(1)">The Secretary of the Council or the Department of Legislative Reference shall provide copies of all public records to those who request them.</para>
      <para num="(2)">A reasonable charge, as set by the President, may be imposed for this service.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)">Removal prohibited. No person, including a Councilmember, may take from the Council’s files any bill or other document that belongs to the Council without the express consent of the President or the President’s designee.</para>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
