In this subtitle, “Commission” means the Washington County Salary Study Commission.

There is a Washington County Salary Study Commission.

Subject to subsections (b) and (d) of this section, the Commission consists of the following members: one member from the Democratic Central Committee of Washington County; one member from the Republican Central Committee of Washington County; one member from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce; one member from the Washington County Farm Bureau; one member from the League of Women Voters of Washington County; one member from the Western Maryland Central Labor Council; one member from the Washington County Home Builders Association, Inc.; one member from the Joint Veterans Council of Washington County; and one at–large member who is a resident selected by the County Commissioners of Washington County. Each member shall be a registered voter of Washington County who in the previous 4 years has voted in at least two elections, at least one of which was in the gubernatorial election year. On or before March 31, 2016, and on or before March 31 each fourth year thereafter, the County Commissioners of Washington County shall request that each organization listed in subsection (a) of this section recommend an appointee to the county commissioners on or before the following May 15. The County Commissioners of Washington County shall appoint the individual recommended by each organization listed in subsection (a) of this section. If an organization fails to make a recommendation to the county commissioners on or before June 1, the members who have been appointed to the Commission shall meet, solicit prospective members from the public, and select by majority vote a qualified substitute public member to the Commission to serve through the following December 1. A member of the Commission may not be an elected official or an employee of an official whose salary the Commission studies.

From among its members, the Commission shall elect a chair.

Five members of the Commission are a quorum. The Commission shall meet on or before the June 30 immediately following appointment. A member of the Commission may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission. The County Commissioners of Washington County shall provide professional staff to the Commission as necessary for the Commission to issue its report.

The Commission shall hold at least one public hearing every 4 years. The Commission shall publish notice of each hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The County Commissioners of Washington County shall provide money necessary for the Commission to advertise its hearings so that the public receives sufficient notice and an opportunity to attend and present testimony at the hearings.

The Commission shall study the salaries of: the County Commissioners of Washington County; the Washington County Board of Education; the Washington County Board of Liquor License Commissioners; the judges of the Orphans’ Court for Washington County; and the Treasurer of Washington County. On or before the December 1 following appointment, the Commission shall issue a report that contains recommendations to the County Commissioners of Washington County for review and consideration.

In formulating its report and recommendations, the Commission shall consider for each office: the scope of responsibilities of the office; the education, skills, abilities, licensure, and certification required to perform the duties of the office; the salaries of similar offices in other jurisdictions; the time required to perform the duties of the office; the salaries of subordinate employees under the direct supervision of the office; the volume of workload of the office; and any other relevant information.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section and Article III, § 35 of the Maryland Constitution, within 60 days after receiving the recommendations of the Commission under § 28–207(b) of this subtitle, the County Commissioners of Washington County, by local law, shall set the salary for each office included in the recommendations. The County Commissioners of Washington County may accept, reduce, or reject, but may not increase, the recommendations of the Commission.