HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

ADMINISTRATION

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION

George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE
In June 2014, the County Executive created the Behavioral Health Task Force (Executive Order 2014-07). The Task Force was charged with developing a comprehensive behavioral health action plan. The plan is to recognize the roles of all community partners in providing support for individuals with mental illness, and reducing the frequency of mental health crises. Further, the Task Force is to identify gaps in the continuum of care, and identify strategies to maximize return on existing investment, as well as to pinpoint where additional funding and support should go.

On March 27, 2015, the Task Force submitted its final report to the County Executive.

Authorization for the Task Force ends June 1, 2015.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ACTION GROUP
The Early Childhood Education Action Group was formed by the County Executive in May 2015. The sixteen-member Group will consider ways to expand pre-kindergarten for the County's children, and report its findings to the County Executive by January 1, 2016.

PUBLIC ETHICS COMMISSION
Administering County ethics laws, the Public Ethics Commission advises and makes recommendations on changes to the ethics laws to the County Executive and County Council. The Commission hears and rules on all complaints of violation, and maintains all disclosure and conflict of interest forms for County officals and employees subject to State and County ethics laws.

The Commission submits an annual report to the State Ethics Commission, showing County compliance with State regulations due Oct. 1 (Code State Government Article, sec. 15-803(b); County Code, sec. 22.203(k)).

Appointed by County Executive with County Council consent to 5-year terms, five members constitute the Commission (County Code, sec. 22.200-22.209).

OFFICE OF BUDGET
Monitoring purchasing and personnel requests by County agencies, the Office of Budget advises the County Executive and County Council on matters of revenue and expenditures. The Office prepares the annual capital, general and operating budgets, as well as special management and financial reports for the County Executive or County Council (County Code, sec. 22.400A).

OFFICE OF CENTRAL SERVICES
For the County, the Office of Central Services manages interagency mail, copy and print services, and fleet operation for all County government vehicles. Responsible for providing storage of all County supplies and vehicles, the Office also supervises and maintains all County garages, and warehouses (County Code, sec. 6.403).

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Upon recommendation of the Howard County Commission on the Environment and Sustainability, the Office of Environmental Sustainability was authorized in 2007 by the County Executive.

With the Environmental Sustainability Board, the Office of Environmental Sustainability reports annually to the County Executive and County Council on environmental programs and conditions. Programs initiated by the Office include lake conservation, storm-water runoff management, and public awareness of conservation and recycling programs. To increase health and ecological conservation, the Office works with County agencies to develop land use plans so that construction in communities, roads, and government buildings will cause minimal environmental impact (County Code, sec. 6.407).

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD
Created in 2007, the Environment Sustainability Board advises the County Executive and County Council on environmental sustainability matters. It also monitors County progress towards environmental goals established by the County Commission on the Environment and Sustainability.

Thirteen members constitute the Board.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
The Office of Human Resources originated as the Office of Personnel, and adopted its present name in 1997.

Responsible for setting County employee pay grades, the Office of Human Resources negotiates of behalf of the County with employee organizations over wages, hours, employee and retiree benefits, and working conditions. The Office also provides training programs, and prepares and distributes an employee manual, describing conduct guidelines and rules for appointments, promotions, demotions, and separations (County Code, secs. 1.100-1.612).

OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Established in 1975, the Office of Human Rights enforces the County Human Rights Law, investigates complaints of discrimination, and serves as mediator to resolve complaints. Morover, the Office conducts studies and makes recommendations to the County Executive on policy. In addition, the Office serves as a liaison to other government agencies and the public on matters relating to the enforcement and advocacy of federal and State human rights laws (County Code, secs. 12.200 through 12.218).

OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
As the primary contact for County government, the Office of Public Information coordinates departmental publications, press conferences, and supervises programming for the government access cable television channel. The Office maintains communication systems and standards for the County to best serve government transparency and public access. For the County Council, the Office creates press releases, updates the County website, and works with local media and community organizations to ensure community awareness of government activities (County Code, sec. 6.404).

OFFICE OF PURCHASING
The Office of Purchasing conducts all purchases, leases, and contracts for County government, and oversees the County warehouse. Uniform standards for property accounting and storage control are developed by the Office as is the County’s requisition and receipt system. Interagency equipment transfers and sales of County property, found and unclaimed personal property, and lawfully seized personal property are performed by the Office with approval of the County Executive (County Charter, Art. VIII, secs. 801-808; County Code, secs. 4.100-4.507).

OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION
The Office of Transportation oversees County transit and paratransit services. Coordinating funds to acquire, manage, and operate public transportation, the Office works with federal, State, and local agencies to develop and promote alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles. It also coordinates access for bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle transportation. In addition, the Office advises the County Executive on transit and transportation issues (County Code, sec. 6.408).

OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Established under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Office of Workforce Development manages and develops plans to fully use human resources in Howard County in accordance with State, federal and local laws. In its duties, the Office manages the Columbia Workforce Center, one of Maryland’s One-Stop Career Centers. In cooperation with the State Workforce Development System, and local educational institutions, the Office provides contacts and training for businesses and job seekers within the County, as well as career counseling and training to residents (P.L. 105-220; County Code, sec. 6.406).

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATION SERVICES

Through the Office of Purchasing, all information services systems equipment purchases are coordinated by the Department. Services include the County 911 system and the "real time" snow-plow tracking system. The Department also manages the automated mapping geographic information systems; enforces the County’s cable television laws, and provides for the County’s records management (County Code, secs. 27.100, 27.101).

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