§ 15-109. Salaries

   (a) In general. -- The salaries of the members of the boards of license commissioners are specified in this section. Where no salary is specified for those boards which serve ex officio, the members may not receive additional compensation under the provisions of this section.

(b) Allegany County. -- In Allegany County the annual salary of the members of the Board of License Commissioners shall be set by the County Commissioners in accordance with Title 28, Subtitle 1 of the Local Government Article.

(c) Anne Arundel County. -- In Anne Arundel County the chairman of the Board of License Commissioners shall receive annually as salary not more than $ 18,000; each other member of the Board shall receive annually as salaries not more than $ 15,000, plus reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred by them.

(d) Baltimore City. -- In Baltimore City:

   (1) The chairman of the Board shall receive an annual salary of $ 28,500, and the other members of the Board shall receive an annual salary of $ 28,000.

   (2) The chairman and the other members of the Board are eligible to receive the same health benefits that full-time liquor inspectors of the Board receive.

   (3) The Board shall appoint an executive secretary and a deputy executive secretary whose salaries shall be fixed by the Board, subject to approval by the State Comptroller.

   (4) The executive secretary and the deputy executive secretary shall be residents of Baltimore City and of high character and integrity.

   (5) The executive secretary and the deputy executive secretary shall be appointed upon the basis of their executive skill and ability and once appointed shall hold office during good behavior regardless of changes in members constituting the Board. They shall be removed only for incompetency or immorality upon charges furnished in writing by the Board setting forth the grounds for dismissal and after opportunity for hearing.

   (6) Either the executive secretary or the deputy executive secretary shall be a member of the Bar of this State.

(e) Baltimore County. -- In Baltimore County:

   (1) The salaries of the members of the Board of License Commissioners shall be as determined from time to time by "Baltimore County, Maryland", in such amounts as are deemed reasonable and proper, but the annual salary of the chairman shall be not less than $ 11,500 and the annual salary of each of the associate members shall be not less than $ 10,500.

   (2) The Board of License Commissioners may appoint an executive secretary. The salary of the executive secretary shall be paid from the liquor license appropriation in the Baltimore County budget in an amount set forth under grade 27, step 3, and such longevity benefits as the executive secretary to the Board may be entitled.

(f) Calvert County. -- In Calvert County:

   (1) The chairman of the Board shall receive $ 4,200 annually for expenses incurred while carrying on the duties of the office;

   (2) The regular members of the Board shall receive $ 3,600 annually for expenses incurred while carrying on the duties of the office; and

   (3) The alternate Board member shall receive $ 200 compensation for each meeting of the Board attended as an acting regular member to compensate for expenses incurred while carrying on the duties of the office.

(g) Caroline County. -- In Caroline County:

   (1) The members of the Board of License Commissioners shall receive annual salaries as determined by the County Commissioners, but not less than:

      (i) $ 3,000 for the chairman; and

      (ii) $ 2,500 for a regular Board member.

   (2) The alternate member of the Board shall receive $ 100 per meeting but not more than $ 2,000 in any 1-year period.

   (3) The chairman, associate members and substitute member shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations.

(h) Carroll County. -- In Carroll County, the annual salaries for the members of the Board of License Commissioners are set by the Carroll County Commissioners.

(i) Cecil County. --

   (1) In Cecil County, the Chairman of the Board of License Commissioners shall receive an annual salary of $ 3,000.

   (2) Each of the other members shall receive an annual salary in the amount of $ 2,500.

   (3) The Chairman and each member shall be reimbursed for expenses in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations.

   (4) The expenses shall be paid by the Commissioners.

(j) Charles County. -- In Charles County:

   (1) The County Commissioners shall set the salaries of the chairman and the associate members of the Board of License Commissioners.

   (2) The County Commissioners also shall provide a clerk, counsel, and supplies to the Board as the County Commissioners consider appropriate. The County Commissioners may set salaries for the clerk and counsel as the County Commissioners consider appropriate.

(k) Dorchester County. -- In Dorchester County, the annual compensation for the members of the Board of License Commissioners is:

   (1) $ 3,000 for the Chairman; and

   (2) $ 2,500 for each regular member.

(l) Frederick County. -- In Frederick County, the salary of the Board of License Commissioners is provided for in § 15-103 of this article.

(m) Garrett County. -- In Garrett County the members of the Board of County Commissioners may not receive additional compensation for their services in acting as members of the Board of License Commissioners.

(n) Harford County. -- In Harford County the provisions of subsection (a) of this section apply.

(o) Howard County. -- Repealed.

(p) Kent County. -- In Kent County each member of the Board of County Commissioners shall receive, in addition to their salaries as County Commissioners, $ 300 per year for their services in acting as members of the Board of License Commissioners.

(q) Montgomery County. -- In Montgomery County, each member of the Board of License Commissioners shall receive $ 9,000 per year, except the chairman who shall receive $ 10,000 per year.

(r) Prince George's County. --

   (1) This subsection applies only in Prince George's County.

   (2) (i) Each of the members of the Board shall receive an annual salary of $ 17,000.

      (ii) The chairman shall receive an annual salary of $ 18,000.

   (3) The Board shall meet at least two times per month.

   (4) (i) The administrator of the Board shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Board and shall devote full time and attention to the duties of the Board.

      (ii) The administrator may receive an annual salary of $ 40,705 as determined by the Board of License Commissioners after a performance evaluation.

   (5) (i) The attorney for the Board shall be appointed by, and serve at the will of, the Board.

      (ii) The attorney shall receive an annual salary of $ 15,500.

      (iii) In addition to the annual salary designated in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the County Council shall pay to the attorney for the Board:

         1. All court costs and expenses incurred therein by the attorney to the Board; and

         2. Legal fees that the Board approves for representing the Board in court.

      (iv) The Board shall establish the fee rate for representing the Board in court.

   (6) (i) The County Council shall pay for all expenses of the Board of License Commissioners upon the submission of an annual budget.

      (ii) In that budget, the salary of the members of the Board, the salary of the attorney for the Board, and any additional compensation for legal fees for the attorney for the Board, shall be approved as hereinbefore set forth.

      (iii) Except as provided in subparagraph (iv) of this paragraph, all other expenses, including, but not restricted to, the salary of the administrator as limited herein, compensation of other personnel, who shall be qualified and employed under the county merit system, printing, supplies, and office space, shall be at the discretion of the County Council.

   (7) (i) Members of the Board of Alcoholic Beverages License Commissioners and the attorney for the Board are eligible for:

         1. All county health benefits; and

         2. Membership in and retirement benefits of the State Employees' Pension System.

      (ii) The health benefits under this paragraph include:

         1. Hospitalization;

         2. Vision care;

         3. Prescriptions;

         4. Dental care;

         5. Life insurance; and

         6. Expense reimbursement.

      (iii) The administrator of the Board of License Commissioners is eligible to participate in the County's supplemental retirement plan.

      (iv) The County Executive and County Council may not adopt, either through public local law or personnel law, any policy contrary to the provisions of subparagraph (i) or (iii) of this paragraph.

(s) Queen Anne's County. --

   (1) In Queen Anne's County, the compensation for the Board of License Commissioners shall be at the rate to be determined by the County Commissioners.

   (2) The rate may not be less than:

      (i) $ 65 per meeting for the chairman; and

      (ii) $ 60 per meeting for each regular member.

(t) St. Mary's County. -- In St. Mary's County the provisions of subsection (a) of this section apply.

(u) Somerset County. --

   (1) In Somerset County each of the members of the Board, except the chairman, shall receive an annual salary of $ 3,000, and the chairman shall receive an annual salary of $ 3,500.

   (2) The County Commissioners shall provide a sum sufficient to pay for the salaries of the members of the Board.

   (3) The County Commissioners may provide a sum sufficient to pay for all expenses of the Board, including:

      (i) Salaries of personnel other than members of the Board; and

      (ii) Costs of printing, supplies, and other expenses related to the operation of the Board.

(v) Talbot County. --

   (1) In Talbot County each member of the Board shall receive as compensation a salary of $ 500 per year.

   (2) In addition, the chairman of the Board shall receive a salary of $ 250 per year.

(w) Washington County. --

   (1) This subsection applies only in Washington County.

   (2) The annual salaries for the Board of License Commissioners shall be set by the County Commissioners of Washington County under Title 28, Subtitle 2 of the Local Government Article.

   (3) The salaries specified in this subsection are payable monthly from the license fees derived from the issuance of licenses authorized by this article.

   (4) A member or employee of the Board may not have any pecuniary or other interest in any phase of the manufacture, sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverages.

(x) Wicomico County. --

   (1) This subsection applies only in Wicomico County.

   (2) The annual compensation for the Board of License Commissioners is:

      (i) Chairman -- $ 5,000.

      (ii) Members -- $ 4,000.

(y) Worcester County. -- In Worcester County:

   (1) The regular members of the Board of License Commissioners shall receive an annual salary as determined by the County Commissioners but no less than:

      (i) Chairman -- $ 2,500 per year; and

      (ii) Each regular member -- $ 2,100 per year; and

   (2) The alternate member of the Board shall receive compensation, as determined by the County Commissioners, for services when acting on the Board.

HISTORY: An. Code, 1951, § 146; 1947, ch. 501, § 138; ch. 785, § 60 (3); 1949, ch. 490, § 135 (d); ch. 723, § 135 (k); 1951, ch. 314, § 135 (ii); ch. 604, § 135 (b); ch. 632, § 135 (na); 1953, ch. 191; 1957, chs. 657, 718, 852; 1959, ch. 392; 1961, chs. 156, 245, 387, 444, 711; 1963, ch. 250, § 1; chs. 382, 671, 868; 1964, 1st Sp. Sess., ch. 15; 1965, ch. 299, § 1; chs. 683, 765, 897; 1967, chs. 721, 740; 1968, ch. 698, § 3; 1969, ch. 463; 1970, ch. 176; ch. 227, § 1; ch. 382, § 1; ch. 571; ch. 633, § 2; ch. 716; 1971, chs. 58, 141; ch. 566, § 2; 1972, chs. 332, 605; 1973, chs. 187, 549, 810; 1974, ch. 64, § 4; chs. 271, 500; 1975, chs. 114, 619, 835, 844; 1976, chs. 197, 359; ch. 478, § 1; ch. 705; 1977, chs. 223, 347, 711; 1978, chs. 362, 679, 747, 759, 894, 895, 922; 1979, chs. 135, 167, 377; 1980, chs. 91, 244; ch. 712, § 2; 1981, chs. 136, 212; ch. 214, § 1; 1982, chs. 466, 669, 705; ch. 714, § 3; chs. 730, 886; 1983, chs. 8, 254, 558; 1984, chs. 76, 547; 1985, chs. 62, 186, 277, 344, 465, 664; ch. 764, § 1, 2; 1986, chs. 84, 207, 248, 249, 305; 1987, chs. 111, 112, 257; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; chs. 142, 436, 706; 1989, ch. 5, § 15; chs. 49, 214, 246, 606; 1990, chs. 35, 113, 144, 146, 160, 186; 1991, ch. 55, § 1; ch. 407; 1992, ch. 196, § 2; 1993, ch. 5, § 2; chs. 62, 63; 1994, ch. 3, § 1, 5; chs. 244, 254, 318, 397, 468; 1995, ch. 3, § 1; 1996, ch. 366; 1997, ch. 14, § 1; chs. 465, 618; 1998, chs. 307, 503; ch. 686, § 1, 2; 1999, ch. 34, § 1; ch. 38; 2001, ch. 262; 2003, ch. 155; 2005, ch. 260; 2006, ch. 302, § 1; ch. 314; 2007, chs. 464, 610; 2008, ch. 425, § 2; ch. 677; 2009, chs. 50, 51, 555, 556; 2010, ch. 156; 2011, ch. 65, § 5; ch. 390, § 1; 2013, chs. 136, 145, 557, 558.