The future Frederick County council members and County Executive-elect Jan Gardner met on November 18 to discuss communication and review ethics laws, open meetings rules and the public information act.

County attorneys also presented drafted rules for the council and gave an overview of how charter government functions.

The Frederick News-Post reported

During the afternoon orientation at Winchester Hall, County Executive-elect Jan Gardner told the incoming council that she doesn’t plan to attend all of their meetings. However, she invited them to ask questions and develop a working relationship with her.

“My door is always open,” said Gardner, a Democrat who will be the first Frederick County executive.

The charter passed by voters in 2012 states that council members can’t direct employees, who are supervised by the executive. However, Gardner said the council members should feel free to interact with staff and even ask them to do research.

During the meeting, Gardner also showed incoming council members a drafted invitation and agenda for their swearing-in ceremony Dec. 1.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick. The future council members said they would like to hold their first meeting the day of the ceremony.

Gardner said the county is looking to go paperless, so the council members will each receive laptops instead of desktop computers. County agendas and supporting documents will be sent to the council members electronically, she said.

To read the full article, visit The Frederick News-Post online.