What is Code Home Rule? In a nutshell, Code Home Rule is one of three allowed forms of county government in Maryland. If approved by Cecil County voters in November, it would provide our County Commissioners with more authority to run the county on a day-to-day basis. It would largely eliminate the need for state General Assembly action on most county matters. Code Home Rule does not alter the structure of our county government: we would keep our five County Commissioners and no new county offices are established. Code Home Rule is defined in our state constitution, so no "charter" has to be written.
More Information:
General information on county government options in Maryland.
Table of comparison of three forms of county government.
Code Home Rule defined in Article XI-F of Constitution of Maryland.
Vote in the county straw poll.
In the fall of 2007, three public information forums on "Forms of County Government" were held in Cecil County, organized by the University of Maryland Institute for Governmental Service and Research and funded by the Board of County Commissioners. The forums were videotaped and copies of the DVDs are available at all branches of the Cecil County Public Library: DVD 320.8 FOR.
Statement by Cecil Land Use Alliance supporting Code Home Rule: "CLUA believes that our current commissioner form of government, dependent as it is on action by the Maryland General Assembly for much local legislation, is not sufficiently responsive to local needs or accountable to Cecil County voters. Like our neighboring counties, we need home rule in order to be more pro-active in responding to increasing development pressures as well as in dealing with the consequences of growth. CLUA believes that Code Home Rule provides a governmental option that would be simple to implement and is most likely to be accepted by voters. We urge the Board of County Commissioners to place a referendum on Code Home Rule on the general election ballot in November; if approved by the voters, it will be in place before the end of 2008."
At the Commissioners' Public Information Meeting on the choices for the form of county government, held January 31, 2008, a straw vote on choice of government was taken of the citizens who attended. Out of 85 votes cast, 48 votes were for Code Home Rule (56%), 31 votes were for charter government (36%), and 6 votes were to retain the status quo (7%).
Process and schedule for Code Home Rule referendum on the November 2008 ballot in Cecil County:
If the referendum is placed on the November ballot, it will be a simple For or Against Code Home Rule.
Comments by CLUA president George Kaplan to County Commissioners at Public Hearing #1 (June 5) on the possibility of a Code Home Rule referendum in November.
Mike Burns' information sheets on Code Home Rule:
Cecil Land Use Alliance: cecillanduse.org