Santa Clara County Municipal Code Art. III Powers

Section 300. The Board of Supervisors shall have all the jurisdiction and powers granted to it by the Constitution, this Charter and laws of the state, except as such laws may be inconsistent with this Charter.

The county may exercise its powers only through the Board of Supervisors or officers acting under its authority or of law or of this Charter.

Section 301. [5] The Board of Supervisors shall:

(a) Adopt a statement of the goals of the county reflecting the quality and direction of the activities of county government for the enhancement of human and physical resources of the county. The board shall annually review the adopted goals and may modify them as necessary.

(b) Encourage cooperation among local public agencies both within Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay Area. When appropriate recommend and promote solutions to regional issues of mutual concern to Santa Clara County and other agencies.

(c) Appoint, suspend, or remove subject to the provisions of this Charter the County Executive, County Counsel, Public Defender, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Chief of Correction, and members of boards and commissions.

(d) Adopt an administrative code by ordinance which shall prescribe the powers and duties of appointive departments and officers and the procedures and rules of operation of all departments and officers of the county.

(e) Provide for the number and compensation of all officers and employees.

(f) Adopt such ordinances as may be necessary to establish and carry into effect the provisions of this Charter.

Section 302. The Board of Supervisors shall have power to:

(a) Consolidate, segregate, transfer, abolish, or reassign the powers, duties, and functions of any appointed county office, commission, department, or division thereof, whenever the respective duties thereof are not inconsistent. The Board shall have similar power as to elected county officers to the extent authorized by general law. If the Board of Supervisors consolidates two or more offices pursuant to general law or this Charter, the department head of the consolidated office need not possess the qualifications required of the occupant of any of the separate offices which are consolidated if the board finds that sufficient personnel possessing the qualifications required are employed in the consolidated office to assure that decisions made by the department head are based upon competent professional advice.

(b) Provide for the assumption by the county of functions of cities or special districts within the county whenever the discharge of such functions is authorized by the cities or special districts.

(c) Inquire into the conduct of any office or department to which the county contributes money, and require periodic or special reports therefrom and examine all records and accounts thereof.

(d) Require the attendance of any officer or employee of the county at any meeting of the board for the purposes of information, advice, or assistance.

Section 303. Except for the purposes of inquiry and information, neither the Board of Supervisors nor any member thereof shall deal with any administrative officer or employee appointed by or under the County Executive except through the County Executive, and neither the Board of Supervisors nor any member thereof shall give orders to the subordinates of the County Executive either publicly or privately.

Footnotes:

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Section 301: Amended and ratified by the Voters November 4, 1980; November 2, 1993; June 2, 1998; November 3, 1998.