(a) The head of the Department is the Secretary of Agriculture, who shall
be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the
Senate.
(b) The Secretary shall receive the salary provided in the State budget. He
serves at the pleasure of the Governor and is responsible directly to
the Governor. The Secretary shall counsel and advise the Governor on
all matters assigned to the Department of Agriculture and is
responsible for carrying out the Governor's policies with respect to
these matters. The Secretary shall be responsible for the operation of
the Department and shall establish guidelines and procedures to promote
the orderly and efficient administration of the Department.
(c) The Secretary, with the approval of the Governor, shall appoint a
deputy secretary who has the duties provided by law or delegated by the
Secretary. The deputy secretary serves at the pleasure of the Secretary
and shall receive the salary provided in the State budget.
(d) (1) (i) The Secretary also shall have within the Department assistants,
professional consultants, and employees as provided in the State
budget.
(ii) Assistants in charge of areas of responsibility and professional
consultants shall be in the executive service, management service, or
special appointments in the State Personnel Management System and shall
serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
(iii) Wherever it is provided by law that the Secretary makes an appointment
to a particular office within the Department with the approval of the
Governor, the Secretary may not remove the appointee without first
obtaining the Governor's approval.
(2) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary shall appoint and
remove all other personnel in accordance with the provisions of the
State Personnel and Pensions Article.
(3) The Secretary may delegate the authority to appoint and remove
personnel of any unit to the administrator of the
unit.
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