(a) (1) The local department in each county shall have a board, appointed as
hereinafter provided and herein referred to as the local board. Except
as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the local board shall
be composed of nine members. The members shall receive no salary for
their services, but their reasonable expenses incurred in attending
meetings or performing other official duties shall be paid. Each local
board shall select its own chairman on July 1st of each year.
(2) Each local board chairman shall serve as liaison between the local
board and the State Board.
(3) (i) In Frederick County and in Garrett County, the local board shall be
composed of at least 9 but no more than 13 members, as determined by
the Board of County Commissioners.
(ii) In Harford County, the local board shall be composed of at least 9 but
no more than 13 members, as provided by local law enacted by the County
Council and approved by the County Executive.
(iii) In Montgomery County, the local board shall be composed of at least 9
but no more than 13 members, as provided by local law enacted by the
County Council and approved by the County Executive.
(iv) In Baltimore City, the local board shall be composed of at least 9 but
no more than 13 members, as provided by local law enacted by the Mayor
and City Council of Baltimore City.
(b) One member of each local board shall be a member of the local governing
authority of the county involved and shall serve as an ex officio
member of the local board. On July 1st of each year the local
governing authority shall designate which of its members shall so
serve, and, in the event of a vacancy occurring, shall designate
another of its members to serve as the ex officio member of the local
board for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(c) (1) The other members of the local board shall be appointed by the local
governing authority. The local governing authority shall seek out and
appoint persons with a high degree of interest, capacity and
objectivity, and who in the aggregate give a countywide representative
character to the local board.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, members of the
local board shall be appointed for three-year terms, to expire on June
30 of the respective years of expiration, or until their successors are
appointed. Upon the expiration of two consecutive full terms the
appointee shall be ineligible, for one year thereafter, for
reappointment.
(3) In Charles County, a member shall be appointed for a 4-year term.
(4) A vacancy occurring for any reason during a term shall be filled by
appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(d) Any member of any of the local boards who shall fail to attend at least
fifty percent of its meetings during any period of twelve consecutive
months may be considered to have resigned, and the chairman of the
board shall, in the chairman's discretion, declare that a vacancy
exists and proceed to have it filled by appointment for the remainder
of the unexpired term in the manner provided in subsection (c) of this
section.
(e) If any member of any of the local boards, except the ex officio member
serving thereon under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section,
is elected to political office, or accepts public office by election or
appointment during the member's tenure of office on the local board,
such acceptance of public office may, in the discretion of the local
governing authority, be considered as the member's resignation as a
member of the local board, and the chairman of the local board shall
declare that a vacancy exists on the local board and proceed to have it
filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the
manner provided in subsection (c) of this section.
(f) The provisions of this section apply in the twenty-three counties and
not in Baltimore City.
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