Constitutional Offices & Agencies/155

The Board of Public Works is composed of the Governor, the Comptroller of the Treasury, and the
State Treasurer. The Constitution requires the Board to meet on the first Wednesday of January April,
July, and October in Annapolis and more often when necessary (Const., Art. XII, secs. 1-3). Usually,
meetings are held weekly.

The Board exercises such powers and duties as are prescribed in the Constitution or delegated to it
from time to time by the General Assembly The Board approves the expenditures of all sums appropriated
through State loans authorized by the General Assembly as well as the expenditures of all general and
other funds appropriated for capital improvements except those appropriated for State roads, bridges, and
highways. The Board approves every new lease or renewal for land, buildings, or office space before such
contracts are executed by any department, board, commission, State officer, or institution of the State. It
may also designate the location of any State agency, after review by the Secretary of Budget and Fiscal
Planning.

The Board may borrow upon the credit of the State, at any time between the sessions of the General
Assembly, sums not to exceed $50,000 to meet temporary deficits in the Treasury. In addition, the Board
may borrow upon the credit of the State total amounts not exceeding $1,000,000 in anticipation of the
collection of taxes or other revenues, including the proceeds from the sale of bonds. All such loans bear
interest at a rate determined by the Board, and must mature and be repaid at or before the end of the fiscal
year in which the money is borrowed (Const., Art. Ill, sec. 34).

Upon recommendation of the Comptroller, the Board may adopt regulations covering matters of
business administration in the various departments, institutions, and agencies of the State, including the
fixing of uniform rates of mileage allowance and the terms and renewals of all bonds furnished by State
officials and employees. The sale, lease, or transfer of any real property belonging to any State agency or
institution must be approved and the conveyance signed by the Board and the highest official of the agency
or institution. Where no agency or institution claims the property, the Board executes the conveyance.
The Board of Public Works has custody of the General Emergency Fund, which is used to supplement the
budgets of the agencies and institutions of the State. The Board also must issue a license to anyone who
seeks to dredge or fill in State wetlands.

The Board of Public Works is required to adopt and promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures for
the administration of the State Public School Construction Program and to approve the allocations which
are to be paid to each of the counties and Baltimore City (Code 1957, Articles 15A, 23, 27, 31, 41, 43,
73B, 78A, 94A; Education Article; Estates and Trusts Article; Environment Article; Natural Resources
Article; State Finance and Procurement Article; State Government Article; Transportation Article).

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY James J. McGinty, Jr., Secretary M. Gail Moran, Assistant Secretary Goldstein Treasury Building, Room 309 60 Calvert St. Annapolis, MD 21401 974-3443 The office of the Secretary is charged with certain administrative functions in connection with matters brought before the Board of Public Works. The office is responsible for preparing one of the several agendas considered by the Board at its meetings and for scheduling the appearance of persons wishing to testify at meetings. It must notify all affected parties of actions taken by the Board. It prepares, distributes, and maintains the minutes of each of the meetings. A library of tape recordings and tran- scripts of each meeting is also maintained. The office provides information to other State agencies, the news media, and the public at large, and undertakes research as requested. The operating budget of the Board of Public Works, which contains a number of

grant programs to private agencies, institutions, colleges, and universities, is prepared and adminis- tered by this office. WETLANDS ADMINISTRATION Harold Cassell, Wetlands Administrator Old Armory Building HBladenSt. Annapolis, MD 21401 974-2664 Chapter 241 of the Acts of 1970 requires that anyone wishing to dredge or fill in State wetlands must first secure a license from the Board of Public Works. In order to fulfill its statutory responsibili- ties, the Board has appointed a Wetlands Adminis- trator. The duties of this office include the receipt of applications, as well as scheduling and conduct- ing the required public hearing. After holding the hearing and considering all other information rele- vant to the application, the Administrator then prepares a written report to the Board of Public