WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 677

The said County Commissioners are not empowered by
this act to prohibit the use of any land for agricultural
purposes.

517. The County Commissioners of Anne Arundel County
are authorized and empowered to provide for and to appoint
a Zoning Commissioner, whose appointment shall be for a
four year period subject to removal by the said County Com-
missioners upon the filing of written charges showing cause
for such removal and following a public hearing or hearings
on the said charges.

The County Commissioners of Anne Arundel County are
authorized and empowered to impose upon the Zoning Com-
missioner the general duty of recommending to the said
County Commissioners for enactment as hereinafter pro-
vided the regulations within and the boundaries of zones
together with subsequent recommendations for amending the
said zone regulations and boundaries, and the further gen-
eral duty of administering as hereinafter provided the Zon-
ing Law or Laws enacted by said County Commissioners.

The County Commissioners of Anne Arundel County may
not empower the said Zoning Commissioner to alter by his
decision any zone regulations of boundaries promulgated by
them under this Act.

518. The County Commissioners of Anne Arundel County
are authorized and empowered to act as a Board of Zoning
Appeals, and for acting as such Board each member of the
Board of County Commissioners shall be paid $25.00 per
month. The Board of Zoning Appeals may adopt its own
rules of procedure, which must not be inconsistent with this
Act.

The County Commissioners of Anne Arundel County, when
acting as a Board of Zoning Appeals, are authorized and
empowered to hear and to take action on any appeal from a
decision of the above named Zoning Commissioner. Appeals
to the said Board may be made by any person, or official or
board severally or individually aggrieved by a decision of
the Zoning Commissioner and hearings on such appeals shall
be open to the public. At least seven (7) days prior to the
date of such hearings notice shall be given to the owners
of property contiguous to that property which is the subject
of appeal. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall, for the pur-
pose of such hearings, have the power to compel the attend-
ance of witnesses and to administer oaths and shall keep min-
utes of all such hearings. The Board shall act upon any such