1334 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 599

accomplish the purpose and intent of the regulations of the
zoning plan.

The Board of Appeals shall consist of three members.
The term of office of the members of the board shall be
three years. They shall be appointed by the mayor, con-
firmed by the council, and removable for cause, upon writ-
ten charges, and after public hearing. Vacancies shall be
filled for the unexpired term of any member whose term
becomes vacant.

The board shall adopt rules in accordance with the pro-
visions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this Act.
Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chair-
man and at such other times as the board may determine.
Such chairman or in his absence, the acting chairman, may
administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The
board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the
vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or
failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records
of its examinations and other official actions, all of which
shall be immediately filed in the office of the board and shall
be a public record.

Appeals to the Board of Appeals may be taken by any
person aggrieved or by any officer, department, board, or
bureau of the municipality affected by any decisions of the
administrative officer. Such appeal shall be taken within
a reasonable time, as provided by the rules of the board,
by filing with the officer from whom the appeal is taken
and with the Board of Appeals a notice of appeal specify-
ing the grounds thereof. The officer from whom the ap-
peal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the board all the
papers constituting the record upon which the action ap-
pealed from was taken.

An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the
action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the
appeal is taken certifies to the Board of Appeals after
notice of appeal shall have been filed with him that by
reason of facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in his
opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such
case proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by a
restraining order which may be granted by the Board of
Appeals or by a court of record on application on notice to
the officer from whom the appeal is taken and on due cause
shown.

The Board of Appeals shall fix a reasonable time for the
hearing of the appeal, give public notice thereof, as well
as due notice to the parties in interest, and decide the same