1610 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 705

6. Zoning Commission—In order to avail itself of the
powers conferred by this Act, such legislative body shall
appoint a commission, to be known as the Zoning Commission,
to recommend the boundaries of the various original districts
and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein. Such
commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public
hearings thereon before submitting its final report, and such
legislative body shall not hold its public hearings or take action
until it has received the final report of such commission.
Where a Board of Zoning Appeals already exists, it may be
appointed as the Zoning Commission.

7. Board of Zoning Appeals—Such local legislative body
may provide for the appointment of a Board of Zoning Ap-
peals, and in the regulations and restrictions adopted pur-
suant to the authority of this Act may provide that the said
Board of Zoning Appeals may, in appropriate cases and sub-
ject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, make special
exceptions to the terms of the ordinance in harmony with its
general purpose and intent and in accordance with general
or specific rules therein contained.

The Board of Zoning Appeals shall consist of five mem-
bers and they shall be appointed for a term of four years,
but of the first appointed members one shall be ap-
pointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years,
one for a term of three years and one for a term of four years.
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of any mem-
ber whose term becomes vacant. The members of the Board
of Zoning Appeals shall be removable for cause by the ap-
pointing authority upon written charges and after public
hearing.

The board shall adopt rules in accordance with the pro-
visions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this Act. Meet-
ings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman and
at such other times as the board may determine. Such chair-

man, 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 mem-
ber upon each question, or, if absent or failing to vote, indi-
cating 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.