J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                            1215

at whichever of the offices in the Commission's judgment best suits
the convenience of the public.

11.    General Powers.

The Commission has the right to exercise all powers and functions
granted to it in this Article. It has the right to use a common seal,
to sue and be sued, and to do any and all other corporate acts for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Article.

12.    Merit System.

The Commission is authorized and directed, to establish a merit
system or Classified service. In it shall be included all the employees
of the Commission except the Commissioners, the heads of the sev-
eral departments, and the Assistant General Counsel. The Commis-
sion further is authorized to make such rules and regulations as in
its judgment are necessary and proper to carry out the provisions
of this Section. The rules and regulations from time to time may
be abolished, supplemented, changed, or amended; except that any
such rule and regulation and any change in them or addition to them
shall not be effective until it has been approved by the State Commis-
sioner of Personnel.

13.    Reports and Audits.

The Commission shall publish annually in at least one newspaper
published in Montgomery County and one in Prince George's County
a full and true account of its receipts and disbursements. Prior to
the publication, the accounts shall be audited by a certified public
accountant employed by the Commission for the purpose of making
this audit and certifying to the correctness of the published account.

13A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.

ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION WHO IS PRESENT AT
A MEETING AT WHICH IS DISCUSSED ANY MATTER IN
WHICH HE HAS, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, A PECUNIARY
OR PROPERTY INTEREST, SHALL DECLARE HIS INTEREST
AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM CASTING A VOTE IN RESPECT
OF SUCH MATTER.

14.    Employees' Right of Entry.

In the performance of the functions and duties of the Commission,
any member or any employee or agent of the Commission has the
right to enter at all reasonable hours upon any private premises and
into any building in the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District
or in the Maryland-Washington Regional District, in order to make
examinations and surveys and to place and maintain necessary mon-
uments and marks thereon. Any restraint or hindrance offered to
any such entry, examination, survey, or placing or maintenance of
monuments or marks by any owner or tenant or agent of an owner
or tenant shall be a misdemeanor, punishable as such under the
general penalty provisions of this Article.

15.    Civilian Defense Activities.

The members of the Commission and its staff are authorized to
engage in civilian defense or other defense activities under the di-