1136                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 670

all books, documents and papers filed with the Authority and of the
Minute Book or Journal of the Authority and of its official seal. He
may cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and
documents of the Authority and give certificates under the official
seal of the Authority to the effect that such copies are true copies;
all persons dealing with the Authority may rely upon such certificates,
and such copies when so certified shall be received as evidence in any
court of law or equity, or before any Judge, Justice of the Peace, or
other tribunal in this State, in the same manner and with the same
effect as if the original books, papers, entries, records or proceedings
were themselves produced. The Secretary-Treasurer shall perform
any and all duties imposed upon him by law or as may be assigned to
him by the Authority.

(k) The Authority may also appoint an Executive Director, who
shall serve at the pleasure of the Authority, be responsible to it, and
receive such salary as may be fixed by the Authority from time to
time. The Executive Director shall perform any and all duties as may
be imposed upon him by law or as may be assigned to him by the
Authority. PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE EXECU-
TIVE DIRECTOR, THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONDUCT A PUB-
LIC HEARING IN REGARD TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ANY
NOMINEE FOR SAID POSITION, WHICH PUBLIC HEARING
SHALL BE ADVERTISED AT LEAST FIFTEEN DAYS PRIOR
TO THE DATE OF SUCH HEARING BY PUBLICATION IN A
NEWSPAPER HAVING GENERAL CIRCULATION IN BALTI-
MORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY.

(L) NO PERSON IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF OR HOLDING
ANY OFFICIAL RELATION TO ANY PERSON OR COMPANY
SUBJECT TO THE REGULATORY JURISDICTION OF THE AU-
THORITY OR HAVING ANY INTEREST OF ANY NATURE IN
ANY SUCH PERSON OR COMPANY OR AFFILIATE OR ASSO-
CIATE THEREOF, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE AUTHORITY OR TO SERVE AS AN EMPLOYEE OF
THE AUTHORITY OR TO RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION IN
RELATION THERETO, , EXCEPT THAT THIS PROHIBITION
SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE EMPLOYEES OF ANY COMPANY
WHICH THE AUTHORITY ACQUIRES PURSUANT TO SEC-
TION 14 OF THIS ACT.

(M) ALL CONDUCT PROHIBITED BY ARTICLE 78, SECTION
16 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND (1957 EDI-
TION, AS AMENDED) SHALL ALSO BE PROHIBITED TO PER-
SONNEL OF THE AUTHORITY AND THE PENALTIES THERE-
IN SET FORTH SHALL ALSO BE APPLICABLE FOR VIOLAT-
ING ANY OF THE SAID PROHIBITIONS.

6. Advisory Council.

(a) There is created an Advisory Council, whose function it is to
consult with the members of the Authority from time to time. Said
Council has no vote upon the Authority but may be consulted regular-
ly by the Authority, and shall, upon the invitation of the Authority,
attend meetings and hearings of the Authority, either as a group or
individually as the case may be. No change in the routes, schedules,
or service of any public or private transportation company shall be
made by the Authority without first submitting the proposed change