J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       1551

may deem appropriate except the adoption or amendment of the
Regional Development Plan.

10. Staff.

The employment, compensation, and tenure of an executive officer
may be made by the Regional Planning Council without being subject
to any of the provisions and restrictions of Article 64A of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland, title "Merit System". Said executive officer
(with the approval of The Council) may appoint three additional de-
partment or section heads without being subject to the provisions
and restrictions of Article 64A of the Annotated Code of Maryland,
title "Merit System". The Council may also employ or retain counsel
or consultants without being subject to the provisions and restrictions
of Article 64A of the Annotated Code of Maryland, title "Merit
System". All other employees of The Council shall be subject gen-
erally to the provisions and restrictions of Article 64A of the An-
notated Code of Maryland, title "Merit System".

11. Quorum.

The Regional Planning Council may act only by the affirmative vote
of not less than ten ELEVEN members.

Operations

12. Functions of The Council.

As expeditiously as possible, The Council shall prepare and adopt
a comprehensive plan for the development of the Regional Planning
Area to be known as the SUGGESTED General Development Plan.
The plan shall be based upon comprehensive surveys and studies of
land use, transportation, public utilities, governmental facilities and
services, and natural resources. It shall take into account social and
economic factors, conditions, and trends that are relevant to the prob-
able future development of the Area. In the preparation
of the SUGGESTED General Development Plan for the Area,
The Council shall work closely with all units of government within
the Area, with other metropolitan or regional planning agencies with-
in and outside of the State, with State departments and officials, and
with private groups concerned with the orderly development of the
Area.

The Regional Planning Council shall establish a period for the com-
pletion of the SUGGESTED General Development Plan.

In preparing the SUGGESTED General Development Plan, The
Council shall take account of the planning activities of Federal, State,
county, municipal, or other local or private agencies within the Area.
In preparing the plan or any part thereof, and in preparing from
time to time, revisions, amendments, extensions, or additions, The
Council may seek the cooperation and advice of other regional or
metropolitan agencies, educational and research organizations,
whether public or private, and of civic groups and private persons
and organizations. The SUGGESTED General Development Plan
shall embody the policy recommendations of the Council in regard
to the physical development of the Area supplemented by maps,
charts, graphs, and such other descriptive matter as may be neces-
sary to depict the plan, and it shall contain: