J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                        233

management, conservation and administration of water resources.
The Director shall receive the salary provided in the annual State
budget.

(h) The Director shall be responsible for the exercise of all the
powers and duties conferred upon the Department by the provisions
of this article.

(c)  The Director shall appoint and remove the staff of the Depart-
ment in accordance with the provisions of the merit system law.
The staff of the Department shall consist of such employees as may
be necessary to carry out the duties of the Department, in such num-
bers and at the salaries provided in the annual State budget. Insofar
as the provisions of the Merit System provide for disciplinary or dis-
missal proceedings against employees to be brought by the appoint-
ing authority, the Director shall be the appointing authority. All em-
ployees shall be under the supervision and control of the Director
and shall perform such duties as he may prescribe. The Director and
all staff employees of the Water Pollution Control Commission, who
as of June 1, 1964, have held such employment under Article 64A of
this Code for a period of not less than six months prior thereto shall
be continued as employees of the Department of Water Resources
herein created or in other reasonably similar positions in the State
classified service with no diminution in salary, seniority or retire-
ment rights and privileges.

(d)  In addition to his duties specified herein, the Director shall
serve as a departmental member of the Board of Natural Resources:

(e)  The Director shall exercise all other powers and duties neces-
sary and proper in carrying out the duties vested in him under this
article.

4. (a) There is hereby created a Water Resources Commission
comprising five members who shall be appointed by the Governor,
BY AND WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE.

One member shall be designated as Chairman and shall serve at the
pleasure of the Governor. Of the other four members of the Com-
mission, the Governor shall appoint one member to serve for an
initial term of one year, one member for two years, one member for
three years and one member for four years, and thereafter all such
appointments shall be for terms of four years each. Members of the
Commission shall represent the general fields of public health, in-
dustry, agriculture, municipal administration and natural resources.
Members of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled for the remainder of the
unexpired term by the Governor.

(b)  The Commission shall meet at least once in each month of
the year. Each member who is not a public official of the State of
Maryland shall receive a per diem allowance as provided in the budget
for his attendance at the monthly meetings of the Commission and
for his attendance, when requested by the Chairman, at other meet-
ings and hearings of formal significance. Members shall also be re-
imbursed for actual expenses incurred in attending to the meetings
and other business of the Commission.

(c)  The Commission may adopt rules of procedure to govern the
conduct of its meetings. Special meetings may be called by the chair-
man or by three members of the Commission by delivery of written