314                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                         [CH. 290

44A.

(a)    The County Commissioners of Kent County may establish
a Board of Parks and Recreation, with powers and duties as here-
inafter specified.

(b)    The Board shall consist of seven members, appointed by the
County Commissioners, of whom one shall be first recommended by
the Board of Education of Kent County from its membership or
otherwise. All members of the Board shall be appointed for four
years from the first day of January of the year of their appointments,
or until their successors are appointed. The members of the Board,
other than the County Commissioner, when first appointed, shall be
divided into three classes, two of the members being in each class.
The initial terms of those in the first class shall be four years; of
those in the second class, three years; and of those in the third
class, two years. Vacancies, except those at the expiration of a
term, shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments
and for the unexpired term. In the appointment of Board members,
the County Commissioners shall give due regard to giving represen-
tation to all segments of the County's population and to all geo-
graphic portions of the County's area. All members of the Board
shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed
for necessary and proper expenses incurred while performing their
duties thereon.

(c)    The Board shall annually select a chairman and a vice
chairman from its membership; and it shall also select a secretary
and a treasurer, who may or may not be members thereof. The
Board may require the treasurer to give bond in such amount as it
may determine, and it is further authorized to adopt all necessary
rules and regulations for the conduct of its business and for the
protection of properties under its control. The Board shall hold
such regular and special meetings as it may deem necessary. The
Board is authorized to determine all questions of general policy
relating to parks and public recreation in Kent County and to super-
vise the expenditure of funds appropriated to these purposes. It
may appoint advisory committees or panels to assist in the exercise
of its powers and functions.

(d)    The Board, with the approval of the County Commissioners,
may accept real and personal property of all kinds suitable for
public parks, open space programs, and recreational purposes, legal
title to which shall always be in the Board of County Commissioners.
The County Commissioners may appropriate in the annual budget
of the County such sums as may be necessary to purchase land,
construct improvements, and defray expenses for the maintenance
of park and recreation areas under the control of the Board and for
the support of the park and recreational programs. The acquisition
of property, with the approval of the County Commissioners, may
be by purchase, condemnation, grant, bequest, devise, or lease of the
fee or any lessor interest, development right, assignment, covenant
or other contractual right necessary for park and recreation pro-
grams. The County Commissioners have the power to sell or in any
manner dispose of these parks and recreational properties.

(e)    The Board, subject to budgetary policies and appropriations
of the County Commissioners, may initiate, adopt, direct, or cause
to be conducted or directed, a comprehensive program of public