SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                          819

vided that any rule or regulation, other than one which deals solely
with the internal management of the commission, shall not be effec-
tive unless and until filed in accordance with the law of the respective
signatory parties applicable to administrative rules and regulations
generally; and

2. Designate any officer, agent, or employee of the commission to
be an investigator or watchman and such person shall be vested
with the powers of a peace officer of the state in which he is duly
assigned to perform his duties.

15.3—Tax Exemptions. The commission, its property, functions,
and activities shall be exempt from taxation by or under the author-
ity of any of the signatory parties or any political subdivision there-
of; provided that in lieu of property taxes the commission, as to its
specific projects, shall make payments to local taxing districts in
annual amounts which shall equal the taxes lawfully assessed upon
property for the tax year next prior to its acquisition by the commis-
sion for a period of ten years. The nature and amount of such pay-
ments shall be reviewed by the commission at the end of ten years,
and from time to time thereafter, upon reasonable notice and oppor-
tunity to be heard to the affected taxing district, and the payments
may be thereupon terminated or continued in such reasonable amount
as may be necessary or desirable to take into account hardships in-
curred and benefits received by the taxing jurisdiction which are
attributable to the project.

15.4—Meetings; Public Hearings; Records, Minutes.

(a)  All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public.

(b)  The commission shall conduct at least one public hearing in
each state prior to the adoption of the initial comprehensive plan. In
all other cases wherein this compact requires a public hearing, such
hearing shall be held upon not less than twenty days' public notice
given by posting at the offices of the commission, and published at
least once in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the
area or areas affected. The commission shall also provide forthwith
for distribution of such notice to the press and by the mailing of a
copy thereof to any person who shall request such notices.

(c)   The minutes of the commission shall be a public record open
to inspection at its offices during regular business hours.

15.5—Officers Generally.

(a)    The officers of the commission shall consist of an executive
director and such additional officers, deputies, and assistants as the
commission may determine. The executive director shall be ap-
pointed and may be removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the full membership of the commission. All other officers and em-
ployees shall be appointed or dismissed by the executive director
under such rules of procedure as the commission may establish.

(b)    In the appointment and promotion of officers and em-
ployees for the commission, no political, racial, religious, or residence
test or qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but
all such appointments and promotions shall be solely on the basis of
merit and fitness. Any officer or employee of the commission who is
found by the commission to be guilty of a violation of this section
shall be immediately dismissed.