1386                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                       CH. 697

115A.

(a)     The County Commissioners of Cecil County shall MAY estab-
lish a Board of Parks and Recreation, with powers and duties as
hereinafter specified.

(b)    The Board shall consist of three members, appointed by the
County Commissioners, of whom each commissioner shall appoint
one. 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. 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. 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 chair-
man 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 deter-
mine, 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 Cecil County, to supervise the expenditure of
funds appropriated to these purposes, and to keep the Commissioners
informed as to the availability of Federal and State funds for 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 con-
tractural right necessary for park and recreation programs. The
County Commissioners have the power to sell or in any manner dis-
pose 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 recrea-
tion in schools, parks, or other lands or buildings, either publicly or
privately owned. It further may develop, equip, operate, maintain,
issue permits for the use of any facilities made available to the Board,
and make charges where appropriate.

(f)    The control of any land, buildings, or other acceptable facili-
ties shall be in accord with agreements reached between the Board
and the person, corporation, or agency having jurisdiction over such