366                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 154

(c) The Director shall appoint and remove the staff of the
Department in accordance with the provisions of the merit system
law, subject to the authority of the Secretary as provided by 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
dismissal proceedings against employees to be brought by the ap-
pointing authority, the Director shall be the appointing authority,
unless the Secretary determines by written directive that the Sec-
retary shall be the appointing authority. All employees shall be
under the supervision and control of the Director and shall perform
such duties as he may prescribe. The Director and all staff em-
ployees 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 con-
tinued as employees of the Department of Water Resources herein
created or in other reasonably similar positions in the State clas-
sified service with no diminution in salary, seniority or retirement
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)] (d) The Director shall exercise all other powers and
duties necessary and proper in carrying out the duties vested in him
under this article.

4.

(a)    There is hereby created a Water Resources Commission com-
prising five members who shall be appointed by the [Governor, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate] Secretary of Natural
Resources. One member shall be designated as chairman and shall
serve at the pleasure of the [Governor] Secretary of Natural
Resources. Of the other four members of the Commission, [the Gov-
ernor shall appoint] one member shall be appointed 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] Secretary of Natural Resources.

(b)    The Commission shall meet at least once in each month of
the year and at such other times as requested by the Director. 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 hi