2658                               Municipal Charters

It is further declared to be the public policy of the county that
discrimination in housing and places of public accommodation against
any person on account of race, color, religious creed, ancestry or national
origin is contrary to the morals, ethics and purposes of a free, democratic
society; is injurious to and threatens the peace and good government of
this county; is injurious to and threatens the health, safety and welfare
of persons within this county; and is illegal and should be abolished.

Sec. 77-2. Created; membership, appointments and term of office of mem-
bers; Commission Panels.

There is hereby established a Commission on Human Relations. The
Commission shall consist of not less than nine (9) members and not more
than fifteen (15) members to be appointed and may be removed for cause
by the County Executive with the approval of the County Council and who
shall be broadly representative of the racial, religious, and ethnic groups
of the County. The terms of the members of the Commission shall be for
one, two, or three years, as prescribed by the County Executive at the
time of appointment, so as to provide for the vacating of the terms of
one-third of the members of the Commission annually. Each member of
the Commission shall continue to serve after his term until his successor
has been appointed and has qualified. The County Executive, with the
approval of the County Council, shall appoint a Commission Panel on
Public Accommodations, a Commission Panel on Housing, and any further
panel as determined by law.

Sec. 77-3. Officers; meetings; quorum; voting.

The County Executive may designate a member of the Commission
on Human Relations to be Chairman and, in the absence of any member
being designated, the Commission may elect a Chairman notwithstanding
their authority to elect such other officers as it may deem necessary. The
Commission shall hold meetings at regular intervals but not less frequently
than once every month. A majority of the members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority
vote of those present at any meeting shall be sufficient for any official
action taken by the Commission.

Sec. 77-4. Executive Secretary; additional personnel; budget preparation.

A member of the County Executive's staff or his acting designee shall
serve as executive secretary of the Commission on Human Relations and
shall assist the Commission Panels as determined by law. Other personnel
and facilities may be authorized by the County Executive to assist the
Commission in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter. The Commis-
sion may, with the approval of the County Executive engage the services
of volunteer workers and consultants without salary, who may be reim-
bursed their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of performing
such services. Services of an individual as a volunteer worker or consultant
pursuant to this Chapter shall not be considered as service of employment
bringing such individual within any Merit System of the County or State
of Maryland. In proposing a budget for the operation of the Commission
and in selecting other personnel and facilities the County Executive shall
take into consideration the recommendations of the Commission.

Sec. 77-5. Compensation and expenses of members.

The members of the Commission on Human Relations shall serve
without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for all expenses neces-
sarily incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with
appropriations made by the County Council.