824                              Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 401

tional Services. The term of office of the members first taking office
shall expire as designated by the Governor at the time of appoint-
ment, one at the end of one year, one at the end of two years, one at
the end of three years, two at the end of four years, and two at the
end of five years. Each succeeding term shall be for five years, and
any member is subject to removal by the Secretary of Public Safety
and Correctional Services, with the approval of the Governor at any
time for neglect of his duties or for other cause which in the opinion
of the [Governor] Secretary makes his continued membership un-
wise in the public interest. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed, shall be appointed for the remainder of such term.
Of the members of said Commission there shall at all times be three
members who shall be members of paid or volunteer fire companies;
three members of the Commission shall be representatives of in-
dustry, and one member shall be representative of the general public
interest. In addition five of the seven members of the Commission
shall represent the following five regions of the State: (1) Western
Maryland葉he counties of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Fred-
erick and Carroll; (2) Central Maryland葉he counties of Harford,
Baltimore, and Howard; (3) Southern Maryland葉he counties of
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's; (4) Washington
Metropolitan Area葉he counties of Montgomery and Prince
George's; and (5) Eastern Shore葉he counties of Cecil, Kent,
Queen Anne's, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset,
and Worcester. The sixth and seventh members shall be appointed
to represent the State at large.

2.

(a)    The State Fire Prevention Commission shall select a chair-
man and vice-chairman from among its members and shall hold
regular meetings at least once every two months and special meetings
when called by its chairman or the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services or the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety.
In the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall exercise the
powers and duties of chairman.

(b)    No business shall be transacted by the State Fire Prevention
Commission in the absence of a quorum which shall be four members,
one of whom must be the chairman or vice-chairman.

(c)    The exercise or performances of all powers, authority, duties
and functions vested in the State Fire Prevention Commission or
the State Fire Marshal by the provisions of this Article, shall be
subject to the powers and authority of the Secretary of Public Safety
and Correctional Services as set forth in Article 41 of this Code or
elsewhere in the laws of this State.

6.

The State Fire Prevention Commission shall transmit annually to
the Governor and to the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional
Services by September thirtieth of each year an annual report of
its activities.

7.

(a) The office of State Fire Marshal is established as part of the
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The State