2314                               County Local Laws

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 Com-
mission 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 con-
sultant 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 Com-
mission.

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

The members of the Commission on Human Relations shall serve with-
out compensation, but they may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily
incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with appropria-
tions made by the County Council.

Sec. 77-6. Duties generally.

(1) The Commission on Human Relations shall have the power and
it shall be its duty:

(a) To research, assemble, analyze, and disseminate pertinent data
and educational materials relating to activities and programs which will
assist in the elimination of prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, and discrimina-
tion, and to institute and conduct educational and other programs, meet-
ings, and conferences to promote equal rights and opportunities of all per-