Marvin Mandel, Governor                           739

Delegates, and County Commissioners only with respect to the
member-at-large from the county or counties from which they have
been elected or represent, and the Maryland Department of Eco-
nomic and Community Development and the Maryland Department
of Economic Development and the Maryland State Planning De-
partment shall each be represented on the Council by one non-voting
member.

The members who hold membership by virtue of their elected or
appointed positions shall hold office only during their term of office.
The members at large MEMBERS-AT-LARGE shall serve at the
pleasure of elected and otherwise appointed membership of each
county.

Vacancies on the Council by reason of death, resignation, change
of residence or other cause shall be filled, for the duration of the
unexpired term in the same manner as is provided for the original
appointment.

Members of the Council shall serve without compensation.

(2) STATUS.—The Tri-County Council shall be a tax-exempt
public body corporate and politic, and shall operate as a cooperative
planning and development agency within the representative counties
to foster the physical, economic and social development of the tri-
county area and utilize effectively the assistance provided by the
State. It shall initiate and coordinate plans and projects for the de-
velopment of human and economic resources of the Southern Mary-
land region as a Southern Maryland planning and development
agency.

The Council will cooperate with the State departments and agen-
cies concerned, including, but not limited to the Department of State
Planning, Department of Economic Development, [the State Office
of Economic Opportunity, the State Roads Commission] THE
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMU-
NITY DEVELOPMENT, the State Department of Transportation
and the Department of Natural Resources, and submit for approval
plans and projects of the Council in which such departments or
agencies have statutory functions and responsibilities. The Attorney
General of Maryland shall serve as legal advisor to the Council in
all matters pertaining to the Council's activities.

54A.

(1) A regional planning and development area, is hereby estab-
lished which shall include all of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's
Counties, herein referred to as the "Tri-County Area," as the plan-
ning and development agency for the Tri-County area the Tri-
County Council for Southern Maryland is established, herein after
referred to as "The Council." The membership of the Council will
consist of the State Senator(s) and Delegates representing Calvert,
Charles and St. Mary's Counties [in addition to 6 additional mem-
bers from each county to include three County Commissioners, a
member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, a member of the
Economic Development Commission and a member at large each
appointed by the State Senators and Delegates representing Calvert,
Charles and St. Mary's Counties and the County Commissioners
from Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties. The three County