Marvin Mandel, Governor                         741

46A.

(a 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
Commissioners shall have but one vote among them, to be cast by
the President of the Board of County Commissioners or his designee.
Additionally,]; 9 3 members from each county to include the nine
THREE County Commissioners, provided that in lieu of three County
Commissioners from any County hereafter adopting a County Char-
ter, the three members from such county shall be appointed by the
Executive of such county with the advice and consent of the County
Council. Additionally, the Economic Development Commission and
the Planning and Zoning Commission of each county shall have the
right to appoint one non-voting member to the Council, and the
County Commissioners from each county shall recommend the ap-
pointment of one voting member at large MEMBER-AT-LARGE
from each county subject to the concurrence of the State Senator(s)
and Delegates from each county, this right of appointment may be
exercised by the Senators, 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 Economic and Community Development and the
Maryland Department of Economic Development and the Maryland
State Planning Department 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.

(b 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.