HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                    2559

but thereafter commissioners shall be appointed as aforesaid for
a term of office of five years except that all vacancies shall be
filled for the unexpired term. However, in Anne Arundel County,
from and after July 1, 1977, the authority created pursuant to §
23 of this article shall be composed of seven persons. The five
persons serving as commissioners of the authority on July 1, 1977
shall continue to serve until their respective terms expire and
their successors have been appointed and qualified. The county
executive shall designate two additional persons to serve as
commissioners, one of whom shall be appointed for a term of one
year and the other for a term of two years, from their respective
dates of appointment. Thereafter their successors shall be
appointed for terms of five years each except that vacancies
shall be filled for the unexpired term. No commissioner of an
authority may be an employee (except a professional educational
employee of the city school system or, in Baltimore City, an
employee of the department of housing and community development
or of any city agency succeeding to its functions) or an elected
officer of the city for which the authority is created. However,
in Somerset County, members of the councils of incorporated
cities may serve as commissioners of the housing authority of
their city. A commissioner shall hold office until his successor
has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the
appointment or reappointment of any commissioners shall be filed
with the clerk and the certificate shall be conclusive evidence
of the due and proper appointment of the commissioner. [A]
CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY, A
commissioner [shall receive no] MAY RECEIVE REASONABLE
compensation for [his] THE COMMISSIONER'S services, [but he] AND
shall be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling
expenses, incurred in the discharge of [his] THE COMMISSIONER'S
duties.

The powers of each authority shall be vested in the
commissioners in office from time to time. Three commissioners
shall constitute a quorum of the authority for the purpose of
conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all
other purposes. Action may be taken by the authority upon a vote
of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case
the bylaws of the authority require a larger number. The mayor
shall designate which of the commissioners appointed shall be the
first chairman, but when the office of the chairman of the
authority thereafter becomes vacant, the authority shall select a
chairman from among its commissioners. An authority shall select
from among its commissioners a vice-chairman, and it may employ a
secretary (who shall be executive director), technical experts
and other officers, agents and employees, permanent and
temporary, and shall determine their qualifications, duties and
compensation. For the legal services it may require, an authority
may call upon the chief law officer of the city or may employ its
own counsel and legal staff. An authority may delegate to one or
more of its agents or employees the powers or duties it may deem
proper.