(a) Creation and composition; appointment of members; chairperson. There is a Commission for Women. The Commission consists of 15 members appointed by the County Executive subject to confirmation by the County Council. Nine members are appointed from among those applicants who have been nominated and recommended for appointment by organizations within the County whose interests relate to the status of women. Six members are appointed from among those applicants applying on their own behalf. The Commission must elect one of its members as chairperson and another as vice chairperson, each to serve at the pleasure of the Commission, and such other officers as it determines. Representatives of the Board of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services serve as ex officio members of the Commission. Any city, town, village and special taxing area in the County may appoint one representative to serve as an ex officio member of the Commission.
(b) Terms: vacancies; reappointments. The term of office of each of the appointive members shall commence on July 1 of the year of appointment and shall be for a period of 3 years. Of the members first appointed, 5 shall be appointed for terms which will expire in one year, 3 of whom shall be nominees of County-wide organizations and 2 of whom shall be individual applicants; the same shall be appointed for terms which shall expire in 2 years; and the same for terms which shall expire in 3 years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired terms. The members shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and have qualified and members shall be eligible for reappointment.
(c) Compensation. Members of the Commission receive no compensation for their services.
(d) Meetings; reports. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson as frequently as required to perform its duties, but no less than once each month. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority of those present at any meeting shall be sufficient for any official action taken by the Commission. The Commission shall submit an annual report to the County Executive and County Council summarizing its activities, needs, recommendations and the degree to which the goals of the Commission are being met. (1972 L.M.C., ch. 22, § 1; 1977 L.M.C., ch. 28, §§ 10, 13; 1978 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1.)
Editor's note—See County Attorney Opinion dated 4/13/99-A discussing what should occur when an Ethics Commission member holds over as a result of the Council not having confirmed a newly appointed member.
Section 5 of 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, reads as follows: "Sec. 5. A regulation that implements a function assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services by 1995 LMC ch. 13 continues in effect but is amended to the extent necessary to provide that the regulation is administered by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services."