(A) The commission shall consist of 18 members appointed by the County Council for terms of three years or until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of the members of the commission initially appointed after the effective date of this section, not more than 1/3 of such members shall be appointed for terms of three years; not more than 1/3 of such members shah be appointed for terms of two years; and the remaining members of the commission shall be appointed to terms of one year. Thereafter, members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of three years. No member of the commission shall be appointed to serve more than two full consecutive terms. No member of the commission shall be reappointed after serving two consecutive terms until a minimum of one year has elapsed since the last service of such member on the commission.
(B) Members of the commission shall be appointed with due regard to representation of each geographical area of the county and representation from the business community, the religious community, youth, government, educational institutions in the county, law enforcement, health care and media. Membership of the commission shall be broadly representative of the county's population and shall include diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, economic, gender and age representation. Council may appoint two members of the commission who currently serve on diversity committees within the county as representatives of other diversity committees in the county. The membership of such diversity committee representatives on the commission shall not be deemed a violation of dual office holding provisions of the South Carolina Constitution, as such members are appointed as representatives by virtue of their representation on other diversity committees in the county. The County Council annually may appoint two ex officio members of the commission for terms of one year, as representatives of printed or electronic media in the county. Ex officio members of the commission may participate in discussions of policy of other matters of importance to the commission, but shall not be permitted to vote on any matter coming before the commission. Ex-officio members of the commission may not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the commission.
(C) Members of the commission shall serve without pay, but travel and other incidental expenses may be provided from funds available to the commission upon approval of the chairperson and the county manager; subject, however, to compliance with the statutes, ordinances, policies and procedures established by the County Council for county departments, agencies, boards, commissions and committees.
(D) The commission shall meet no less frequently than monthly to conduct its business. Members of the community or groups wishing to appear before the commission at its regularly scheduled meeting must contact the chairperson or executive director of the commission in writing seven days prior to the scheduled meeting. The commission shall provide time at its meetings for non-commission members to address the commission.
(E) Any member of the commission who shall be absent without excuse for 50% or more of the meetings of the commission during any 12-month period shall be deemed to have forfeited the membership of such member on the commission and shall be removed without further action by the commission or the County Council. It shall be the responsibility of the secretary of the commission to notify the commission, the offending member and the County Council of such absences, removal and vacancies, and the County Council shall fill the vacancy created thereby in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term of such member. Members may be removed from the commission by vote of the County Council for inefficiency, neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office after being given a written statement of charges and after being afforded a hearing before the County Council if requested.
(F) A quorum shall consist of a majority of those persons presently serving a term of office, and no business may be transacted by the commission in the absence of a quorum.
(Ord. 3909, passed 9-8-09; Am. Ord. 2710, passed 9-7-10)