(A) (1) The Culture and Heritage Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the County Council, seven of whom shall be voting members, and two of whom shall be ex-officio members, who are not entitled to vote and who shall not be counted in determining a quorum. Voting members shall represent each of the seven County Council districts in the county. The seven voting members shall be appointed by the County Council for terms of three years or until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that of the voting members of the commission initially appointed, after the effective date of this section, not more than three members shall be appointed for terms of three years; not more than two members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of two years; and not more than two members of the commission shall be appointed to terms of one year. Ex-officio members shall be appointed for terms of three years upon their appointment after the effective date of this section and may be considered for immediate consecutive service as a voting member for up to two terms notwithstanding immediate prior service as a non-voting member.
(2) The initial term of the first nine members of the commission under this staggered term board membership shall be from the date of their carryover appointment and qualification in 2016. Members appointed to an initial term of one year shall serve until the last day of June 2017. Members appointed to an initial term of two years shall serve until the last day of June 2018. Members appointed to an initial term of three years shall serve until the last day of June 2019. Thereafter, second terms of commission membership, or subsequent terms of a representative seat, shall be for terms of three years commencing on July 1 of applicable year. However, sitting members completing a second term whose replacements have not been appointed and qualified may continue to serve up to six additional months until a successor is nominated, appointed, and qualified.
(3) Vacancies on the commission for service of an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner as original appointment. No voting member shall be reappointed to serve an additional term on the Culture and Heritage Commission after serving two consecutive terms membership, or after resigning, until a minimum of one year has elapsed since the last service date of that member on the commission. Ex officio membership shall not be considered in calculating the two year limitation herein imposed on voting membership; however, ex officio membership in and of itself shall also be limited to two consecutive terms.
(B) Members of the commission shall serve without pay, but travel and other incidental expenses may be provided upon approval of the director, the chairperson and the secretary-treasurer of the commission; subject, however, to compliance with the statutes, ordinances, policies and procedures established by the County Council for reimbursement of expenses for county boards, agencies and commissions.
(C) The Culture and Heritage Commission may propose and recommend by-laws and rules of procedure not inconsistent with this code for the management and regulation of its business and affairs, which must be approved by the County Council before becoming effective. The commission shall maintain records and minutes of its proceedings and meetings.
(D) The Culture and Heritage Commission shall meet at regular intervals, but not less frequently than once each quarter. The chairperson or a majority of the members of the commission may call special meetings of the commission at any time. Any member of the commission who shall be absent from 50% or more of the meetings of the commission during any 12-month period shall be deemed to have forfeited their membership 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-treasurer of the commission to notify the commission, the offending member and the County Council of the absences, removal and vacancy, and the County Council shall fill the vacancy created thereby in the manner of the original appointment, for the unexpired term of the member.
(‘77 Code, § 11-40.2) (Ord. 6797, passed 10-20-97; Am. Ord. 3403, passed 11-3-03; Am. Ord. 611, passed 5-2-11; Am. Ord. 2112, passed 8-20-12; Am. Ord. 3415, passed 9-8-15; Am. Ord. 3816, passed 8-15-16; Am. Ord. 1019, passed 3-18-19)