§ 10-505. Board of Directors

   (a) In general. --

   (1) There is a Board of Directors of the Corporation.

   (2) The Board manages the Corporation and exercises all of its corporate powers.

(b) Composition; appointment of members. -- The Board consists of the following members:

   (1) as ex officio members:

      (i) the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;

      (ii) the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;

      (iii) the Secretary of Natural Resources or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;

      (iv) the Executive Director of the Maryland Food Center Authority;

      (v) the Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council; and

      (vi) the Director of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service; and

   (2) eleven individuals appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:

      (i) two agricultural producers representing at least two different farm commodity industries in the State;

      (ii) two representatives from commercial lending institutions serving rural regions in the State, one of whom shall represent a major farm credit organization operating in the State;

      (iii) one representative of the timber and forest products industry;

      (iv) one representative of the aquaculture industry;

      (v) one representative of the commercial seafood harvesting and processing industry;

      (vi) one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of operating commercial food or fiber processing facilities;

      (vii) one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of public finance;

      (viii) one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of rural economic development or agricultural marketing; and

      (ix) one individual with knowledge about the agricultural, forestry, or seafood industries or agritourism in the State or with substantial and relevant economic development experience.

(c) Qualifications. -- A member of the Board shall be a resident of the State.

(d) Geographic diversity. -- In appointing members of the Board under subsection (b)(2) of this section, the Governor shall consider all of the geographic regions of the State.

(e) Tenure; vacancies. --

   (1) The term of a member appointed under subsection (b)(2) of this section is 4 years.

   (2) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for the members on October 1, 2008.

   (3) At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

   (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(f) Removal. -- The Governor may remove a member of the Board for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.

(g) Chair. -- The Board shall elect a chair from among its members.

(h) Voting. -- The Board may act with an affirmative vote of nine members.

(i) Compensation; reimbursement for expenses. -- A member of the Board:

   (1) serves without compensation as a member of the Board; but

   (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 41, § 13-504; 2008, ch. 306, § 2.