§ 3-5B-01. Membership

   (a) Composition. -- The Frederick County Board consists of eight members as follows:

   (1) Seven members elected from the county at large; and

   (2) One nonvoting student member.

(b) Qualifications. --

   (1) A candidate elected to the county board shall be a resident and registered voter of Frederick County.

   (2) Any member who no longer resides in the county may not continue as a member of the board.

(c) Terms; elections. --

   (1) A voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning the first Tuesday in December after the member's election and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

   (2) Voting members of the Frederick County Board shall be elected as follows:

      (i) Three members of the county board shall be elected in the November general election of 2000 and every 4 years thereafter; and

      (ii) Four members of the county board shall be elected in the November general election of 2002 and every 4 years thereafter.

(d) Vacancies. --

   (1) The terms of voting members are staggered as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

   (2) The County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified individual to fill a vacancy on the county board for the remainder of the term and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

(e) Student member. --

   (1) The student member shall:

      (i) Be an eleventh or twelfth grade student in the Frederick County public school system elected by the high school students of the county in accordance with procedures established by the school system;

      (ii) Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the member;

      (iii) Be a nonvoting member; and

      (iv) Advise the county board on the thoughts and feelings of students.

   (2) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the county board, the student member may not attend an executive session.

(f) Removal. --

   (1) The state board may remove a voting member of the county board for:

      (i) Immorality;

      (ii) Misconduct in office;

      (iii) Incompetency; or

      (iv) Willful neglect of duty.

   (2) Before removing a voting member, the State Board shall send the member a copy of the charges against the member and give the member an opportunity within 10 days to request a hearing.

   (3) If the voting member requests a hearing within the 10-day period:

      (i) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the voting member a notice of the hearing; and

      (ii) The voting member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the State Board in the member's own defense, in person or by counsel.

   (4) A voting member removed under this subsection has the right to a de novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Frederick County.

HISTORY: 1998, ch. 245; 2001, ch. 29, § 6; ch. 88; 2003, ch. 168, § 3; 2006, ch. 212; 2007, ch. 380; 2012, ch. 57, § 1.