[§6E-5]  State historic preservationofficer.  The governor shall appoint a state historic preservation officer,and may appoint the officer without regard to chapter 76, who shall beresponsible for the comprehensive historic preservation program and who shallbe the state liaison officer for the conduct of relations with the federalgovernment and the respective states with regard to matters of historicpreservation.  The state historic preservation officer shall be appointed onthe basis of professional competence and experience in the field of historicpreservation and shall be placed in the department for the purposes of thestate program. [L 1976, c 104, pt of §2; am L 2000, c 253, §150]