(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.
(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.
(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.
