Baltimore City Public Local Laws, Subtitle 1, § 1-1 1956 Act: Civic Center Commission.
§ 1-1 1956 Act: Civic Center Commission.
(a) Establishment.
Before the issuance of said certificates of indebtedness, or any part thereof {cf. Ch. 7, Acts of 1956 Sp. Sess.}, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, by ordinance, shall create an agency of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, to be known as the “Civic Center Commission of Baltimore”, and confer upon it the powers and duties hereinafter mentioned.
(b) Members.
The Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, and all members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City in the manner prescribed by Section 12 of the Charter of Baltimore City as it now exists or as it hereafter may be amended {Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter (1996 Edition)} .
(c) Terms; officers.
The term of each member shall be five (5) years, or until his successor qualifies and takes office, except that the respective terms of the seven (7) members of the Commission first appointed shall be as follows:
two (2) members shall be appointed for one (1) year;
two (2) members shall be appointed for two (2) years;
one (1) member shall be appointed for three (3) years,
one (1) member shall be appointed for four (4) years, and
one (1) member shall be appointed for five (5) years.
The Mayor of Baltimore City shall designate the terms of the members of the Commission first appointed and the Chairman of the Commission shall be elected by the members of the Commission. The Chairman of the Commission shall serve as such until the expiration of his term or his office otherwise becomes vacant.
The members of the Commission shall annually elect one of its members as Vice Chairman who, in the absence of the Chairman of the Commission, shall preside over the meetings of the Commission and perform such other duties as may be imposed upon him by law or as may be assigned to him by the Commission.
(d) Vacancies.
Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission caused by the expiration of a term or by the resignation, removal, death or permanent absence from the State of Maryland of an incumbent or by supervening incapacity on his part, whether physical or mental, to discharge his duties, or by any other cause, create such a vacancy, either actual or in effect, shall be filled for a new term or for the remainder of the term of such incumbent, as the case may be, in the same manner as provided herein for the appointment of the first members of the Commission. Any member of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment.
(e) Removals.
The members of the Commission may be removed from office for cause in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of the Charter of Baltimore City, as it now exists, or as it may hereafter be amended {cf. Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter (1996 Edition)}.
(f) Compensation.
No appointed member of the Commission shall receive any compensation for his services on the Commission, but each member shall be reimbursed for his necessary and proper expenses incurred in the performance of his duties as such.
(g) Rules and regulations; meetings; records.
The Commission may adopt such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary for the proper transaction of any business.
Four (4) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members shall be necessary for any action taken by the Commission. No vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Commission.
All sessions or meetings of the Commission, except executive sessions, shall be open to the public.
The Commission shall keep records of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member on each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact. The Commission shall keep a record of all resolutions, transactions, findings, determinations and decisions, and all the records of the Commission shall be kept in the office of the Commission and shall be public records.
(h) Executive Director; staff.
The Commission may be authorized to
appoint an Executive Director who shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission, and who shall perform such duties as may be imposed upon him by ordinance or as may be assigned to him by the Commission, and
appoint, employ, hire or engage such other assistants, aides and employees as may be deemed necessary for the proper performance of the duties and functions of the Commission.
The compensation of said Executive Director and other assistants, aides and employees shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and shall be paid as provided in the annual Ordinance of Estimates.
(i) Skilled personnel.
The Commission may also be authorized, with the prior approval of the Board of Estimates, to employ or hire, from time to time, by contract, consulting, planning or designing engineers or architects, advertising or promotional agencies, persons having musical, theatrical or entertaining skills or other persons possessing technical or specialized skills in connection with the duties, powers and functions of the Commission.
(j) Proceeds of bond sale; management, etc., of Center.
The Commission shall be fully authorized and empowered to administer and supervise the proceeds derived from the sale of the certificates of indebtedness, including but not limited to, the expenditure and disposition thereof.
The Commission may also be empowered to do any and all things necessary, proper or relative to or in connection with the use, occupancy, control, operation, management, promotion, maintenance and repair of the Civic Center, and the Commission shall have such other powers and perform such other duties and shall be subject to such other conditions as may be conferred or imposed upon it, from time to time, by ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
(k) Fees, rentals, etc.
The Commission may be empowered, with the prior approval of the Board of Estimates, to establish fees, rentals or charges for the use or occupancy of the Civic Center, or any part thereof, and collect such fees, rentals or charges and all such collections shall be turned over to the Treasurer of Baltimore City {City Finance Director}.
(l) Contracts.
All contracts or agreements entered into by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for or in connection with the construction, maintenance or repair of the Civic Center and its facilities shall be subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 37 and 38 of the Charter of Baltimore City (1949 Edition) as they now exist or as they hereafter may be amended {City Finance Director}.
(m) Conflicts of interest.
No officer, official or employee of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, or of any agency of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore which is vested with any power or authority to be exercised under the provisions of this Act, shall become interested in any way in any land or property which may be acquired for or in connection with the Civic Center.
(n) Other powers.
The Commission shall exercise all powers and authority conferred upon it in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore as it is now constituted or as it may hereafter be amended.