There is a Board of License Commissioners for St. Mary’s County.
The Governor shall appoint five members to the Board, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Of the five members:
one shall be appointed from each of the County Commissioner districts; and
one shall be appointed at large.
A member of the Board shall be:
of good moral character and integrity; and
at least 21 years old; and
except for the at–large member, a resident of the County Commissioner district at the time of appointment and during the term of office.
In this subsection, “direct or indirect interest” means an interest that is proprietary or obtained by a loan, mortgage, or lien.
A member of the Board may not:
have a direct or indirect interest in or on a premises where alcoholic beverages are manufactured or sold;
have a direct or indirect interest in a business wholly or partly devoted to the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages;
own stock in:
a corporation that has a direct or indirect interest in a premises where alcoholic beverages are manufactured or sold; or
a business wholly or partly devoted to the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages; or
hold any elective public office or position of public employment.
A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
The term of a member is 4 years.
Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a member may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 2016.
A member who is appointed to fill a vacancy serves only for the remainder of the term and is eligible to serve the next consecutive term if otherwise qualified and appointed.
The Governor may remove a member for misconduct in office, incompetence, or willful neglect of duty required by law.
The Governor shall give a member who is charged a copy of the charges against the member and, with at least 10 days’ notice, an opportunity to be heard publicly in person or by counsel.
If a member is removed, the Governor shall file with the Office of the Secretary of State a statement of charges against the member and the Governor’s findings on the charges.
The at–large member of the Board is the chair.
A majority of the members then serving on the Board is a quorum.
The Board shall meet at least once a month.
Each hearing that the Board holds shall be open to the public.
The County Commissioners shall:
set the annual salary for the chair and each other member of the Board; and
provide for the reasonable and necessary expenses of the Board.
Subject to this section and § 28–206 of this subtitle, the Board may:
employ:
a secretary;
inspectors; and
clerical and other assistants as are necessary; and
set the compensation of the employees.
The Board shall appoint an attorney.
The County Commissioners shall set the annual salary for the attorney.
The Board shall appoint an administrator.
The administrator shall carry out the duties assigned by the Board.
The County Commissioners:
shall set the salary of the administrator; and
may assign clerical assistants to discharge the duties of the Board.
The Board may appoint advisory committees composed of responsible individuals in the county to advise the Board on administering alcoholic beverages laws.
The Board shall appoint an inspector.
An inspector shall:
possess the power of a peace officer in the State arising out of or relating to the enforcement of this article; and
carry out the duties that the Board requires.
The County Commissioners shall set the salary of the inspector.
The Board may regulate the playing time and noise level of live music, a mechanical music box, or a sound making device on licensed premises if the sound disturbs the peace, tranquility, safety, and health of the surrounding neighborhood.
The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this article.