The Dorchester County Board consists of: Five voting members, elected in accordance with subsection (b) of this section; and One nonvoting student member from each public high school in the county. The elected members of the county board shall be elected at the general election. One member shall be elected from each of the five councilmanic districts only by the voters of that councilmanic district. A member elected from a councilmanic district shall be a resident of the district. A member elected or appointed from a councilmanic district who no longer resides in the district may not continue as a member of the county board. Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning at noon on the first Monday in December after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. A voting member may not serve for more than three consecutive terms. The terms of the voting members are staggered as follows: One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 1, 3, and 5 at the 2004 general election, and every 4 years thereafter; and One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 2 and 4 at the 2006 general election, and every 4 years thereafter. The County Council shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies. A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply for appointment by the County Council to fill the vacancy. The County Council shall adopt rules governing the procedure through which an individual may apply to fill a vacancy on the county board. Each student member shall: Be a twelfth grade student in the Dorchester County public school system elected by the high school students of the public school that the student attends, in accordance with procedures established by the school system; Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the member; Be a nonvoting member; and Advise the board on the interests of students. Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the county board, the student members may not attend an executive session.

The State Board may remove a member of the county board for any of the following reasons: Immorality; Misconduct in office; Incompetency; Willful neglect of duty; or Failure to attend, without good cause: At least 75% of the scheduled meetings of the board in any 1 calendar year; or Three consecutive scheduled meetings of the board. Before removing a 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. If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: The State Board shall promptly hold a hearing, but a hearing may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the member a notice of the hearing; and The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the State Board in the member’s own defense, in person, or by counsel. A member removed under this section has the right to a de novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Dorchester County.

At its first meeting in December of each year, the county board shall elect a president and a vice president from among its members.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the voting members shall receive compensation as set by the County Council. The salary of each voting member of the county board shall be at least $3,200. The salary of the president of the county board shall be at least $3,600. Each voting member of the county board may be provided health insurance and other fringe benefits regularly provided to employees of the county board under the same terms and conditions extended to other employees of the county board. A board member’s participation in a benefits program sponsored by the county board under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be considered compensation for the purposes of calculating compensation under subsection (a) of this section.

The county board shall meet at least once each month. Except for those actions authorized by subsection (c) of this section, all actions of the county board shall be taken at a public meeting and a record of the meeting and all actions shall be made public. The county board may take actions in executive session in accordance with § 3–305 of the General Provisions Article.