[Added 9-11-2012 by Bill No. 2012-6]
A. 
Board established. A board to be styled and known as the "Constructions Trades Board" is hereby established. The Board shall have the duty and power to administer the powers and duties of:
(1) 
The Board of Appeals provided for in the international Building Code, the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, and the International Energy Conservation Code;
(2) 
The board referred to in Chapter 98 of the County Code, known as the "Caroline County Board of Electrical Examiners"; provided, however, that in matters of granting licenses and providing examinations, the Electrical Committee of the Construction Trades Board shall have sole authority; and
(3) 
The Board referred to in Chapter 147 of the County Code as the "Caroline County Plumbing Board."
B. 
Number of members designated; qualifications. The Board shall consist of nine members, all of whom shall be residents of Caroline County and who shall be appointed by the County Commissioners, as follows:
(1) 
Two licensed master electricians.
(2) 
A licensed master plumber.
(3) 
An HVAC journeyman as provided for in COMAR 09.15.02.09.
(4) 
A licensed home improvement contractor as defined in COMAR 09.08.01.01 or a recognized general contractor.
(5) 
Four members at-large appointed by the County Commissioners in consideration of their background, education, experience, intelligence, and willingness to serve, provided that no at-large member shall be actively involved in the trade or profession of electrician, plumber, HVAC work, or residential or building contracting while serving as a member of the Board.
C. 
Term. Each member shall serve for a term of three years; provided, however, that three of the initial members shall serve a term of one year, three of the initial members shall serve a term of two years, and three of the initial members shall serve for a term of three years, as designated by the County Commissioners. All terms of initial members shall be deemed to have started from the effective date of the legislation creating the Board, regardless of the date of initial appointment.
D. 
Vacancies. The County Commissioners shall appoint a replacement member to fill any vacancy on the Board. The vacant position shall be filed with an individual qualified for the same member status as the individual previously holding the position. At any time, after a diligent search, should no individual qualified for any particular Board member status be willing to serve and be acceptable to the County Commissioners, the County Commissioners may fill that vacancy with an at-large appointee.
E. 
No current employees of the County shall serve on the Board.
F. 
A permanent committee of three members drawn from the membership of the Construction Trades Board, to be known as the Electrical Committee," consisting of the two members who are master electricians and one at-large member, is hereby established, and said Committee shall determine all issues of electrical licensing and examination in accordance with Chapter 98.
A. 
Officers. The Board, at its first meeting in each calendar year, shall elect from its body a member to serve as a Chair and a member to serve as a Vice Chair.
B. 
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least semiannually, in the months of March and September, and may meet at other times as the Board shall from time to time determine, at a time and place to be determined by the Board. In addition, the Board shall meet as required herein to determine any complaint or question brought to the Board under Chapters 88, 98, and 147 of the Code. Meetings of the Board are subject to Maryland law, including the Open Meetings Act, Title 10, Subtitle 5, of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, as from time to time amended. The Board may avail itself of all provisions thereof, including the right to conduct closed sessions in accordance therewith.
C. 
Quorum.
(1) 
A quorum shall consist of five members of the Board (whether or not all nine positions on the Board are filled); provided, however, that at least three of the five at-large members must be in attendance to constitute a valid quorum.
(2) 
At any meeting at which a proper quorum is in attendance, a vote of the majority of the members attending shall be sufficient to determine an action or render a decision.
The County Commissioners may remove any member of the Board from office for misconduct, neglect of duty, excessive absenteeism, or any other cause deemed sufficient by the County Commissioners. The member shall be informed of the reason for the removal and be given an opportunity to be heard.
Members of the Board shall receive compensation and such reimbursement for expenses as the County Commissioners may determine from time to time. The Board's budget shall be included within the budget for the Department of Planning and Codes. No expenditures shall be reimbursed or made unless funds have been appropriated and provided that requests and approvals have been made through processes from time to time established by the office of Finance.
A. 
Staffing, including a secretary for the Board, shall be provided through the Department of Planning and Codes.
B. 
Legal counsel, as from time to time requested or needed, shall be provided by the County Attorney.
C. 
Records. Minutes, examination records, records of claims, interpretations, and decisions of the Board shall be maintained by the Department of Planning and Codes. Documents and records of the Board are subject to Maryland Law, including the Public Information Act, Title 10, Subtitle 6, of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, as from time to time amended.
D. 
Minutes. Meetings of the Board need not be recorded, but in all cases Board minutes shall comply with Maryland Law, including the Open Meetings Act, Title 10, Subtitle 5, of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, as from time to time amended.
E. 
The Electrical Committee shall be subject to and be staffed in accordance with this § 88-24.
The Board shall have to right and power to collect all fees properly assessed by the Board in accordance with the County Code and as approved by the County Commissioners by resolution. All fees assessed pursuant to Chapters 98 and 147 of the County Code shall be paid to the Board. All moneys collected by the Board shall be paid to the Comptroller and credited to the General Fund of the County.
All references in state law and the County Code to the Electrical Board, Plumbing Board, Caroline County Board of Electrical Examiners, or the Caroline County Plumbing Board shall be deemed to refer to the Construction Trades Board.
Any person who feels aggrieved by any action of the Board in denying, suspending, revoking, or failing to reinstate a license may appeal therefrom within 30 days of notice of such action to the Circuit Court for Caroline County, in accordance with the Maryland Rules of Procedure.