Appointees to the commission must be familiar with the needs and issues affecting the commission's jurisdiction.__All appointees must reside in the commission's jurisdiction; work in the commission's jurisdiction; be a former resident or be retired after working within the commission's jurisdiction for a minimum of 5 years; or have expertise in commerce and industry, fisheries and wildlife, forestry or conservation issues as they affect the commission's jurisdiction.__In selecting appointees, the Governor shall actively seek and give consideration to persons residing in or near the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State and to persons residing on coastal islands within the commission's jurisdiction.

Of the initial appointees, 2 shall be appointed for one-year terms, 2 shall be appointed for 2-year terms and 3 shall be appointed for 3-year terms. Thereafter, appointees shall Appointees must be appointed to serve staggered 4-year terms. One of the members shall be elected annually by the members as chairman.

Any member who has not been renominated by the Governor within 90 days of prior to the expiration of his that member's term shall may not continue to serve on the commission, unless the Governor notifies the Legislature in writing and within 90 days of prior to the expiration of that member's term of his finding that extension of that member's term is required to ensure fair consideration of specific major applications pending before the commission. That member's term shall end ends upon final commission decisions on the specific applications identified in the Governor's communication. Any member renominated by the Governor prior to the expiration of that member's term shall continue to serve on the commission until the nomination is acted upon by the Legislature. A vacancy during an unexpired term shall be is filled as provided in this section, but only for the unexpired portion of the term.

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §684, as amended by PL 1985, c. 737, Pt. A, §22, is further amended to read:

§684. Commission officers, meetings and rules; hearings