G.__Two members from private entities with an interest in and commitment to rural development; and

H.__Six members representing the public at large.

3.__Executive director.__The board shall select an executive director to serve as staff to the Maine Rural Development Council.__The executive director is a nonvoting member of the board.

4.__Executive officers.__The board shall elect a chair, vice-chair and secretary from among its members.__The chair or, in the chair's absence, the vice-chair shall preside over meetings of the board.__An executive officer may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.

5. Duties.__The board shall:

A.__Coordinate rural development policies, programs and activities among federal and state agencies, local and tribal governments, the private sector and nonprofit economic development and social service organizations;

B.__Provide advocacy on the social and economic needs and issues of rural Maine communities, particularly in the most distressed counties of the State;

C.__Coordinate the targeting of rural development resources to the most distressed counties;

D.__Facilitate locally driven community development strategies in all rural areas of the State;

E.__Review and comment on policies, regulations and legislative actions that affect, or would affect, rural communities in the State, and gather and provide related information; and

F.__Report biannually to the Governor and the Legislature on the state of rural Maine with recommendations for future action and related performance benchmarks regarding conditions in the rural areas of the State.

6.__Support of state agencies.__The Governor shall encourage those executive departments with direct rural development responsibilities to provide support for the Maine Rural Development Council and the board in carrying out its duties.