§6404. Maine Woods Board; members; compensation

1.__Establishment; membership.__The Maine Woods Board is established as a body corporate and politic and a public instrumentality of the State.__The exercise by the board of powers conferred by this chapter is considered to be the performance of essential governmental functions.__The board consists of 7 members, of whom 3 are private citizens and 4 are ex officio members.__The ex officio members are the Commissioner of Conservation, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Treasurer of State and the Attorney General.

2.__Appointments.__The 3 members who are private citizens are appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over conservation matters and subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

3.__Qualifications.__The 3 members who are private citizens must be selected for their demonstrated commitment to sustainable forestry or public access and recreation.__At least one of those members must have expertise in forestry practices and at least one in conservation.__Appointments must provide a broad geographic representation of the State.

4.__Terms.__The members who are private citizens must be appointed to staggered terms of 4 years; except that of the initial appointments, one member must be appointed for a 2-year term, one member for a 3-year term and one member for a 4-year term.__Members who are private citizens may not serve more than 2 consecutive 4-year terms.__Each member of the board serves until that member's successor is appointed and qualified.__When a vacancy occurs in the membership, the Governor shall appoint a replacement member for the remainder of that term.

5.__Oath.__Each member of the board, before commencing the duties of the office, shall take an oath to administer the duties of the office faithfully and impartially.__That oath must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

6.__Officers; quorum.__The board shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from its membership.__The board may have a secretary and a treasurer, who may be members of the board.__Three members of the board constitute a quorum, which is necessary for any action taken by the board.__A vacancy in the membership of the