[Adopted by Bill No. 78-3;[1] amended by Bill No. 88-20]
[1]
Editor's Note: This legislation was included as Ch. 2, Art. XII, Div. 5, of the 1978 Code.
A. 
There is a Citizens Nursing Home Board.
B. 
The Board consists of ten (10) members:
(1) 
As ex officio members:
(a) 
The County Executive or the Executive's designee.
(b) 
A member of the County Council or the Council's designee.
(2) 
Eight (8) members appointed by the Executive, subject to confirmation by the Council.
C. 
Terms.
(1) 
The term of an appointed member is three (3) years and begins on November 1.
(2) 
The Executive's designee serves at the pleasure of the Executive. The Council's designee serves at the pleasure of the Council.
(3) 
The term of the Executive's designee is coterminous with that of the Executive. The term of the Council's designee is coterminous with that of the Council.
(4) 
At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(5) 
A member appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
D. 
A vacancy shall be filled through appointment by the Executive from a list of persons recommended by the Board. An appointment under this subsection is subject to confirmation by the Council.
The Board shall establish, maintain and operate a nursing or convalescent home and any other facilities and services necessary for the proper care and treatment of aged, convalescent and chronically ill residents of the County and shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
To accept gifts, legacies, bequests or endowments for purposes of the Board. Unless otherwise specified by the donor making such gift, legacy, bequest or endowment, the Board, in its discretion, may expend both principal and income of any such gift, bequest, legacy or endowment to support the Board's nursing home program.
B. 
Holding of real property.
(1) 
To request that the County Executive acquire real property, for Board use, in accordance with the procedures of § 1-29 of this Code.
(2) 
To hold, preserve and administer real and personal property acquired under the provisions of this subsection.
(3) 
To request that the County Executive dispose of real property acquired under Subsection B(1) of this subsection in accordance with the procedures of § 1-29 of this Code.
(4) 
To acquire and dispose of personal property.
C. 
To provide adequate facilities and services for the care and treatment of the aged, convalescent and chronically ill citizens of the County. These facilities and services may include physical care; medical, nursing, recreational, rehabilitative, special education and other similar activities; and dissemination of information relative to causes and prevention of chronic and debilitating illnesses.
D. 
To charge such fees for admission to and maintenance in such facilities and for use of such services as may support the facilities and services, subject, however, to the provision that where aged, convalescent and chronically ill residents of the County are in need of such facilities and services and are sufficiently impecunious as to be unable to pay the full cost of such care, then the charges to such residents shall be in direct proportion to their ability to pay for the services.
E. 
To apply all money, assets, property or other things of value it may receive to the general purpose of the Board.
F. 
To adopt, subject to the terms of this Article, such rules and regulations of any facilities or services that it establishes as may be necessary for their proper operation.
G. 
To cooperate with and assist, insofar as practicable, any agency of the state or the United States of America or any subdivision of either or any private agency or person in furtherance of any of the purposes of this Article.
H. 
To hire a director of any facility or service that it establishes and to provide for such additional employees as are necessary to properly operate such facilities.
I. 
To require that all facilities and services that it establishes maintain such standards that they may qualify for licenses as hospitals under the Health-General Article, Title 19, Subtitle 3, of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
J. 
To integrate its facilities with, accept funds from and cooperate with the State Board of Health and Mental Hygiene in any facet or facets of its operations insofar as deemed advisable by the Board.
The Board shall annually select from its own membership a Chairperson and such officers as it may deem necessary.
A. 
The Board shall meet monthly and may hold special meetings in accordance with Board rules.
B. 
Each appointed member and each ex officio member is entitled to one (1) vote.
The activities of the Board shall be supported insofar as possible by citizen support, voluntary contributions, fees and charges and payments from the state and federal government. The Board may request that the County Executive include an appropriation in the County budget for any expenditure the Board deems necessary, including but not limited to expenditures for operating expenses, capital projects and land acquisition.
The Board shall annually report its activities to the County Executive and the County Council during the preceding year, together with recommendations or requests it deems appropriate to achieve the objectives and purposes of this Article.
The purpose of the Board is declared to be for the general benefit of the citizens of the County and charitable in nature. It is a public corporation and shall have perpetual existence, may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded and complain and defend in all courts of law and equity.