[Adopted by Bill No. 78-3;[1] amended by Bill No. 88-20]
A.
There is a Citizens Nursing Home Board.
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.
Members of the Board shall be residents of the
County.
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
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.
(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.
The Board shall adopt, subject to the terms
of this Article, such rules as are necessary for the internal regulation
of the Board.
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.
