Sec. 11. (a) After review and recommendation by the executive board, the commission shall appoint an executive director, who serves at the pleasure of the commission. The executive director must be qualified by training and experience in the management of public agencies and must be knowledgeable in planning.

     (b) The executive director is the chief administrative officer and regular technical adviser of the commission. Subject to supervision by the commission and in furtherance of the purposes of the commission, the executive director:

(1) shall execute the commission functions;

(2) shall appoint and remove the staff of the commission;

(3) shall submit to the commission annually, or more often if required, a status report on the operation of the commission;

(4) may, with the approval of the executive board, execute contracts, leases, or agreements with other persons on behalf of the commission;

(5) shall be given access by all governmental agencies, upon the executive director’s written request, to all studies, reports, surveys, records, and other information and material in their possession that are required by the executive director for the accomplishment of the activities and objectives of the commission;

(6) shall propose annually a budget for the operation of the commission and administer the budget as approved by the commission;

(7) shall keep the records and care for and preserve all papers and documents of the commission; and

(8) shall perform other duties and may exercise other powers that the commission or the executive board delegates to the executive director.

As added by P.L.165-2003, SEC.6.