(a) Each county planning board shall have administrative control and jurisdiction over personnel performing the duties and functions assigned in this subtitle to the respective county planning board.

(b) In Montgomery County, a director serves at the pleasure of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

(c) (1) In this subsection, “deputy director” includes any position comparable to the position of a deputy director, as the Prince George’s County Planning Board determines.

(2) In Prince George’s County, a director or deputy director of a department shall have education or professional experience in a field relevant to the responsibilities of that department.

(3) A director or deputy director shall receive the compensation established in the budget for the Prince George’s County Planning Board.

(4) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a director or deputy director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Prince George’s County Planning Board.

(ii) In Prince George’s County, an individual may elect to remain in the merit system established under Title 16, Subtitle 1 of this article if on June 30, 1991, the individual was a director of planning or a director of parks and recreation.