(a)    The Dorchester County Board consists of:

(1)    Five voting members, elected in accordance with subsection (b) of this section; and

(2)    One nonvoting student member from each public high school in the county.

(b)    (1)    The elected members of the county board shall be elected at the general election.

(2)    One member shall be elected from each of the five councilmanic districts only by the voters of that councilmanic district.

(c)    (1)    A member elected from a councilmanic district shall be a resident of the district.

(2)    A member elected or appointed from a councilmanic district who no longer resides in the district may not continue as a member of the county board.

(d)    (1)    Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning at noon on the first Monday in December after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

(2)    A voting member may not serve for more than three consecutive terms.

(e)    The terms of the voting members are staggered as follows:

(1)    One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 1, 3, and 5 at the 2004 general election, and every 4 years thereafter; and

(2)    One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 2 and 4 at the 2006 general election, and every 4 years thereafter.

(f)    (1)    The County Council shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

(2)    A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply for appointment by the County Council to fill the vacancy.

(3)    The County Council shall adopt rules governing the procedure through which an individual may apply to fill a vacancy on the county board.

(g)    (1)    Each student member shall:

(i)    Be a twelfth grade student in the Dorchester County public school system elected by the high school students of the public school that the student attends, in accordance with procedures established by the school system;

(ii)    Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the member;

(iii)    Be a nonvoting member; and

(iv)    Advise the board on the interests of students.

(2)    Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the county board, the student members may not attend an executive session.