The county board of health shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Organize by electing a chair and other necessary officers annually and meet at such times, in such manner and upon such notice as the board shall prescribe. Provided, that the board shall meet at least two times each year;

2. Establish and maintain a county department of health, if the same, in the opinion of the board, will be to the best interest of the county;

3. Enter into agreements with county boards of health of other counties, and with the governing boards or boards of health of cities, towns and school districts lying wholly or partly in the county, for the establishment and operation of district or cooperative departments of health;

4. Prepare and submit to the county excise board, annually, an estimate of its needs, and needs for the operation of the county department of health, if any, or for its proportionate part of the costs of operation of a district or cooperative department of health, if it has entered into an agreement therefor;

5. Advise with the State Commissioner of Health on matters pertaining to public health in the county, and as to the appointment of the county superintendent of health or the medical director of the county, district or cooperative department of health; and

6. Adopt regulations, which shall be subject to the approval of the State Commissioner of Health and shall not be more stringent than state law and rules and regulations of the State Board of Health, to protect the public health in the county in emergencies.

Added by Laws 1963, c. 325, art. 2, § 202. Amended by Laws 2009, c. 132, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009.