Section 553. Board of health

a. There shall be in the department a board
  of health, the chairperson  of  which  shall  be  the  commissioner.  In
  addition  to  the  chairperson,  the board shall consist of ten members,
  five of whom shall be doctors of medicine who shall each  have  had  not
  less  than ten years experience in any or all of the following: clinical
  medicine, neurology  or  psychiatry,  public  health  administration  or
  college  or  university  public  health teaching. The other five members
  need not be physicians. However, non-physician  members  shall  hold  at
  least   a  masters  degree  in  environmental,  biological,  veterinary,
  physical, or behavioral health or science, or rehabilitative science  or
  in  a related field, and shall have at least ten years experience in the
  field in which they hold such degree. One member of the board  shall  be
  the  chairperson  of  the mental hygiene advisory board, as set forth in
  section 568 of the charter, provided that such  chairperson  shall  meet
  the   requirements  for  board  membership  of  either  a  physician  or
  non-physician member.
    b. The nine members other than the  chairperson  and  the  member  who
  shall  be  the  chairperson  of  the mental hygiene advisory board shall
  serve without compensation and shall be appointed by the mayor, each for
  a term of six years, commencing at the expiration of the  terms  of  the
  present  incumbents.  In  case  of  a  vacancy the mayor shall appoint a
  member to serve for the unexpired term.
    c. The commissioner shall designate employees of the department as may
  be  necessary  to  the  service  of  the  board  including  an  employee
  designated by him to serve as the secretary of the board.