(a)      In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      "Meeting" means the convening of a quorum of the constituent membership of a public agency to deliberate or act upon a matter over which the public agency has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.

      (c)      "Official action" means the phases of the process in which a decision or recommendation is reached including receipt of information, deliberation and decision of a public agency.

      (d)      "Public agency" includes:

            (1)      Any agency, assembly, authority, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, or department of St. Mary's County, except as provided in § 4-209 of this subtitle, including advisory and quasi-judicial agencies, supported in whole or in part by public funds or authorized to expend public funds;

            (2)      The St. Mary's County Board of Education; and

            (3)      Subcommittees and other subordinate units of the agencies above.

      (e)      "Public business" means all matters within the jurisdiction of a public agency which are before an agency for official action or which reasonably, foreseeably may come before that agency in the future.

      (f)      "Quorum" unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means a simple majority of the constituent membership of a public body.

      (g)      "Staff meeting" means a meeting of three or more staff members or a combination of three or more staff members of a public agency.