§ 423. Boards of visitors; general powers and duties. 1. The board of
visitors of each hospital in the department shall have the powers and
duties expressly conferred or imposed on it by this chapter and such
other powers and duties, not inconsistent with law as may be prescribed
by rules of the commissioner.

2. Each board of visitors shall:

(a) subject to such rules and the statutory powers of the
commissioner, take care of the general interest of the institution and
see that its objective is carried into effect;

(b) maintain an effective inspection of the institution, for which
purpose the board, or a majority of its members, shall visit and inspect
the institution at least once every three months;

(c) keep in a book provided for that purpose, a fair and full record
of its activities, which shall be open at all times to the inspection
and examination of the governor or of any person appointed by the
governor or by either house of the legislature, or to the commissioner
or his authorized representatives;

(d) enter in a book, kept at the institution for that purpose, the
date of each visit of each visitor;

(e) investigate, hear and ascertain the truth of all charges made
against the director or other officer or employee of the institution,
issue subpoenas, take and hear testimony in respect to such charges and
make its recommendations thereon to the authority having the power to
discharge or remove. A witness attending before such board shall be
entitled to the same fees as a witness attending before a court of
record or a judge thereof, which shall be paid as other institutional
charges.