Section 5. The secretary may appoint from time to time, such citizen advisory boards as he deems appropriate and necessary. Said citizen advisory boards shall advise and assist the secretary on matters relating to the special needs of elderly persons and assist the secretary in making appraisals of needs of the elderly and the evaluations of programs required by this act. The secretary in making appointments to said boards shall insure that members so appointed shall represent all regions of the commonwealth, the segments of the population served by the department and statewide senior citizens groups; provided, however, that at least fifty per cent of the members of any board so appointed shall be fifty-five years of age or over.
Members of any citizen advisory boards established by this section shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.