Said commissioners, when so appointed, shall take the oath of office prescribed in Section 268 of the Constitution and shall meet at the county courthouse of Harrison County, at a date to be fixed by the Governor, to organize and select an active chairman and a secretary. The active chairman shall preside over all meetings, in the absence of the Governor, and shall have full authority to act as chairman of said commission in all matters, except at meetings presided over by the Governor as ex-officio chairman. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep and preserve minutes of the meetings of the commission for which service a reasonable compensation may be allowed and paid.