20. a. After the expiration of the period of 45 days following the first publication of the creating ordinances, the governing body of each municipality joining in the creation of the tourism improvement and development district shall appoint the first members to the authority. Each municipality shall be entitled to appoint three members to the authority. Two of the three members so appointed shall be owners, or employees of vendors, for whom a regular part of a dominant line of their business generates retail receipts subject to taxation or who are subject to payment of municipal fees pursuant to P.L.1992, c.165 (C. 40:54D-1 et seq.). The remaining member appointed by each municipality shall be a resident of the municipality who is not such an owner or employee of a vendor. No member shall hold any elective public office.

b. The Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development shall be an ex officio member of the authority.

c. Each member of the authority shall serve for a term of four years, except of the members initially appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be appointed for a term of four years. Each member shall hold office for the term of the member’s appointment and until the member’s successor is appointed and qualified. A member shall be eligible for reappointment.

A vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only.

d. The commissioner may designate an employee of the department to represent the member at meetings of the authority. The designee of the member may lawfully vote and otherwise act on behalf of the member.

The designation shall be made annually in writing and delivered to the authority and shall be effective until revoked or amended by written notice delivered to the authority.

e. The authority, upon the first appointment of its members and thereafter at the same time in each year, shall annually elect from among its members, a chairman and a vice-chairman who shall hold office until a successor is elected. The authority may also appoint and employ, without regard to the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes, an executive director and other agents and employees as the authority may require, and shall determine their qualifications, terms of office, duties and compensation thereof.

f. The powers of he authority shall be vested in the voting members thereof in office from time to time; a majority of the members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority unless the bylaws of the authority shall require a larger number. No vacancy in the membership of the authority shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority.

g. The members of the authority shall serve without compensation, but the authority may reimburse its members for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

h. Each appointed member of the authority may be removed by the appointing authority for cause after a public hearing and may be suspended by the authority pending the completion of the hearing. Each member of the authority before entering upon the duties of office shall take and subscribe an oath to perform the duties of the office faithfully, impartially, prudently and justly to the best of the member’s ability. A record of these oaths shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

L.1992,c.165,s.20; amended 1997, c.273, s.8.