3. The community college commission shall consist of the county superintendent of schools and nine public members who are residents of the county and have resided therein for a period of four years prior to their appointment having no official connection with educational institutions contracting with the commission. No elected public official shall serve as a voting member of the commission. The president of the commission shall be an ex officio member of the commission without vote.

Seven of the public members shall be appointed by the appointing authority of the county, with the advice and consent of the board of chosen freeholders, and two of the members shall be appointed by the Governor, for such initial terms as shall be established by the board. Members shall be appointed for terms of four years each, except that the initial appointments shall be made in four classes as nearly equal as possible in number, one class to serve for one year, one class to serve for two years, one class to serve for three years, and one class to serve for four years. The term of all members of the commission shall begin on July 1. Members initially appointed to the commission may serve from the time of their respective appointments, but the term of such office shall be deemed to commence as of July 1 of the year in which the appointment was made. Each member shall serve until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments and for the remainder of the unexpired terms. Any appointed member may be removed by the appointing authority of the county for cause upon notice and opportunity to be heard. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by virtue of services as a member of the commission.

A voting member of a community college commission shall not be eligible to accept employment of the college at which he has served as a member of the commission for a period of two years following resignation or expiration of his term as a member.

The appointing authority of the county shall establish a trustee search committee of not less than five members who shall be residents of the county. The members of the trustee search committee shall not be elected public officials and shall not be eligible for appointment to the board of trustees for a period of six months after their service on the trustee search committee. The trustee search committee shall nominate persons for consideration by the appointing authority of the county for appointment to the board of trustees.

L.1974,c.89,s.3; amended 1981,c.329,s.7; 1983,c.518,s.2; 1994,c.48,s.151.