If the board of chosen freeholders of the county of Gloucester shall desire to take advantage of the provisions of this chapter, it shall first pass a resolution declaring that the construction of such tunnel will be a convenience, a necessity and a benefit to the county, and fixing the approximate location of such tunnel. The commission shall consist of five persons who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and who shall hold office for terms of five years, respectively, from the date or dates of their appointment, and until their successors are appointed and qualify, and any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term, and any member of the commission shall be eligible for reappointment. The members in office upon the effective date of this act shall continue to hold their respective offices until the expiration of their respective terms except that the term of office ex officio, as a member, of the chairman, that is to say the director, of the board of chosen freeholders shall terminate upon the effective date of this act. Each member of the commission, before entering upon his duties, shall take, subscribe and file an oath faithfully and impartially to perform the duties of his office. Before the issuance of any revenue bonds under the provisions of this chapter, each member shall give bond to the county of Gloucester in the State of New Jersey to be approved by the chairman of the board of chosen freeholders in the penalty of $ , conditioned upon the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of his office, which bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of said county of Gloucester. The commission shall elect one of its members as chairman, and shall also elect a secretary and treasurer who may not be a member of the commission. The commission so appointed shall be known as the “Gloucester county tunnel commission,” and by that name the commission may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and have an official seal. The commission shall make necessary rules and regulations for its own government, and shall have power and authority to make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter, and to employ engineering, architectural and construction experts and inspectors and attorneys, and such other employees as may be necessary in its judgment, and fix their compensation. The members of the commission shall receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. All salaries and compensation shall be paid solely from funds provided under the authority of this chapter, and the commission shall not proceed to exercise or carry out any authority or power herein given it to bind such commission beyond the extent to which money has been or may be provided under the authority of this chapter. The commission shall have power and authority to enter into such contracts and lease agreements as may be necessary to the complete utilization of every accessible and usable part or portion of the tunnel to be constructed hereunder; provided, however , that nothing contained in this chapter will be construed to permit the commission to delegate its authority either directly or indirectly over the management and operation of the vehicular traffic which will pass through said tunnel to any private interest or interests.

Amended by L.1947, c. 388, p. 1227, s. 1.