12. The executive director of a redevelopment agency shall have attained a degree from an accredited four year college or university, and shall have at least five years’ experience in public administration, public finance, realty, or similar professional employment. A master’s degree in an appropriate program may substitute for two years of that experience. The executive director holding that position at the time P.L.2005, c.79 becomes effective, possessing the required work experience and holding appropriate certification from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, or equivalent certification from a nationally recognized professional association in the housing and redevelopment field, shall not be required to meet the educational requirement, except as otherwise provided in section 45 of P.L.1992, c.79 (C. 40A:12A-45) and shall be deemed qualified for continued employment as executive director of the agency in which he holds that post and eligible for equivalent employment in any other local redevelopment agency in this State. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioners of the agency, and may be relieved of his duties only after 120 days’ notice. The redevelopment agency may provide that the executive director shall be the appointing authority for all or any portion of the employees of the agency. The executive director shall assign and supervise employees in the performance of their duties. If the municipality which established the redevelopment agency has adopted the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes, the executive director shall be in the unclassified service of civil service, and all other employees shall be in the classified service of civil service, except as may be otherwise provided by that title. A redevelopment agency may adopt the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey Statutes separately from the establishing municipality.

L.1992,c.79, s.12; amended 2005, c.79, s.1.