17. a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, the governing body of any county or municipality may, by ordinance, or by resolution in the case of a county whose charter does not provide for the adoption of ordinances, create a body corporate and politic to be known as the “Housing Authority of . . . ,” inserting the name of the county or municipality. The authority shall constitute an agency and instrumentality of the municipality or county creating it. A housing authority shall be created pursuant to the procedures of the “Local Authorities Fiscal Control Law,” P.L.1983, c.313 (C. 40A:5A-1 et seq.). The authority shall consist of seven members. In a county that operates under the “county executive plan” set forth in the “Optional County Charter Law,” P.L.1972, c.154 (C. 40:41A-1 et seq.), six members shall be appointed by the county executive with the advice and consent of the board of chosen freeholders, and one member shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. In all other counties and municipalities, five members shall be appointed by the governing body of the county or municipality, as the case may be, one by the mayor or other chief executive officer of the municipality, or in the case of a county by the director of the board of chosen freeholders or by the chief executive officer of the county if the county’s charter provides for such an officer, and one by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The members shall serve for terms of five years and until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified; except that of the five members first appointed by the governing body one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years and one for a term of five years. All appointments shall be subject to and made in the manner required by the law under which the county or municipality is governed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made, but for the unexpired term. If a vacancy is not filled by the county executive, governing body or chief executive officer within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs shall notify the county executive, governing body or chief executive officer of his intent to fill the vacancy if it is not filled in 30 days. If the vacancy is not filled within that 30 day period, the commissioner may appoint a member for the unexpired term.

In any county or municipality which has heretofore created a housing authority pursuant to R.S.55:14A-4, the members of the authority who were appointed by the governing body and the chief executive officer of the county or municipality and who are in office upon the effective date of this act shall continue in office until the expiration of the terms for which they are appointed and qualified in accordance with the terms of this act.

b. No municipality which has been included with its consent within the area of operation of a county housing authority shall thereafter create a municipal housing authority. Where there is no housing authority in existence in any municipality of a county, the governing body of that county may create a housing authority, and thereafter no municipality within that county shall create an authority without the consent of the county governing body and the county housing authority.

c. A county may provide such publicly assisted housing programs as it chooses anywhere within the county; but it may provide such programs in municipalities which are within the area of operation of a county or municipal housing authority only after adoption of a resolution of the housing authority consenting thereto.

d. No more than one member of a housing authority may be an officer or employee of the municipality or county by which the authority is created. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any member shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality or the county, as the case may be, and that certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of that member. A member of an authority shall receive no compensation for his services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of the duties of membership, including travel expenses. The powers of the authority shall be vested in the members thereof in office from time to time. Four members shall constitute a quorum of the authority for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and all other purposes. Action may be taken by the authority upon the affirmative vote of the majority, but not less than four of the members present, unless in any case the bylaws of the authority shall require a larger number. The authority shall select a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members, and shall employ an executive director, who shall be its secretary.

e. No member or employee of an authority shall acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in any housing project or in any property included or planned to be included in such a project, nor shall he have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract or proposed contract for materials and services to be furnished or used in connection with any housing project. If any member or employee of an authority owns or controls an interest, direct or indirect, in any property included or planned to be included in a housing project he shall immediately disclose the same in writing to the authority and the disclosure shall be entered upon the minutes of the authority. Failure to disclose such an interest shall constitute misconduct in office. A member or employee required by this subsection to make such a disclosure shall not participate in any action by the authority affecting the property with respect to which such disclosure is required. For inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office a member of an authority may be removed by the governing body or officer by which he was appointed; but a member may be removed only after he has been given a copy of the charges at least 10 days prior to a hearing thereon and has had the opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel. In the event of a removal of any member of an authority a record of the proceedings, together with the charges and findings thereon, shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county or municipality.

L.1992,c.79,s.17; amended 1993,c.344,s.1.