39. a. There is established for each qualified municipality a regional impact council to serve for that period during which the municipality is under rehabilitation and economic recovery. The council shall consist of: the mayor of the qualified municipality or his or her designee; the mayor of any municipality in the county in which the qualified municipality is situated which on or before the determination by the commissioner that the municipality fulfills the definition of a qualified municipality pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C. 52:27BBB-4) has participated in a regional collaborative established to further the strategic revitalization of the qualified municipality or the mayor’s designee; the director of the board of chosen freeholders of the county in which the qualified municipality is situated or his or her designee; the director of the Office of State Planning or his or her designee; one representative of the New Jersey Regional Coalition, to be appointed as provided hereinafter; and four public members, two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. In the event that a regional collaborative has not been established in the county in which the qualified municipality is situated, the regional impact council shall include the mayor of each municipality that borders on the qualified municipality. The four public members shall include at least one member of the faith-based community within the region; one member of the business community; one member of the higher education community; and one member of the labor community within the region.

b. Within 30 days of a determination by the commissioner that a municipality fulfills the definition of a qualified municipality pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C. 52:27BBB-4), the New Jersey Regional Coalition shall submit to the Governor three nominees for consideration, from which the Governor may choose. If the organization does not submit three nominees for consideration at any time required, the Governor may appoint a member of the Governor’s choice.

c. No member of the council shall receive a salary for service on the council but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses associated with serving on the council.

d. A majority of the members of the council shall choose one of the members to serve as the chair. Each member of the council shall serve for a two-year term and, upon expiration of that term, may be reappointed. Vacancies among the membership shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

e. The council shall select an appropriate location or locations in which to meet. The council may adopt its own bylaws and procedures that are not inconsistent with P.L.2002, c.43 (C. 52:27BBB-1 et al.).

f. The council shall be eligible for and may employ a consultant and such staff as it deems necessary, to the extent that funds are made available pursuant to P.L.2002, c.43 (C. 52:27BBB-1 et al.) or other sources. The council may call upon the commissioner for such assistance as it deems necessary.

g. The council may hold public hearings at the call of the chair and pursuant to the “Open Public Meetings Act,” P.L.1975, c.231 (C. 10:4-6 et seq.).

L.2002,c.43,s.39; amended 2002, c.108, s.8.