(1) Within 60 days after the county clerk finds that a petition for the appointment of a committee is sufficient, or within 60 days after the county court has filed with the county clerk its resolution requesting that a committee be appointed, a committee shall be appointed as provided in this section. Only one committee is to be in existence at any given period of time.

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(2)(a) In all counties:

(A) A majority of the county court is entitled to appoint four members of the committee;

(B) A majority of the state Senators and state Representatives then representing the county is entitled to appoint four additional members; and

(C) A majority, consisting of at least five, of those persons appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph is entitled to appoint one additional member.

(b) If, within 45 days after the terms of committee members begin to run as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an appointing authority has not made the appointment or appointments it is entitled to make, the county clerk shall call a meeting of those persons constituting the appointing authority by giving written notice to each of them, specifying the purpose of the meeting and the time and place thereof. The time of the meeting shall be set within 15 days of the expiration of the 45-day period.

(3) All members of the committee must be electors of the county. No member shall be engaged, directly or indirectly, in any business with the county that is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of duties as a member of the committee. An initial appointment, or an appointment to fill a vacancy, is made by delivering to the county clerk written notice of the name and address of the person appointed, signed by the person duly authorized to act for the appointing authority. No member of an appointive authority may serve as a member of such committee. If an appointing authority fails to make such an initial appointment within 60 days after the terms of committee members begin to run as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the county court shall make the appointment within 10 days after the expiration of the 60-day period.

(4) The terms of committee members run either from the date the county court receives the certification from the county clerk that the petition requesting the appointment of the committee is sufficient or from the date the county court files its resolution requesting appointment of the committee, as the case may be. The terms expire on the day of the election at which the committee’s proposed charter is voted upon or within two years from the date the terms began, whichever is the sooner, unless, in the case where a proposed charter is not submitted at an election held within such two-year period, the county court by resolution filed with the county clerk before the expiration of the terms extends them until the day of the election on the proposed charter or for another two years, whichever is the sooner. Any vacancy occurring on the committee, in a position for which an initial appointment has been made, shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term by the appointing authority that was entitled to make the initial appointment of the member whose position is vacant or, if such appointing authority fails to make the appointment within 10 days after the vacancy occurs, by the county court.

(5) Not later than 80 days after the terms of committee members begin to run as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the members of the committee shall meet and organize. A majority of the committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The committee may adopt such rules as it deems necessary for its operation. However, the committee may not prohibit the public from attending any of its meetings. [1959 c.527 § 5; 1979 c.748 § 2; 2005 c.22 § 153]