43.05 - Niagara Falls underground railroad heritage commission.
* § 43.05 Niagara Falls underground railroad heritage commission. 1. The Niagara Falls underground railroad heritage commission is hereby established as a not-for-profit corporation. The commission shall be governed by the not-for-profit corporation law except where such law conflicts with this article, in which case the provisions of this article shall govern. The commission shall consist of thirteen voting members. Twelve members shall be appointed as follows: four shall be appointed by the governor, two shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of assembly, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate and two members shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of Niagara Falls. The other member shall be the chair of the Niagara county legislature, or his or her designee. All appointments shall be residents of the county of Niagara. The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the commission. Appointments to the commission shall be filed with the commissioner who shall convene the first meeting of the commission following the filing of the majority of appointments. At the initial meeting the members shall elect officers. 2. The term of office for appointees shall be four years. Members may serve on the commission until they resign or are replaced. In the event of a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of a member's term, such vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. 3. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. 4. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. 5. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of law, general, special, or local, no officer or employee of the state or any civil division thereof, shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his or her office or employment by reason of his or her acceptance of membership on the commission. 6. The commission shall meet at least once every quarter. 7. Every state agency and public corporation having jurisdiction of land within the heritage area shall, to the fullest extent practicable, cooperate and assist the commission in carrying out the provisions of this article. 8. Every local agency with programs relating to the heritage area may offer assistance to the commission in carrying out the provisions of this article. * NB Repealed April 30, 2013