2653 - Schenectady metroplex developement authority.
§ 2653. Schenectady metroplex development authority. 1. The Schenectady metroplex development authority is hereby created. Such authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The governing body of the authority shall be a board. The authority shall consist of eleven members who are residents of Schenectady county, appointed by a majority vote of the county legislature. Nominations for appointment by the county legislature shall be submitted as follows: one upon the recommendation of the mayor of the city of Schenectady, one upon the recommendation of the city council; one upon the recommendation of the supervisor of the town of Niskayuna, one upon the recommendation of the supervisor of the town of Glenville, one upon the joint recommendation of the supervisors of the towns of Princetown and Duanesburg, one upon the recommendation of the supervisor of the town of Rotterdam, one upon the recommendation of the minority leader of the county legislature, two upon the recommendation of the chairman of the county legislature and two by the joint recommendation of the county legislature. The members appointed upon the recommendation of the chair of the county legislature, the minority leader of the county legislature and the joint recommendation of the county legislature shall serve for a term of five years each, and the members appointed by the county legislature upon the recommendation of the city or town officers shall serve for a term of four years each, respectively, with each term commencing from the first day of January next succeeding their appointment. Each member unless removed for good cause by a two-thirds vote of the county legislature shall hold office until a successor has been appointed and qualified. 2. No person holding an elected or management/confidential-exempt position in any county government may be appointed to the authority except for the Schenectady county commissioner of economic development and planning. No member of the state legislature may be appointed to the authority. No person holding, or who has held within the previous four years, the position of chairperson of a village, town, city or county political party as defined by article two of the election law shall be appointed to the authority. 3. A member of the board shall be designated as chairman by a majority vote of all the members of the county legislature and shall be chairman of such board until his or her term as member expires. A member of the board shall also be so designated as vice-chairman of the board until his or her term as member expires. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the authority and shall be primarily responsible for the discharge of the administrative functions of the authority. The chairman may appoint an executive director of the authority, upon advice and consent of the board, to which such administrative functions may be delegated. The executive director shall be deemed an employee of the authority, and as such be an exempt management confidential employee, who is a public officer and entitled to an annual salary as established by the authority board. 4. The power of such corporation shall be vested in and exercised by the board. Such board may delegate to one or more of its members or its officers, agents and employees such powers and duties as it may deem proper. 5. Such board and its corporate existence shall continue until its existence shall be terminated by law. Upon the termination of the existence of the authority all its rights and properties shall pass to and be vested in the county of Schenectady. 6. Six members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the members of the board present at any meeting at which a quorum shall be present, shall be sufficientto pass any resolution, except as otherwise specified in this title. All propositions requiring the expenditure of money or affecting contract rights or property, shall be presented to the board in writing. No resolution containing such a proposition shall pass unless it receives approval of at least six board members in office. 7. The board shall hold at least one regular meeting every month. The chairman, or in his absence the vice-chairman, or any five members, may call a special meeting by notice as specified by the board. All meetings of the board shall be subject to article seven of the public officers law. 8. Members of the board shall be entitled to no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. 9. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law, no officer or employee of the state, or of any municipality, as defined in the public officers law, the county law or the town law, shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his public office or any benefits provided under the retirement and social security law or under any public retirement system maintained by the state or any of its subdivisions by reason of his acceptance of membership on or chairmanship or vice-chairmanship of the authority; provided, however, a member or chairman who holds such other public office shall receive no additional compensation for services rendered pursuant to this title, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of such services. 10. The principal office of the authority shall be located in the county of Schenectady. 11. The comptroller may conduct periodic audits of the authority and report the results of such audits to the governor, the chairman of the senate finance committee, and the chairman of the assembly ways and means committee. 12. Subject to the provisions of this title, members of the authority may engage in private employment, or in a profession or business.