§ 14-31. High technology development authority; sanctioning authority; governing board; members; appointment; terms.

(a)

The governing body of the Authority shall be a board of commissioners established in accordance with the terms of this article and charged with the promotion and support of high-technology-based economic growth for the Tennessee Technology Corridor in the state.

(b)

The board of commissioners shall be composed of seven members, five of whom shall be nominated by the governor of the state upon recommendations received from the chief executive of the county, and approved by a majority vote of the governing body of the county, and one who shall be appointed by the governor. No person, whether or not a landowner or developer, with any property interest in any property within the technology corridor shall be nominated for, or appointed to serve, as a commissioner. One member shall be a member of the governing body of the county who shall be appointed by the governing body of the county, and at least one commissioner shall be from private business and one from an educational or research institution. The term of office of the member appointed by the governor shall coincide with the term of office of the governor, and the term of office of the member of the governing body of the county shall coincide with his term of office on the governing board. The remaining commissioners shall serve terms of five years, which terms of office shall begin not more than one month after ratification of this article by the governing body of the county. Commissioners first appointed to the board shall be appointed for terms of one, two, three, four and five years, respectively, but thereafter each commissioner shall be appointed for a term of five years, except as otherwise provided herein. All commissioners shall be residents of the state and all except the commissioner appointed by the governor shall be residents of the county. Any vacancy by reason of nonresidency, incapacity, resignation or death shall be filled in a like manner for the unexpired term. Commissioners shall be eligible for reappointment by the governing body of the county upon recommendation by the chief executive of the county and nomination by the governor, and the commissioner appointed by the governor, and the commissioner appointed by the governing body of the county, shall also be eligible for reappointment, if so appointed by the governor or the governing body of the county, respectively. A resolution of the governing body approving the nominees to the initial board of commissioners shall be filed along with notice of ratification with the secretary of state for the state, after receipt of which the Authority shall be authorized to commence to conduct business.

(c)

All members of the board of commissioners shall serve as such without compensation, but may be allowed necessary expenses while engaged in the business of the Authority, as may be provided and approved by the board of commissioners, payable from the funds of the Authority.

(d)

The board of commissioners shall elect from its members a chairman and vice-chairman, each of whom shall continue to be voting members, and shall adopt its own bylaws and rules of procedures. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as herein expressly otherwise specified, all powers granted to the Authority shall be exercised by its board.

(e)

A commissioner may be removed from office for good cause, including voting in matters of personal interest in violation of T.C.A. § 12-4-101, but only after notice of the cause of such removal has been served upon the commissioner, in accordance with article 7, section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution, T.C.A. § 12-4-102, and the general law.

(Priv. Acts 1983, ch. 148, § 6; Ord. No. O-90-9-114, § 6, 9-10-90; Ord. No. O-11-5-102, §§ 2—4, 6-27-11)