159B-10. Executive committee, composition; powers and duties; terms.

(a) The board of commissioners of a joint agency may create an executive committee by resolution. The board may provide for the composition and terms of office of, and the method of filling vacancies on, the executive committee. The executive committee may include representatives of the joint agency, representatives of any other joint agency, and any other persons. The executive committee of a joint agency may simultaneously act as the executive committee of any other joint agency or agencies, or joint municipal assistance agency or agencies, if so provided by all such entities, and also may simultaneously act as the sole governing board of any joint municipal assistance agency created by two or more joint agencies pursuant to G.S. 159B-45 if so provided by all such joint agencies. An executive committee acting as the sole governing board of a joint municipal assistance agency shall not be subject to the limitations on the powers and authority of executive committees set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Except as limited by resolution of the board of commissioners creating an executive committee and except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an executive committee shall have and shall exercise all of the powers and authority of the board of commissioners creating the executive committee. However, the executive committee shall not have the power or authority to (i) amend any resolution of the board of commissioners of the joint agency relating to the creation of the executive committee or providing for its powers or authority; or (ii) adopt or amend a budget. Any rate for a joint agency adopted by an executive committee may be rejected, within 30 days following the adoption of the rate, by a vote of two-thirds in number of the commissioners representing the joint agency members affected by the rate. In the event that any rate is rejected in this manner, the executive committee shall, within 10 days following the action on the part of the commissioners, adopt a second rate for that joint agency, which may be the same rate as previously adopted. This second rate may be rejected, within 10 days following the adoption of the rate, by a vote of two-thirds in number of the commissioners representing the joint agency members affected by the rate. If a second rate adopted by the executive committee is rejected in this manner, the board of commissioners of the affected joint agency shall, acting by weighted vote, adopt a rate for the joint agency which is sufficient at least to comply with the requirements of G.S. 159B-17(b). No such rate adopted by the executive committee shall become effective so long as it is subject to rejection by commissioners of a joint agency as provided for in this subsection. However, if the executive committee determines that the establishment of a rate is required within 50 days to enable a joint agency to satisfy the requirements of G.S. 159B-17(b), the rate adopted by the executive committee shall be effective until changed by the executive committee or board of commissioners in accordance with this subsection.

(c) Each member of the executive committee shall have one vote and shall serve at the pleasure of the governing board by which the member was appointed. Before performing duties as a member, each member shall take and subscribe to an oath before some person authorized by law to administer oaths to execute the duties of the office faithfully and impartially, and a record of each oath shall be filed with the governing board appointing the member and spread upon its minutes. The office of a member of an executive committee may be held by the holders of any office, place of trust or profit in addition to and concurrently with those offices permitted by G.S. 128-1.1 and other offices permitted by law.

(d) The executive committee shall annually elect from its membership a chair and vice-chair, and shall elect another person or persons, who need not be members, to serve as secretary and, if desired, assistant secretary. The secretary or any assistant secretary of the executive committee shall keep a record of the proceedings of the executive committee, and the secretary shall be the custodian of all records, books, documents, and papers filed with the executive committee, as well as the minute book or journal of the executive committee. Either the secretary or the assistant secretary of the executive committee may cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the executive committee and may give certificates of the executive committee to the effect that the copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the executive committee may rely upon those certificates.

(e) A majority of the members of an executive committee then serving shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy on the executive committee shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the executive committee. Any action taken by the executive committee under the provisions of this Chapter may be authorized by resolution at any regular or special meeting, and each such resolution may take effect immediately and need not be published or posted. A vote of the majority of the members present shall be necessary and sufficient to take any action or to pass any resolution, provided that those members present are entitled to cast a majority of the votes of all members of the executive committee.

(f) Members of the executive committee, and of any subcommittee created by the executive committee, may receive compensation and be paid expenses for the performance of their duties as determined by the board or boards of commissioners creating that executive committee. However, for any member of an executive committee who is an employee of a municipality, a payment in lieu of any compensation shall be made to the municipality for distribution to the executive committee member in the manner and amount, if any, it deems appropriate. An executive committee for more than one entity may be referred to as a board of directors of any or each of those entities.