(a) The governing power of the authority shall be vested in a board of commissioners composed of three (3) members from each participating county.

(b) Nominees for election to the board shall be presented by the county mayor of each county. The county legislative body shall elect from the nominees presented by majority vote.

(c) Each member shall serve for a term of six (6) years, which shall begin July 1 of the appropriate year; however, in order to provide for staggered terms of the number from such county, the initial members from each county shall be elected one (1) each for a term of two (2), four (4), or six (6) years.

(d)

(1) In the event of failure to elect a successor to any member of the board, the member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until that member's successor has been duly elected as provided in this section.

(2) In the event of the death or resignation of a member or the member's inability to serve prior to the expiration of the member's term, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by the county originally electing that member in the same manner as provided in subsection (b).

(e) Any person at least twenty-one (21) years of age who has resided within the boundaries of the county whose legislative body may elect the person for a period of at least one (1) year immediately preceding the person's election is eligible to serve as a member of the board, except that the members of the county legislative body of the participating counties are not eligible to serve as members of the board. Any member who ceases to regularly reside within the boundaries of the county electing that member shall automatically become ineligible to serve in office.

(f) All board members are eligible for reelection; provided, they are qualified as required in this section.

(g) Before entering upon their duties, all board members shall take and subscribe to an oath of office, as provided by the constitution and law for county officers. Copies of the oath of each member shall be filed with the county clerk of that member's respective county.

(h) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum, and the board shall act by vote of a majority present at any meeting attended by a quorum. Vacancies among the board do not affect their power and authority, so long as a quorum remains.

(i) Within thirty (30) days after their election as provided in this section, the board shall hold a meeting to elect a chair who shall be elected on a yearly basis thereafter.

(j) The board shall hold regular meetings at least once every four (4) months and at such regular time and place as the board may, by resolution, determine and may hold such additional meetings, either regular or special, as may be determined by the board of commissioners. Special meetings may be called and held upon such notice and in such manner as the board of commissioners may, by resolution, determine.

(k) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the board of commissioners shall establish their own rules of procedure.

(l) The commissioners shall designate a secretary and a treasurer, or the same individual as secretary-treasurer, and such secretary or treasurer may or may not be a board member. The secretary shall attend all regular and special meetings and keep minutes thereof. The minutes of the meetings shall be available for inspection by the public at the office of the authority at all reasonable times.

(m)

(1) The board, by resolution, shall require the treasurer or secretary-treasurer, if one and the same person, to execute a bond with approved corporate surety for the faithful performance of the treasurer's or secretary-treasurer's duties and the accounting of all moneys and revenues that may come into the treasurer's or secretary-treasurer's hands, as such, in such penalty as the board shall specify by resolution. The bonds shall be filed with the secretary of state.

(2) The board, by resolution, may require all other subordinate officers or employees to execute such fidelity bonds for the faithful performance of their duties and the accounting of funds that may come to their hands, in such an amount, with such conditions and such sureties, as the board may determine.

(n) All members of the board shall serve as such without compensation, but they shall be allowed necessary traveling and other expenses while engaged in the business of the authority, as may be provided and approved by the board, payable from the funds of the authority or such funds as may be appropriated by the county legislative bodies of the participating counties.

(o) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the members of the board shall be removable only for good cause and after preferment of charges, as provided by law for county officers.