(a) There is hereby created the West Virginia Community Infrastructure Authority. The authority is a governmental instrumentality of the state and a body corporate. The exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this article and the carrying out of its purposes and duties are essential governmental functions and for a public purpose.

The authority shall be controlled, managed and operated by the five-member board known as the West Virginia Community Infrastructure Board, which is hereby created. The Director of the West Virginia Development Office, or her or his designee, the Director of the Division of Environmental Protection, or her or his designee, and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, or her or his designee, are members ex officio of the board. The Executive Director of the West Virginia Development Office, or her or his designee, is the ex officio chair. Two members of the board shall be representative of the general public, one of which shall have had experience or a demonstrated interest in local government. The two members who are not ex officio members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for initial terms of three and six years, respectively. The successor of each such appointed member shall be appointed for a term of six years in the same manner as the original appointments were made, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which her or his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. Each board member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of her or his successor. The two appointed board members shall not at any one time belong to the same political party. Appointed board members may be reappointed to serve additional terms, not to exceed two consecutive full terms. All members of the board shall be citizens of the state. Each appointed member of the board, before entering upon her or his duties, shall comply with the requirements of article one, chapter six of this code and give bond in the sum of $20,000 in the manner provided in article two, chapter six of this code. The Governor may remove any board member for cause as provided in article six, chapter six of this code.

Annually the board shall elect one of its appointed members as chair, and shall appoint a secretary-treasurer, who need not be a member of the board. Three members of the board is a quorum and the affirmative vote of three members is necessary for any action taken by vote of the board. No vacancy in the membership of the board impairs the rights of a quorum by such vote to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the board and the authority. The person appointed as secretary-treasurer, including a board member if she or he is so appointed, shall give bond in the sum of $50,000 in the manner provided in article two, chapter six of this code.

The Executive Director of the West Virginia Development Office or her or his designee, the Director of the Division of Environmental Protection or her or his designee, and the Commissioner of the Division of Highways or her or his designee, shall not receive any compensation for serving as board members. Each of the two appointed board members of the board shall receive an annual salary of $5,000, payable at least twice per month. Each of the five board members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of her or his duties as a member of such board. All such expenses incurred by the board are payable solely from funds of the authority or from funds appropriated for such purpose by the Legislature and no liability or obligation shall be incurred by the authority beyond the extent for which moneys are available from funds of the authority or from such appropriations.

(b) There shall be a director of the authority appointed by the board who shall supervise and manage the Community Infrastructure Authority, and the West Virginia Development Office shall serve as the staff for the authority. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the duties and responsibilities of the director and of the staff shall be established by the authority. At the board’s discretion, it may provide for the position of general counsel, who shall be an employee of the authority, or for the appointment of special counsel. As the board deems necessary and desirable, it may at any time elect to change its decision on the employment or appointment of a counsel.

(c) The director, or her or his designee, may employ or appoint any staff members in addition to those provided by the West Virginia Development Office, including general or special counsel if the position is established by the board. The number of employees needed, the positions to be filled and their salaries or wages shall be determined by the director with the approval of the board, unless the board elects to not require its approval. At any time the board may elect to change its decision concerning approval of additional staff hiring and salaries.

(d) The board shall meet at least quarterly, and more often as it deems necessary. The director and any other staff member or members as the director deems expedient shall attend board meetings.