§ 143B-324.2.  Western North Carolina Public Lands Council members; selection; officers; removal; compensation; quorum; services.

(a) Members; Selection; and Terms of Service. - The Western North Carolina Public Lands Council within the Department of Environmental Quality shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor. The composition of the Council shall be as follows:

(1) One member shall be a resident of Buncombe County.

(2) One member shall be a resident of Haywood County.

(3) One member shall be a resident of Jackson County.

(4) One member shall be a resident of Swain County.

(5) One member shall be a resident of Cherokee County.

(6) Two members shall be residents of counties adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or the Pisgah or Nantahala national forests.

The appointment of members shall be for terms of four years, or until their successors are appointed and qualify. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council created by the resignation, dismissal, death or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.

(b) Officers. - The Council shall elect a chair, a vice-chair, and a secretary. The chair and vice-chair shall all be members of the Council, but the secretary need not be a member of the Council. These officers shall perform the duties usually pertaining to such offices and when elected shall serve for a period of one year, but may be reelected. In case of vacancies by resignation or death, the office shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired term of said officer.

(c) Removal. - The Governor shall have the power to remove any member of the Council from office in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143B-16 of the Executive Organization Act of 1973.

(d) Compensation. - Members of the Council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 143B-15 of the Executive Organization Act of 1973.

(e) Quorum. - Five members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (1973, c. 1262, s. 67; 1977, c. 198, ss. 5, 26; 1997-443, ss. 11A.123, 15.36(b), (d); 2010-180, s. 7(c); 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).)