New Jersey § 52:27d-305

§ 52:27d-305.

a. There is established in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs a Council

on Affordable Housing to consist of 12 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, of whom

four shall be elected officials representing the interests of local government, at

least one of whom shall be representative of an urban municipality having a population

in excess of 40,000 persons and a population density in excess of 3,000 persons per

square mile, at least one of whom shall be representative of a municipality having

a population of 40,000 persons or less and a population density of 3,000 persons per

square mile or less, and no more than one of whom may be a representative of the interests

of county government; four shall represent the interests of households in need of low and moderate housing,

one of whom shall represent the interests of the nonprofit builders of low and moderate

income housing, and shall have an expertise in land use practices and housing issues,

one of whom shall be the Commissioner of Community Affairs, ex officio, or his or

her designee, who shall serve as chairperson , one of whom shall be the executive director of the agency, serving ex officio; and one of whom shall represent the interests of disabled persons and have expertise

in construction accessible to disabled persons; one shall represent the interests of the for-profit builders of market rate homes,

and shall have an expertise in land use practices and housing issues; and three shall

represent the public interest. Not more than six of the 12 shall be members of the same political party. The membership shall be balanced to the greatest extent practicable among the various

housing regions of the State. b. The members shall serve for terms of six years, except that of the members first

appointed, two shall serve for terms of four years, three for terms of five years,

and three for terms of six years. All members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and shall

have qualified. Notwithstanding the above, a member appointed to represent the interests of local

government shall serve only such length of the term for which appointed as the member

continues to hold elected local office, except that the term of a member so appointed

shall not become vacant until 60 days after the member ceases to hold that elected

office. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments, but for

the remainders of the unexpired terms only. c. The members, excluding the executive director of the agency and the Commissioner

of Community Affairs, shall be compensated at the rate of $150.00 for each six-hour

day, or prorated portion thereof for more or less than six hours, spent in attendance

at meetings and consultations and all members shall be eligible for reimbursement

for necessary expenses incurred in connection with the discharge of their duties. d. The Governor shall nominate the members within 30 days of the effective date of

this act and shall designate a member to serve as chairman throughout the member's

term of office and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. The member added by P.L.2005, c. 350 ( C.52:27D-311a et al.) shall be nominated within 30 days of the effective date of that act. e. Any member may be removed from office for misconduct in office, willful neglect

of duty, or other conduct evidencing unfitness for the office, or for incompetence. A proceeding for removal may be instituted by the Attorney General in the Superior

Court. A member or employee of the council shall automatically forfeit his office or employment

upon conviction of any crime. Any member or employee of the council shall be subject to the duty to appear and

testify and to removal from his office or employment in accordance with the provisions

of P.L.1970, c. 72 ( C.2A:81-17.2a et seq. ).