Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §8112, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 374, §3, is amended to read:

1. Board of directors. The authority consists of a board of 5 8 directors appointed by the Governor each to serve for 5 years; except for those first appointed one director is appointed for one year, one director for 2 years, one director for 3 years and one director for 4 years. Three of the directors must be appointed by the Governor, one representing each of the 3 county commissioner districts in Washington County, from a list of candidates provided by the county commissioners in each of the county commissioner districts in Washington County. Immediately after their appointments, the directors of the authority shall enter upon their duties. The Governor shall name one of the appointed members as chair of the authority. The directors shall elect a treasurer and a secretary who need not be members of the authority and any other officers as the board of directors from time to time considers necessary. Any vacancy must be filled for the unexpired term by the Governor. A vacancy in the authority does not impair the right of a quorum of the directors to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. The Governor may remove a member from the authority for misconduct.

Sec. 2. Transition provisions. The 3 directors appointed pursuant to this Act serve for 5-year terms; except that of the first group of directors appointed the first director serves for one year, the 2nd serves for 2 years and the 3rd serves for 3 years.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the membership of the board of directors of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority by adding 3 members, one from each of the county commissioner districts in Washington County. The initial terms of the new directors are staggered.