2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations › Article 27. Intergovernmental Relations -- Urban Mass Transportation Systems › §8-27-5. Management of Authority Vested in Board; Eligibility, Appointment, Number and Term of Members; Vote of Members; Vacancies

AUTHORITIES AND BOARDS.
§8-27-5. Management of authority vested in board; eligibility, appointment, number and term of members; vote of members; vacancies.
The management and control of any authority, its operations, business and affairs shall be lodged in a board of not less than five nor more than fifteen individuals who shall be known as members of the board and who shall be appointed for terms of three years each by the governing bodies of the participating governments. Prior to making the initial appointments to the board, the governing bodies of the participating governments shall agree to make such initial appointments so that approximately one third of the total number of the members to be so appointed shall be appointed for a term of one year, approximately one third of such total number of the members shall be appointed for a term of two years and approximately one third of such total number of the members shall be appointed for a term of three years. As the term of each such initial appointee expires, the successor to fill the vacancy created by such expired term shall be appointed for a term of three years. The number of members representing each participating government shall be as agreed upon from time to time by the governing bodies of the said participating governments. When a participating government is represented by more than one member on the board of an authority, such members shall be entitled to cast the votes of that participating government in such manner as that participating government may direct in the order or ordinance appointing its members.
Each participating government shall have one vote for each $500 it has contributed to the authority in the form of moneys or property. When property is contributed, the contributing participating government and the authority shall agree in writing at the time the contribution is made as to the fair market value of such property, which valuation shall determine the number of votes to be allocated to the participating government on the basis thereof. For the fiscal year during which any authority is formed, the number of votes to which any participating government shall be entitled shall be determined as of the time of formation of the authority and shall govern until the end of that fiscal year, even though additional moneys or property are contributed during that fiscal year. Thereafter, the number of votes shall be determined at the end of each fiscal year and such determination shall govern for the ensuing fiscal year, even though additional moneys or property are contributed during that fiscal year. Subsequent to its formation, any authority may permit any municipality or county within or without this state to participate in the affairs of the authority, to appoint members of the authority in the same manner, and to have such vote or votes beginning as of the next ensuing fiscal year, as prescribed by law with respect to the original participating municipalities or counties or any combination thereof.
Any individual who is a resident of, or member of the governing body, of, any participating government is eligible to serve as a member of the board. The governing body of each participating government shall inform the authority of its appointments or reappointments to the board by delivering to the authority a certified copy of the ordinance or order making the appointment or reappointment. If any member of the board dies, resigns or for any other reason ceases to be a member of the board, the governing body of the participating government which such member represented shall appoint another individual to fill the unexpired portion of the term of such member.