1. The Historic Hudson-Hoosic Rivers Partnership is hereby established in the department to be a body corporate and public, and to consist of up to thirty-seven voting members. The following individuals shall be invited to become members: the supervisor of the town of Saratoga, the supervisor of the town of Fort Edward, the supervisor of the town of Greenwich, the supervisor of the town of Easton, the supervisor of the town of Stillwater, the supervisor of the town of Waterford, the supervisor of the town of Northumberland, the supervisor of the town of Halfmoon, the supervisor of the town of Mechanicville, the supervisor of the town of White Creek, the supervisor of the town of Cambridge, the supervisor of the town of Moreau, the supervisor of the town of Schaghticoke, the supervisor of the town of Pittstown, the supervisor of the town of Hoosick, the supervisor of the town of Kingsbury, the supervisor of the town of Corinth, the mayor of the city of Mechanicville, the mayor of the village of Schuylerville, the mayor of the village of Victory, the mayor of the village of Stillwater, the mayor of the village of Fort Edward, the mayor of the village of Greenwich, the mayor of the village of South Glens Falls, the mayor of the village of Cambridge, the mayor of the village of Hudson Falls, the mayor of the village of Valley Falls, the mayor of the village of Schaghticoke, the mayor of the village of Corinth, the mayor of the village of Hoosick Falls and the mayor of the village of Waterford. In addition, six members shall be appointed as follows: two shall be appointed by the governor, two shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. The commissioner and the commissioners of agriculture and markets, and parks, recreation and historic preservation shall be nonvoting ex-officio members of the partnership. The six appointed members of the partnership, two of which shall be residents of Saratoga county, two of which shall be residents of Rensselaer county and two of which shall be residents of Washington county, shall by training, education and experience or attainment be qualified to analyze, interpret and/or support matters relevant to historical, environmental, economic or scenic preservation work of the partnership. Each ex-officio member of the partnership may designate a representative to attend, in his or her place, meetings of the partnership and to act in his or her behalf at meetings and with respect to the business of the partnership.

2. The term of office for appointees shall be four years. Members may serve on the partnership until they resign or are replaced. In the event of a vacancy occurring other than by the expiration of a member's term, such vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

3. A majority of the members of the partnership shall constitute a quorum.

4. The members of the partnership shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

5. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of law, general, special or local, no officer or employee of the state or any civil division thereof, shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his or her office or employment by reason of his or her acceptance of membership on the partnership.

6. At the initial meeting, the partnership shall elect officers, who shall serve at the pleasure of the partnership.

8. The partnership shall meet at least once every two months until approval of the plan by the commissioner as provided pursuant to section 42-0109 of this article, and at least once every quarter thereafter.

9. Every state agency and public corporation having jurisdiction of land within municipalities located within the Historic Hudson-Hoosic Rivers Partnership Reserve shall, to the fullest extent practicable, cooperate and assist the partnership in carrying out the provisions of this article.