§ 2675-d. Albany convention center authority. 1. A corporation known as the Albany convention center authority is hereby created for the public purpose and charged with the duties and having the powers provided in this title. The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The governing body of the authority shall be a board. The authority shall consist of nine members. Three members shall be appointed by the governor. One member shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate. One member shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. Two members shall be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the common council. Two members shall be appointed by the county executive with the advice and consent of the county legislature. All members of the board shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.

2. A member of the board shall be designated as chairperson by a majority vote of all the members of the board, provided that the initial chairperson must be one of the members appointed by the governor. A member of the board shall also be so designated as vice-chairperson of the board. The chairperson may appoint an executive director of the authority, upon advice and consent of the board, who shall be primarily responsible for the discharge of the administrative functions of the authority. The executive director shall be deemed an employee of the authority, and, as such, be an exempt management confidential employee, who is a public officer and entitled to an annual salary as established by the authority board, such salary not to exceed the salary of the mayor or county executive, whichever is higher.

3. The powers of such corporation shall be vested in and exercised by the board.

4. The authority and its corporate existence shall continue until its existence shall be terminated by law, provided, however, that no such termination shall take effect so long as the authority shall have bonds or other obligations outstanding unless adequate provision has been made for the payment or satisfaction thereof.

5. Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At least four of the members of the board present at any meeting at which a quorum shall be present, shall be necessary to pass any resolution, except as otherwise specified in this title. All propositions requiring the expenditure of money or affecting contract rights or property, shall be presented to the board in writing. No resolution containing such a proposition shall pass unless it receives approval of at least a majority of the whole board.

6. The board shall hold at least one regular meeting quarterly. The chairperson, or in his or her absence the vice-chairperson, or any four members, may call a special meeting by notice as specified by the board. All meetings of the board shall be subject to article seven of the public officers law.

7. Members of the board shall be entitled to no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

8. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special or local law, no officer or employee of the state or of any municipality, as defined in the public officers law, the second class cities law, or the general city law, shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his or her public office or any benefits provided under the retirement or social security law or under any public retirement system maintained by the state or any of its subdivisions by reason of his or her acceptance of membership on or chairpersonship or vice-chairpersonship of the authority.

9. The principal office of the authority shall be located in the city of Albany.

10. Subject to the provisions of this title, members of the authority may engage in private employment, or in a profession or business.