(a) The authority shall be a body politic and corporate.

(b) Subject to approval of the respective local legislative body as provided in § 64-3-106, the authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of the following persons to represent their respective counties, if such county legislative body has approved this chapter:

(1) The county mayor of Williamson County, the county mayor of Rutherford County and the metropolitan mayor from metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County as ex officio voting members; and

(2) Six (6) additional members who are residents and owners of real property in such watershed district to be appointed by the county mayor of the respective county as follows: three (3) persons from Davidson County; two (2) persons from Williamson County; and one (1) person from Rutherford County. The terms of such members shall be four (4) years, except that for the initial appointments, two (2) members shall be appointed for two (2) years, two (2) members for three (3) years, and two (2) members for four (4) years. All initial terms shall begin on July 1, 1980, and all subsequent terms shall commence on the expiration date of such previous term. Each member shall serve until the member's successor is appointed and qualified. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term by the respective county mayor when such a vacancy occurs.

(c) The board of directors of the authority shall elect a chair from its members, whose term shall be for four (4) years or for so long as the chair remains a member of the board. The board may elect such other officers as it deems necessary.

(d) The directors shall serve without pay except for actual traveling expenses and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties, such expenses to be reimbursed from such funds as may be available to the authority.

(e) Five (5) members of the board or a majority of members to which the board is entitled by this chapter shall constitute a quorum, and no action binding the board shall become effective unless approved by such majority. No action binding the board shall become effective unless approved by five (5) affirmative votes.

(f)

(1) The board may employ an executive secretary and such other persons as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes stated in this chapter, and the salary of any such employees may be paid out of such funds as may be available to the authority from any source.

(2) The executive secretary shall be the custodian of funds belonging to the authority and shall keep such records and accounts as may be required by the board. The executive secretary shall also execute a corporate surety bond as prescribed by the board.