§ 40:68A-32 — Municipal port authority; creation by municipalities; membership; terms; vacancies

The governing body of any municipality in, along or through the territory of which a navigable river flows, may by ordinance create a public body corporate and politic under and pursuant to this act, under the name and style of "the municipal port authority," with the name of said municipality inserted. Said body shall consist of 5 members who shall be appointed by resolution of said governing body as hereinafter provided. A certified copy of each ordinance for the creation of a municipal port authority adopted pursuant to this section shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, in the office of the Division of Local Government in the Department of the Treasury and in the office of the clerk of the governing body of the municipality creating the municipal port authority. A certified copy of each ordinance for the creation of the municipal port authority adopted pursuant to this section shall be forwarded also to each authority, board, commission or other public body (herein called the "existing port body" ) existing or established to exercise powers for port purposes in a port district or other district or area, by or pursuant to act of Legislature of this State alone or in conjunction with the Legislature of another State, the district or area of operation of which includes in whole or in part the area of the port district created by virtue of adoption of such ordinance. After filing of the certified copies of each ordinance for the creation of a municipal port authority as aforesaid, such ordinance shall be published in a newspaper published or circulating in the port district together with a notice stating the fact and date of its adoption and the places where such ordinance has been so filed for public inspection and also the date of the first publication of such notice, and also that any action or proceeding of any kind or nature in any court questioning the validity of the creation or establishment of the municipal port authority shall be commenced within 20 days after the first publication of such notice. If no action or proceeding questioning the validity of the creation or establishment of the municipal port authority shall be commenced or instituted within 20 days after the first publication of such notice and if there shall not have been filed with the clerk of the governing body of the municipality creating the municipal port authority a certified copy of a resolution of any existing port body objecting to the creation or establishment of the municipal port authority within 20 days after the first publication of such notice then all residents and taxpayers and owners of property in the port district and each existing port body and all users of the port system and all other persons whatsoever shall be forever barred and foreclosed from instituting or commencing any action or proceeding in any court, or from pleading any defense to any action or proceeding, questioning the validity of the creation or establishment of the municipal port authority and said municipal port authority shall be conclusively deemed to have been validly created and established and to be authorized to transact business and exercise powers as a municipal port authority pursuant to this act. Thereafter, 5 persons shall be appointed by resolution of said governing body as the members of the municipal port authority. The members first appointed shall, by the resolution of appointment, be designated to serve for terms respectively expiring on the first days of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth Februarys next ensuing after the date of their appointment. Subsequent appointments shall be for a term of 5 years. Each member shall hold office for the term of appointment and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the membership of the municipal port authority shall be filled by appointment by resolution of the governing body of the local unit for the unexpired term. A certified copy of each resolution appointing any member of a municipal port authority shall be filedin the office of the Secretary of State, but the failure to file any such resolution shall not invalidate any appointment. All members of a municipal port authority shall reside within the territorial area of the local unit. L.1960, c. 192, p. 810, s. 4, eff. Feb. 15, 1961.