Section 5: Housing and redevelopment authorities; membership; appointment; election; term of office
Section 5. Every housing and redevelopment authority shall be managed, controlled and governed by five members, appointed or elected as provided in this section, of whom three shall constitute a quorum. Every member of a housing or redevelopment authority shall be a fiduciary of the housing or redevelopment authority.
In a city, four members of a housing or redevelopment authority shall be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the city council; provided, that, the members shall be appointed to serve for initial terms of one, two, four and five years, respectively.
In a town, 4 members of a redevelopment authority that is not a housing authority shall be elected by the town; provided, however, that of the members originally elected at an annual town meeting, the candidate who received the highest number of votes shall serve for 5 years, the candidate who received the next highest number of votes shall serve for 4 years, the candidate who received the next highest number of votes shall serve for 2 years and the candidate who received the next highest number of votes shall serve for 1 year. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, upon the initial organization of a redevelopment authority that is not a housing authority, if a town so votes at an annual or special town meeting called for the purpose of organizing a redevelopment authority that is not a housing authority, 4 members of the redevelopment authority shall be appointed immediately by the board of selectmen to serve only until the qualification of their successors; provided, however, that the successors shall be elected at the next annual town meeting as provided in this paragraph.