Corporate existence; status as political subdivision

The Georgia Airport Development Authority shall continue to be a body corporate and politic and an instrumentality and public corporation of the state known as the ‘‘Georgia Airport Development Authority.’’ It shall have perpetual existence. In said name it may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts of this state, subject to the limitations of Code Section 6-4-15. The authority shall constitute a political subdivision within the meaning of Code Section 6-3-22 as enacted by the Georgia General Assembly in its 1992 regular session in Senate Bill 173. (Code 1981, § 6-4-4, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1615, § 1.) 6-4-5. Appointment of members; terms; filling of vacancies; officers; quorum; reimbursement for expenses; compensation of employees; legal services. (a) The authority shall consist of eight members as follows: (1) Five members to be appointed by the Governor, at least three of whom shall have expertise in the field of aviation; (2) One member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall not be a member of the General Assembly; (3) One member to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall not be a member of the General Assembly; and (4) The commissioner of transportation, who shall serve as chairman. Two members appointed by the Governor and the members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall serve for initial terms of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The remaining members ap807 Page: 808 Job Path: @psc3912/cville_data1/stcodes/ga/lexis/ep_rv_04_txt 0000 41826-12 6-4-5 Date: 06/14/13 Time: 12:58:37 GA RV 13 RV 4(T4-6) - EP AVIATION 6-4-6 pointed by the Governor shall serve for initial terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Thereafter, all members shall serve for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy among the members so appointed, whether caused by expiration of term, death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled in the same manner as the membership position so vacated was last regularly filled. When the vacancy occurs other than by expiration of term, it shall be filled for the unexpired term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. (b) The authority shall elect a secretary and a treasurer, who need not necessarily be members of the authority. A majority of the members of the authority shall constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business, and a majority vote of those present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be sufficient to do and perform any action permitted to the authority by this chapter. The chairman shall vote only in the event of a tie. (c) No vacancy on the authority shall impair the right of the quorum to transact any and all business as stated in this Code section. If any member of the authority has any pecuniary interest in a project, the fact of such interest shall be disclosed by such member and recorded in the minutes of the authority. The member shall abstain from urging the approval of or voting on any project in which the member has a pecuniary interest. (d) The members of the authority shall receive no compensation for their services but all members shall be entitled to the expense allowance and travel cost reimbursement provided for members of certain boards and commissions pursuant to Code Section 45-7-21 while in the performance of their duties. Employees of the authority shall receive reasonable compensation for their services, the amount to be determined by the members of the authority. (e) The Attorney General shall provide legal services for the authority. In connection therewith, Code Sections 45-15-13 through 45-15-16 shall be fully applicable. (Code 1981, § 6-4-5, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1615, § 1.) 6-4-6. Members accountable as trustees; conflict of interests; books and records. (a) The members of the authority shall be accountable in all respects as trustees. (b) Every member of the authority and every employee of the authority who knowingly has any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract to which the authority is or is about to become a party, or in 808 Page: 809 Job Path: @psc3912/cville_data1/stcodes/ga/lexis/ep_rv_04_txt 0000 41826-12 6-4-6 Date: 06/14/13 Time: 12:58:37 GA RV 13 RV 4(T4-6) - EP GEORGIA AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 6-4-7 any other business of the authority, or in any firm or corporation doing business with the authority, shall make full disclosure of such interest to the authority. Failure to disclose such an interest shall constitute cause for which an authority member may be removed or an employee discharged or otherwise disciplined at the discretion of the authority. (c) Provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 16 and Code Sections 16-10-21 and 16-10-22, regulating the conduct of officers, employees, and agents of political subdivisions, municipal and other public corporations, and other public organizations, shall be applicable to the conduct of members, officers, employees, and agents of the authority. (d) Any contract or transaction of the authority involving a conflict of interest not disclosed under subsection (b) of this Code section, or involving a violation of Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 16 and Code Sections 16-10-21 and 16-10-22, or involving a violation of any other provision of law regulating conflicts of interest which is applicable to the authority or its members, officers, or employees shall be voidable by the authority. (e) The authority shall keep suitable and proper books and records of all receipts, income, and expenditures of every kind and shall submit for inspection all of such books, together with a proper statement of the authority’s financial position, on or about December 31 of each year, to the state auditor. (Code 1981, § 6-4-6, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1615, § 1.) 6-4-7. General powers.