N.Y. Education Law § 497: Establishment of regional college cooperative services board

§ 497. Establishment of regional college cooperative services board.

1. Upon the request of the governing board of at least two or more

non-public institutions of higher education, the commissioner of

education shall call a joint meeting of the members of such governing

boards for the purpose of determining whether a regional college

cooperative services board should be established within the geographic

area in which such institutions are located. In the event that a

regional college center with similar purposes is already in existence in

the state, the commissioner of education shall extend to such center the

opportunity to become a regional college cooperative services board.

2. If the commissioner determines that such board will strengthen and

best develop the educational resources within the area to be served, he

shall call a meeting to elect a board of trustees of such board. Notice

of such meeting shall be mailed by the commissioner to each member of

the governing board of each institution at his last known address at

least five days prior to such meeting. At such meeting the governing

board of each institution shall have one vote.

3. Within one month after taking office, the trustees-elect shall

apply to the regents for a charter as a regional college cooperative

services board.

4. Such board shall elect a president, a secretary and a treasurer.

Before entering upon his duties, such treasurer shall execute and file

with such board an official undertaking in such sum and with such

sureties as directed by the board and approved by the commissioner. The

treasurer need not be a member of such board. The funds of such board

shall be deposited in a bank or banks designated by its board of

trustees and shall be expended only under the direction of such board

upon properly authenticated vouchers.

5. The term of office of the trustees of such board shall be five

years except that the members of the first board of trustees shall

determine by lot the year in which the term of office of each trustee

shall expire so that as nearly as possible the terms of one-fifth of the

members of such board will expire annually. Thereafter the successors of

such trustees shall be elected annually at a joint meeting of the member

institutions. Such meeting shall be called by the secretary of the board

who shall mail a notice of such meeting to each trustee of each of the

member institutions of the board at his last known address, at least ten

days prior to such joint meeting. At such joint meeting the board of

trustees of each member institution of the board shall have one vote.

The board of trustees of any such member institution may, by resolution,

designate one or more members of such board to attend such joint meeting

and cast the vote of such board.