(70 ILCS 516/15)

Sec. 15. Creation of Authority; Board members; officers.

(a) The Riverdale Development Authority is created as a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation.

(b) The jurisdiction of the Authority shall extend over the approximately 1,200 acres (1.87 sq. miles), more or less, of largely industrial, commercial and residential property located between and adjacent to the CSX's Barr Yard and IHB's Blue Island Yard, exclusive of those yards and other rail lines and utility property, but including: the property generally bounded by I-57 on the west; east along Jackson Street and Indian Boundary Line to Halsted Avenue; south on Halsted to Forestview Avenue continuing east to the Norfolk Southern Railway; north along the Norfolk Southern Railway to the Little Calumet River, east along the River to the northeastern tip of the peninsula crossing the River at the height of 130th Street to the Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad property line continuing south along the rail line and crossing the River again; east along the River to Indiana Avenue; south to 136th Street; west on 136th Street to the Norfolk Southern Railway then northwest to the northern boundary of Mohawk Park at the height of Blue Island-Riverdale Road and thence west on Blue Island-Riverdale Road to the eastern edge of the Commonwealth Edison easement at the height of Stewart Avenue and then south on Stewart Avenue to 142nd Street; west on 142nd Street continuing along the southern boundary of the IHB Blue Island Yard following this boundary line west to I-57.

(c) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in its Board of Directors consisting of 5 members, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor of Riverdale and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. All persons appointed as members of the Board shall have recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, business management, real estate, community development, organized labor, or civic, community, or neighborhood organization.

(d) The terms of the 5 initial appointees to the Authority shall commence 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 5 appointees initially appointed (i) one of Riverdale's appointees and one of the Governor's appointees shall be appointed to serve terms expiring on the third Monday in January, 2009; (ii) one of Riverdale's appointees shall be appointed to serve a term expiring on the third Monday in January, 2010; and (iii) one of Riverdale's appointees and 1 of the Governor's appointees shall be appointed to serve terms expiring on the third Monday in January, 2011. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 4 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term. Each member appointed to the Board shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(e) The Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the Board annually from among its members.

(f) The appointing authority may remove any member of the Board in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) Members of the Board shall serve without compensation for their services as members but may be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(h) The Board may appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in administration, planning, real estate, economic development, finance, or law. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board, and shall receive compensation fixed by the Board. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Board; however, no action of the Board or the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Board may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including planners, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(i) The Board shall meet on the call of its Chairperson or upon written notice of 3 members of the Board. 3 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(j) All official acts of the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of at least 3 of the members of the Board present and voting at a meeting of the Board.

(Source: P.A. 103-517, eff. 8-11-23.)