2007 Minnesota Statutes

116T.02 CORPORATION; MEMBERS; BOARD OF DIRECTORS; POWERS.
    Subdivision 1. Public corporation. Northern Technology Initiative, Inc. is a public
corporation of the state and is not subject to the laws governing a state agency except as provided
in this chapter. The business of the corporation must be conducted under the name "Northern
Technology Initiative, Inc."
    Subd. 2. Purpose. Northern Technology Initiative, Inc. is a regional economic initiative of
Minnesota counties, townships, home rule charter or statutory cities within participating counties,
economic development groups, state and federal agencies, public and private postsecondary
institutions, and businesses. The project area includes, at a minimum, the counties of Carlton,
Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, and Pine, but may be expanded as other contiguous counties elect to
participate. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in an integrated, jointly planned economic
development effort with a focus on encouraging growth among existing businesses and attracting
technology companies to the region served by the corporation. A home rule charter city, statutory
city, county, township, or other public entity participating in the initiative may budget public
funds for the initiative.
    Subd. 3. Board of directors. The corporation is governed by a board of directors consisting
of:
(1) a member of the governing body of each participating county, appointed by the governing
body;
(2) a member of the governing body of each participating home rule charter or statutory city,
appointed by the governing body;
(3) the president of each participating postsecondary institution;
(4) the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development or an
employee of the department designated by the commissioner; and
(5) other members as may be provided by the bylaws adopted and amended in accordance
with subdivision 4.
The membership terms, compensation, removal, and filling of vacancies of members of the board
are governed by the bylaws of the corporation.
    Subd. 4. Bylaws. The board of directors shall adopt bylaws and publish the bylaws and
amendments to the bylaws in the State Register. The bylaws must provide for financial and other
contributions by participating entities to cover the operation of the corporation.
    Subd. 5. Places of business. The board shall locate and maintain the corporation's places of
business within Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, or Pine County.
    Subd. 6. Meetings and actions of board. (a) The board must meet at least twice a year
and may hold additional meetings upon giving notice in accordance with the bylaws of the
corporation. Except as provided in subdivision 7, board meetings are subject to chapter 13D.
(b) A conference among directors by any means of communication through which the
directors may simultaneously hear each other during the conference constitutes a board meeting if
the number of directors participating in the conference is sufficient to constitute a quorum for the
meeting. Participation in a meeting by that means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
    Subd. 7. Closed meetings; recording. The board of directors may, by a majority vote in
a public meeting, decide to hold a closed meeting for purposes of discussing data described in
subdivision 8 or security information, trade secret information, or labor relations information,
as defined in section 13.37, subdivision 1. The time and place of the closed meeting must be
announced at the public meeting. A written roll of members present at the closed meeting must be
made available to the public after the closed meeting. The proceedings of a closed meeting must
be tape recorded. The data on the tape are nonpublic data or private data on individuals as defined
in section 13.02, subdivision 9 or 12, whichever is applicable.
    Subd. 8. Application and investigative data. Financial data, statistics, and information
furnished to the corporation in connection with assistance or proposed assistance, including credit
reports; financial statements; statements of net worth; income tax returns, either personal or
corporate; and any other business and personal financial records, are private data with regard to
data on individuals under section 13.02, subdivision 12, or nonpublic data with regard to data not
on individuals under section 13.02, subdivision 9.
    Subd. 9. Conflict of interest. A director, employee, or officer of the corporation may not
participate in or vote on a decision of the board relating to an organization in which the director has
either a direct or indirect financial interest or a conflict of interest as described in section 10A.07.
    Subd. 10. Tort claims. The corporation is a state agency for purposes of section 3.736,
except the corporation, not the state, is responsible for paying for any tort liability.
    Subd. 11. Data practices and records management. The corporation is subject to chapter
13 and sections 15.17 and 138.163 to 138.226.
History: 1Sp2001 c 10 art 2 s 54; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1