Chapter 495 of the Acts of 2002 is hereby amended, in section 1, by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

There shall be in Berkshire county, referred to in this act as the county, a public body politic and corporate to be known as the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority, referred to in this act as the authority. The authority shall be managed, controlled and governed by a board of 7 members of which a simple majority shall constitute a quorum. Two members shall be appointed by the Berkshire regional planning commissioner, referred to in this act as the commission, with 1 of those members appointed for an initial term of 1 year and 1 of those members appointed for an initial term of 3 years. Two members shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of Pittsfield, with 1 member appointed for an initial term of 1 year and 1 member appointed for an initial term of 2 years. One member shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of North Adams with an initial term of 1 year. Two members shall be appointed by the director of the department of housing and community development, 1 for an initial term of 2 years, and 1 with an initial term of 3 years. Successors shall be appointed in the same manner and by the same appointing entity for terms of 3 years from the expiration of the terms of the original appointees. The mayor of cities or the board of selectmen of towns in the county may nominate candidates for the authority and make recommendations to the appointing entities. A vacant seat on the authority shall not remain vacant if there is a qualified person nominated for the seat. The authority's membership shall be diverse and represent towns and cities of the county. No more than 2 members of the authority may reside in the same city or town unless no other qualified persons have been nominated. Approval of an authority member shall not be withheld unreasonably.