Section 45. Vacancies and removals

A vacancy occurring other then by reason
  of the expiration of the term of a member of the Utica transit authority
  shall  be  filled  for  the  unexpired  term.  The governing body of the
  municipality or when two or more municipalities are acting jointly,  the
  governing  bodies  thereof  jointly  may  remove  a  member of the Utica
  transit authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty,  or  misconduct  in
  office  but  only  after  the member shall have been given a copy of the
  charges against him and an opportunity to  be  heard  in  person  or  by
  counsel in his own defense at a public hearing. In the event of removal,
  the  governing body of such municipality or the governing bodies of such
  municipalities, as the case may be, shall file with the  commissioner  a
  record  of  the  proceedings  together  with  a copy of the charges made
  against the members and its findings thereon, pending the  determination
  of  charges against a member, the governing body of such municipality or
  the governing bodies of such municipalities, as the  case  may  be,  may
  suspend him from office.