The number of trustees from each unit of local government shall be in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the number of residents of the Agency who reside in that unit of local government in relation to the total population of the Agency. Thereafter, each trustee shall be succeeded by a resident of the same unit of local government and shall be appointed by the same appointing authority. The appropriate appointing authorities shall appoint 5 trustees of the Agency within 60 days after the entry of the order establishing the Agency. The trustees shall be electors in one of the units of local government of the Agency, provided that the Board shall consist of at least one trustee from each unit of local government, subject to the intergovernmental agreement, within the Regional Fire Protection Agency. The trustees shall hold the terms of office and shall have the powers and qualifications that are provided for trustees under Section 4 of the Fire Protection District Act.
In the event of a conflict between the terms of the intergovernmental agreement and the powers of the trustees otherwise provided by law, the terms of the intergovernmental agreement shall prevail and supersede.
Upon taking office, the fire chief of the Agency shall command all operations of the unified service area of the Agency. The District shall become a body politic and corporate with all the powers, rights, duties, and obligations vested in it under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement and as otherwise provided under the provisions of this Act.
An Agency consisting of any fire department that employs full-time officers or members shall be subject to Sections 16.01 through 16.18 of the Fire Protection District Act unless the terms of the intergovernmental agreement agreed to by the included units of local government and included collective bargaining unit agents representing employees engaged in providing fire protection or emergency medical services, or both, within the Agency's service area provide otherwise.
50 ILCS 741/45