The terms of office of the members and alternates of the council shall be three years, except as provided in this section. The first appointments made under this chapter shall be so made that the terms of six members and their alternates shall expire at the end of one year, six members and their alternates shall expire at the end of two years, and seven members and their alternates shall expire at the end of three years. However, the terms of the first members and alternates appointed from slaughterers pursuant to amendments made to this section during the 1973 portion of the 1973–74 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be for three years.
Any vacancy which occurs during the unexpired term shall be filled by the director for the unexpired term from the eligible nominees. No council member or alternate shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Service as an alternate does not disqualify a person to then serve two such terms as a member, and a member who was appointed for a one- or two-year term may serve two additional three-year terms.
The director may remove any member of the council or alternate for cause and upon such removal there is a vacancy which shall be filled in the manner as provided for the unexpired term.