§ 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.