(A) As used in sections 306.30 to 306.71 of the Revised Code, “township” means either of the following:

(1) An entire township;

(2) Township territory that is designated as a township under division (B) of this section for the purpose of joining a regional transit authority.

(B) A board of township trustees may adopt a resolution designating as a township, for the purpose of joining a regional transit authority, territory consisting of contiguous whole election precincts that make up less than the entire unincorporated area of the township, provided that none of the territory is already part of a regional transit authority. The resolution shall specify the precinct numbers of the precincts that make up the territory. Upon adopting such a resolution, the board of township trustees shall take appropriate action under section 306.32 or 306.321 of the Revised Code to enable the territory consisting of those precincts to become part of a contiguous regional transit authority.

(C) The right to initiate proceedings to join a regional transit authority in accordance with this section shall terminate after June 30, 1986, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any portion of a township that has acted under this section prior to that date of the power to take any action necessary to continue in the regional transit authority.