Upon receipt of such a petition, the state fire marshal shall call the first or organization meeting of the system by giving written notice to the chief of each fire department in the system and may invite private fire departments within the designated area to join in the meeting by giving similar notice to them. Each fire department shall send one delegate to the organization and subsequent meetings and shall be entitled to one vote in all proceedings. The delegate shall be the chief of each fire department or such alternate as he may designate. At the organization meeting, the members of the system shall adopt articles of association and bylaws and regulations for the future government and operation of the system which shall be effective upon submission to and approval by the attorney general, who shall cause them to be recorded by the secretary of state. The system shall be deemed to have been formally established upon that recording. The organization meeting shall also elect a board of directors consisting of such number as they may determine. Delegates and directors need not be residents. The board of directors shall be the governing body of the system and shall serve for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualify. The delegates shall choose from their number the officers of the system, except that a secretary, a treasurer or both may be nondelegates. All officers shall have such duties and powers as the bylaws provide. Within the limits of available funds, the directors may employ and fix the compensation of agents and other necessary personnel, who shall serve at their pleasure and have and exercise such powers and authority as they may delegate to them. (1967, No. 255 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. Feb. 20, 1968; amended 1979, No. 31.)