(a) This section applies only to an authority in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 320,000.
(b) The mayor of a municipality who is unable to attend a meeting of an appointments panel may designate a person to:
(1) represent the municipality at the meeting; and
(2) vote at the meeting.
(c) To be eligible to be designated under Subsection (b), a person must be a council member, alderman, commissioner, or other officer of the municipality.
(d) A designation under Subsection (b) must:
(1) be in writing;
(2) be signed by the mayor; and
(3) be filed with the minutes of the appointments panel kept by the authority.