(a) There is created the Barbour County Personnel Board. The personnel board shall be composed of five persons. The board members shall be registered voters and residents of the county. No member of the board, while a member of the board or for a period of one year after he or she ceases to be a member, may be eligible for appointment to, or election to, any county elective office. Two members shall be appointed to the board by a consensus of the county commission. Two members shall be elected to the board by vote of the classified employees of the county in an election conducted pursuant to election procedures and regulations promulgated and administered by the judge of probate of the county. The election procedures and regulations shall provide for nominations and balloting. One member shall be appointed by agreement of the appointed members and the elected members. The county employees shall vote for two personnel board members from a list of persons recommended by the county classified employees. Each eligible employee shall be given the opportunity to vote for two persons to serve as the employee representatives on the personnel board. The individuals receiving the greatest number of votes shall be the employee personnel board members.

(b) No person who holds an elected county office, or who is a candidate for an elected county office, or receives a salary from the county shall serve on the board. The term of a board member shall be terminated if he or she is no longer eligible for membership on the board. When a board seat is vacated, the group which initially appointed or elected a board member shall, in like manner, appoint or elect another board member, as soon as possible. The replacement member shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) Each member of the board shall serve a three-year term with the exception of the initial members of the board. The initial members shall draw lots to determine the two members who shall serve for three years, the two members who shall serve for two years, and the member who shall serve for one year. Members may be reappointed or reelected so as to serve a total of no more than two complete terms.

(d) The county commission may provide all necessary clerical and administrative support for the board. The commission may employ an individual or designate an existing employee to provide the support.

(e) The board shall meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the board. Each year, after advertisement in each newspaper published in Barbour County for three consecutive weeks, the members of the board shall select a member to serve as chairperson for 12 months. This meeting shall be an open and public meeting. The board members may be compensated for their services as provided, from time to time, by the county commission. Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.