§130.353. Board of commissioners; members; officers; employees

A. The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners, hereinafter referred to as the "board", consisting of ten members appointed as follows:

(1) Three members appointed by the Rapides Parish Police Jury.

(2) Three members appointed by the mayor of the city of Alexandria, and confirmed by the city council.

(3) One member appointed by the mayor of the city of Pineville, and confirmed by the board of aldermen.

(4) One member appointed by a majority of the remaining incorporated municipalities in Rapides Parish, based upon resolutions approved by the respective boards of aldermen.

(5) Two members nominated by the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Central Louisiana, and appointed by resolutions duly adopted by majority votes of the Rapides Parish Police Jury and Alexandria City Council.

B. Each member appointed to the board shall be a citizen of the United States and domiciliary and qualified voter in Rapides Parish for at least one year preceding the date of his appointment, and during the entirety of his term of office. Preferably such appointees shall be individuals with at least five years experience in one or more of the following areas:

(1) Economic development.

(2) Public finance or administration.

(3) Senior level management.

(4) Urban planning.

(5) Banking or finance.

(6) Public relations.

(7) Education.

(8) Practice of law, medicine, or other licensed profession.

(9) Construction.

(10) Realtor, appraiser, or commercial developer.

(11) Aviation.

(12) Labor.

C. Except as hereinafter provided, the term of office of members of the board shall be four years. All initial appointees shall serve four year terms, except the following, who shall serve initial two year terms:

(1) One nominee of the Chamber of Commerce of Central Louisiana.

(2) Two appointees of the Rapides Parish Police Jury, other than the second chamber of commerce nominee.

(3) Two appointees of the city of Alexandria, other than the second chamber of commerce nominee.

D. Any member who misses fifty percent of the board's meetings, regular and special, in any calendar year shall be disqualified and removed automatically from office and that person's position shall be vacant, as of the first day of the succeeding calendar year. Such vacated position shall be filled by the respective nominating entity for the balance of the vacated term. The former member shall not be eligible for reappointment until expiration of the balance of the vacated term.

E. Any vacancy in the membership of the board occurring by reason of the expiration of the term of office, or by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, or otherwise, shall be filled by the respective nominating entity within thirty days after receipt by such party of written notification of the vacancy. In the event that the respective nominating entity fails to fill the vacancy within thirty days after receipt of written notification of the vacancy, the board shall appoint an interim successor to serve on the board until the position is filled by the respective nominating entity responsible for the appointment of such member. If the board fails to fill a vacancy in its membership within such thirty day period, the Rapides Parish Police Jury, city of Alexandria and city of Pineville, by resolutions adopted by a majority thereof, shall appoint an interim successor to serve on the board until the position is filled by the respective nominating entity responsible for the appointment of such member.

F. Members of the board shall serve without compensation, shall have the power to organize and reorganize the executive, administrative, clerical and other departments and forces of the district, and to fix the duties, powers, and compensation of all employees, agents, and consultants of the district. The board may reimburse any member for expenses actually incurred with the authorization of the board in the performance of his duties on behalf of the district.

G. The board shall elect yearly from its number, a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer and establish their duties as may be regulated by laws adopted by the board. The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person. The board shall meet in regular session once each month, and also shall meet in special session as convened by the president, or upon written notice of six members. A majority of the commission members, not including vacancies, shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the board shall be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting. However, no action of the board shall be authorized on the following matters unless approved by a majority of the total board membership:

(1) Adoption of bylaws, and other rules and regulations for conduct of the district's business.

(2) Hiring or firing of the district's administrator.

(3) The incurring of funded, general, or bonded debt, levy of taxes, and call for any tax or other election.

(4) Adoption or amendment of the annual budget.

(5) Sale, lease, or alienation of real property or improvements.

H. Vote by proxy shall not be permitted. Any member may request a recorded vote on any resolution or action of the district.

I. The board shall cause minutes and a record to be kept of all its proceedings, and it shall select a newspaper of general circulation within its territorial jurisdiction as its official journal in which it shall publish its minutes, and in which it shall publish such official notices as are required by law.

Acts 1991, No. 142, §1, eff. June 30, 1991.