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

A.(1) The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting of eleven members selected as provided for in this Section. All members shall be qualified voters and taxpayers within the limits of the district during their term of office. On and after January 1, 2018, members of the board of commissioners shall be nominated by the board of commissioners and submitted to the council of St. Tammany Parish for approval. Commissioners shall serve three-year terms of office, except in the case of any shorter initial terms. Initial terms shall be staggered for the periods indicated as follows:

(a) Four members shall serve three-year initial terms.

(b) Four members shall serve two-year initial terms.

(c) Three members shall serve one-year initial terms.

(2)(a) The nominating committee of the board of commissioners shall consist of the board president and vice president, the district executive director, the president of St. Tammany Parish, and a member of a regional board or commission selected by the president of St. Tammany Parish. The nominating committee shall submit its slate of nominees to the board of commissioners for approval. Once a slate of nominees is approved by the board, it shall be forwarded to the council of St. Tammany Parish.

(b) The initial slate of nominees shall be nominated by the members of the nominating committee and board of commissioners on or before December 31, 2017. For continuity, both the initial nominations and initial approved nominees shall include at least two members of the board of commissioners as of December 31, 2017.

(c) The council of St. Tammany Parish may approve or disapprove any nominee. The board of commissioners shall submit new nominees for any individual nominees that are not approved.

(d) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board of commissioners has been appointed shall be filled pursuant to the same nomination and approval process set forth in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

B. The members of the board of commissioners shall not receive per diem or be paid a salary for serving on the board. No members of the board of commissioners shall be appointed to serve for more than two successive three-year terms.

C. Members of the board, individually, and members of their immediate family are prohibited from bidding on or entering into any contract, subcontract, or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the district.

D. Elected officials are prohibited from serving on the board of commissioners.

E. The board of commissioners shall elect from among its own members a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer, whose duties shall be those usual to such offices. At the option of the board of commissioners, the offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person.

F. The board of commissioners shall meet in regular session every month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes them or on the written request of four members. Six members of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum.

G. The board of commissioners shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings. The board of commissioners may contract with or employ attorneys, clerks, engineers, deputy commissioners, an executive director, and other agents and employees and shall fix their compensation and terms of employment.

H. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 42:1111, 1112, 1113, and 1120.4, a member of the board of commissioners who is appointed or who serves pursuant to Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section who is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation may serve on the board of commissioners and may participate and vote on matters involving the district and the foundation as authorized by R.S. 33:130.403(22).

Acts 1992, No. 995, §1; Acts 2003, No. 835, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2012, No. 336, §1; Acts 2014, No. 611, §1, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 242, See Act.

NOTE: See Acts 2014, No. 611, §2 regarding retroactive effect of Subsection D as amended by the Act and Subsection H as enacted by the Act.