§130.562. Board of commissioners; members; officers; agents and employees; quarterly report

A.(1) The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting of fifteen members appointed as follows:

(a) Five members appointed by the Vermilion Parish Police Jury.

(b) One member appointed by the Vermilion Parish Sheriff.

(c) One member appointed by the Greater Abbeville-Vermilion Chamber of Commerce.

(d) One member appointed by the Vermilion Parish School Board.

(e) One member appointed by the Abbeville Harbor and Terminal District.

(f) Six members appointed by the governing authorities of Abbeville, Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice. Each governing authority shall appoint one member.

(2) Such appointments shall be of individuals with experience in any of the various economic sectors of Vermilion Parish.

(3) The term of office for all members shall be four years.

(4) The board shall be representative of the parish's population by race and ethnicity to ensure diversity.

B. Any vacancy in the membership of the board of commissioners, occurring either by reason of the expiration of the term for which appointed or by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. In the event that the entity responsible for the appointment of a member fails to fill a vacancy within thirty days of such vacancy, the board of commissioners shall appoint an interim successor to serve until the position is filled by the appointing entity.

C. Any member of the board of commissioners may be removed by the entity that originally appointed him for cause.

D. The members of the board of commissioners shall serve without compensation. The board of commissioners shall have the power to organize and reorganize executive, clerical, and other departments and to fix the duties and powers and compensation of all officers, agents, and employees of the district. The board of commissioners may reimburse any member for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his duties hereunder.

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

F. 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.

G. The board of commissioners shall meet in regular session once each month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes them or on the written request of eight members. Eight members of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum.

H. The board of commissioners shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings, shall maintain suitable offices in the parish of Vermilion, and may contract with and employ attorneys, clerks, engineers, deputy commissioners, superintendents, and other agents and employees and shall fix their compensation and terms of employment.

I. Three months following an election held pursuant to R.S. 33:130.565(A), and quarterly thereafter, the board of commissioners shall submit a report to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury on the status of economic development in Vermilion Parish, including any actions taken by the board to advance the district's overall objectives. Copies of the report shall be furnished to the governing bodies of Abbeville, Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, and Maurice.

Acts 2001, No. 719, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 787, §1; Acts 2015, No. 282, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 2015, No. 282, §2, regarding terms of board members.