§4564. Board of commissioners; appointment and tenure; organization; secretary-treasurer; compensation

A. Any recreation district created under the provisions of R.S. 33:4562 shall be governed by a board of five commissioners who shall be qualified voters and residents of the area covered by the district. The members of the board shall be appointed by the police jury of the parish or parishes involved and where one or more municipalities have, through their respective governing bodies, agreed to be included in the recreation district created by the police jury at least one of said members of the board shall be a qualified voter and resident of each such municipality.

The five commissioners initially appointed shall be appointed for terms of one, two, three, four and five years, respectively, and they shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. All commissioners thereafter appointed at the expiration of such respective terms shall be appointed by the police jury or police juries for terms of five years. Any vacancy which otherwise occurs shall be filled by appointment of the police jury or police juries for the unexpired term. In making such appointments due regard shall be had for the requirement that the board of commissioners shall include at least one qualified voter and resident of each municipality which has been included in the district by consent of its governing authority.

B. The board of commissioners shall elect one of its members chairman and one vice-chairman at its first meeting. Special meetings may be held at such time and place as specified by the call of the chairman of the board or by resolution of the board of commissioners. The board of commissioners shall also select one person as secretary-treasurer who shall not be a member of the board but shall be a qualified voter and resident of the district. He shall furnish such bond as may be required by the board of commissioners. The premium on the bond shall be paid out of funds of the district. The secretary-treasurer shall receive such salary and office expense allowance, if any, as shall be fixed and determined by the board of commissioners. He shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The members of the board of commissioners shall each receive a per diem of ten dollars for each meeting they attend, but shall not be paid for more than twelve meetings in each year. Such per diem shall be paid out of the funds of the district.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, two additional members may be appointed to the board of commissioners by the parish governing authority for an initial term as determined by the appointing authority not to exceed seven years, and they shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. All other provisions of law relative to members of the board shall apply to the additional commissioners.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, each commissioner of a recreational district in the parishes of Tangipahoa and Terrebonne shall receive a per diem of twenty-five dollars.

Acts 1954, No. 542, §§3, 4. Amended by Acts 1956, No. 456, §1; Acts 1980, No. 560, §1, eff. July 23, 1980; Acts 2008, No. 897, §1; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 20, §1, eff. June 12, 2011.