A. When a housing authority is authorized to transact business and exercise powers hereunder, five (5) persons shall be appointed as commissioners of the authority as follows:

1. In the case of a city, by the mayor with the advice and consent of the governing body; or

2. In the case of a county, by the board of county commissioners, and at least one of the persons so appointed shall be a tenant in a housing project under the jurisdiction of such authority. The term of office of each commissioner shall be for three (3) years, except that of the commissioners first appointed one shall serve for a term of one (1) year and two shall serve for terms of two (2) years. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. Each commissioner shall qualify by taking the official oath of office prescribed by statute or ordinance for elected officials of the county or city, as the case may be.

B. A commissioner shall receive no compensation for his services, but may be entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of his duties or, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, receive a per diem payment of not to exceed Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) plus mileage as provided by the State Travel Reimbursement Act, Section 500.1 et seq. of Title 74, for expenses incurred in attending meetings of the housing authority. An Indian housing authority or the tribal government the authority serves may elect to set a different monetary amount for per diem and mileage payments than specified in this subsection for the commissioners of that Indian housing authority. Each commissioner shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and qualified. A certificate of appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the authority and this certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of the commissioner.

C. The powers of each authority shall be vested in the commissioners thereof in office from time to time. A majority of the commissioners of an authority shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies. Action may be taken by the authority upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws of the authority shall require a larger number. Meetings of the commissioners of an authority may be held anywhere within the area of operation of the authority or within any additional area in which the authority is authorized to undertake a project. Such meetings shall be held pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meeting Act, Section 301 et seq. of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

D. The commissioners of an authority shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among the commissioners. An authority may employ an executive director, legal and technical experts and such other officers, agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. An authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such powers or duties as it may deem proper.

Added by Laws 1965, c. 251, § 8, emerg. eff. June 18, 1965. Amended by Laws 1967, c. 339, § 3; Laws 1974, c. 97, § 1; Laws 1977, c. 254, § 1; Laws 1982, c. 305, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 1982; Laws 1987, c. 34, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1987; Laws 2008, c. 62, § 2, emerg. eff. April 21, 2008.