§130.292. Board of commissioners; members, officers; agents and employees

A.(1) The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting of seven members selected as set out herein. All members shall be citizens of the United States and qualified voters and taxpayers within the limits of the district during their term of office.

(2)(a) Two members shall be appointed by the governor from a list of four nominees submitted to the governor by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury.

(b) One member shall be appointed by the governor from a list of two nominees submitted by the governing authority of the city of Ruston.

(c) One member shall be appointed by the governor from a list of two nominees submitted by the Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce.

(d) Two members shall be appointed by the governor from a list of four nominees submitted by the Ruston-Lincoln Development Corporation.

(e) One member shall be appointed by the governor from a list of two nominees; one nominee shall be submitted by Grambling State University and one nominee shall be submitted by Louisiana Tech University.

(3) Of the initial appointments the following terms of office shall apply:

(a) The members selected to represent the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, the city of Ruston, and the Lincoln Parish Chamber of Commerce shall be appointed to serve two years.

(b) The members selected to represent Ruston-Lincoln Industrial Development District, and those selected from nominees submitted by Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University shall be appointed to serve three years.

(4) At the termination of these initial terms of office, each term thereafter shall be for three years.

(5) After the original term of office has been served by the two members nominated by the Ruston-Lincoln Development Corporation, the board of commissioners of the Ruston-Lincoln Industrial Development District shall thereafter submit a list of four nominees to the governor for appointment, in lieu of the Ruston-Lincoln Development Corporation.

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 by the governor consistent with the original appointment procedure, provided that within thirty days of receipt by the nominating entity of written notification of the vacancy, such nominating entity submits to the governor a list of nominees for the vacancy. In the event that the entity responsible for the nomination of such member fails to provide the governor with a list of nominees for each such vacancy to be filled within thirty days of such vacancy, the board of commissioners shall appoint an interim successor to serve until the position is filled by the governor as provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section.

C. Any member of the board of commissioners may be removed by the entity that originally nominated him or by the governor, but only for cause and on charges preferred against him in writing and after public hearing; provided that any member so removed shall have the right to appeal his removal to a court of competent jurisdiction within ten days of the decision of the governor or of the nominating entity ordering his removal.

D. The members of the board of commissioners shall serve without per diem or other 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 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.

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

G. 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.

H. The board of commissioners shall meet in regular session once each month and shall also meet in special session when the president of the board convenes them or on the written request of four members. No more than twelve special sessions may be called within any one calendar year. Four members of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum.

I. The board of commissioners shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings, shall maintain suitable offices in the parish of Lincoln, 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.

Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 16, §1.