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

A.(1) In order for the development and effectuation of the services to be furnished by the district and to provide for the representation in the affairs of the district of those persons and interests immediately concerned with and affected by the purposes and development of the district, there is hereby authorized to be created a board of commissioners for the district, hereinafter referred to as the "board".

(2) All commissioners shall be qualified voters and taxpayers within the limits of the district during their term of office and shall reside in St. Landry Parish or within an adjoining parish. In making appointments to the commission, the appointing authorities shall make every effort within the law to provide for racial and gender diversity among commissioners and shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the racial proportion of the appointees reflects the same racial proportion of St. Landry Parish.

(3) The commissioners of the board shall be determined as follows:

(a) The St. Landry Parish Council shall, as a collective body, appoint nine commissioners.

(b) The St. Landry Parish Municipal Association shall, as a collective body, appoint eight commissioners.

B. The power and authority to appoint commissioners shall not be construed to confer on the St. Landry Parish Municipal Association or the police jury of St. Landry Parish any direction, control, or other influence over the district or board not specifically provided herein or otherwise provided by law. Furthermore, current members of the St. Landry Parish Municipal Association and of the St. Landry Parish Council may not serve as commissioners.

C. At the inception of the board, the commissioners of the board shall be selected from current commissioners of boards and advisor boards of the St. Landry Parish Economic Inducement District, the St. Landry Parish Economic and Industrial Development District, and the St. Landry Parish Industrial District. Upon appointment these commissioners initially appointed shall divide themselves by lot or similar random procedure into three groups. One group shall be comprised of five commissioners and shall serve a single one year term; one group shall be comprised of six commissioners and shall serve a single two year term; and one group shall be comprised of six commissioners and shall serve a single three year term. Thereafter, all commissioners appointed to the board, not to fill a vacancy, shall serve three year terms. Upon expiration of the terms of sitting commissioners, a new board shall be appointed as provided in Subsection A. Existing commissioners may be reappointed in accordance with Subsection A of this Section by the appropriate appointing agencies provided in Subparagraphs (A)(3)(a) and (b). The sitting commissioners shall make all necessary provisions to ensure an orderly and timely transfer of authority to the incoming board.

D. The sitting members of the board shall fill any vacancy not caused by the normal expiration of a commissioner's term within forty-five days by appointing an interim board member who shall serve the remaining term of the vacating commissioner. A commissioner appointed in an interim capacity shall, upon the expiration of his interim term, be eligible for reappointment.

E. Each member of the board may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of his duties thereunder, provided such duties are authorized and approved by the board. No board member shall be paid a salary for serving on the board.

F.(1) The board shall elect from among its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer whose duties shall be those usual to such offices.

(2)(a) The board of commissioners may annually elect an executive committee from the board of commissioners consisting of up to seven commissioners. The executive committee shall be the elected officers plus three other persons selected from the board of commissioners.

(b) The executive committee shall exercise all powers of the board of commissioners between meetings including budget expenditures. A report shall be made to the full board of commissioners at least every ninety days.

(c) A quorum of the executive committee shall be a simple majority of the executive committee.

(d) The executive committee shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified.

G. The board or the executive committee shall meet in regular session every month and shall also meet in special session as often as the chairman of the board convenes them or on the written request of a majority of the commissioners. The board of commissioners shall have a minimum of one meeting every three months. Any commissioner shall be entitled to attend any other meeting of the executive committee meeting. Ten or more members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business of the board of commissioners. Each member may be represented at any meeting by an alternate person designated by the appointing authority or by the commission if the appointing authority fails to so designate a person.

H. The board shall prescribe rules and bylaws to govern its meetings and activities. The board may amend or repeal its rules.

I. Commissioners and members of their immediate family and employees of the district are prohibited from bidding on or entering into any contract, or other transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the district. If any commissioner or employee of the district owns or controls any interest, direct or indirect, in any property later included in any project under the jurisdiction of the district or has interest in any contract for materials or services to be furnished or used in connection with any project, he shall disclose the same in writing to the board. Failure to disclose shall constitute misconduct in office. After disclosure a commissioner shall not vote on any issue or expenditure of funds relating to such property or interest.

J. A commissioner may be removed from office for just cause, but only after the commissioner has been given a copy of the charges against him and has had an opportunity to be heard in person by counsel before the board.

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

Acts 1997, No. 1366, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2008, No. 525, §1; Acts 2010, No. 426, §1.