§130.362. 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" which shall be composed of seven members as follows:

(a) The president of the Beauregard Parish Police Jury.

(b) The mayor of DeRidder or designee.

(c) The mayor of Merryville or designee.

(d) One member appointed by the Beauregard Parish Airport Board.

(e) The three remaining members, at least two of whom shall reside outside the corporate limits of the municipalities of DeRidder and Merryville, shall be appointed by the Beauregard Parish Police Jury.

(2) In addition to the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the board shall be composed and shall operate under the following provisions:

(a) Each member of the board shall be a registered voter in Beauregard Parish during his term of office.

(b) The manager of the Beauregard Parish Airport shall serve in an advisory capacity to the board.

B. In the event that the member's position on the board should become vacant by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, the successor member shall be appointed in the same manner as the original member within thirty days of the appointing entity's receipt of written notification of the vacancy. In the event that the entity responsible for the appointment of such member fails to fill the vacancy within thirty days of the vacancy, the police jury shall appoint an interim successor to serve on the board until the position is filled by the party responsible therefor.

C. The appointed members shall serve overlapping terms as follows: the member appointed by the airport board and one member appointed by the police jury shall be appointed for an initial term of three years, one member appointed by the police jury shall be appointed for an initial term of two years, and the final member appointed by the police jury shall serve an initial term of one year. The initial term of each appointee of the police jury shall be determined by lot. At the expiration of their respective terms, successors shall be appointed for a term of four years.

D. Any member of the board may be removed by a majority vote of the board, 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 ordering his removal.

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

F. The members shall elect from the membership 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, the offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by one person. No member shall be elected to serve for more than two successive terms in any office. The board 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 written request of four members. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum; however, no action of the board shall be authorized unless approved by a majority of four votes in an open public meeting. The board shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings. The district and its board shall be domiciled in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana and shall maintain suitable offices in said parish.

Acts 1999, No. 36, §1.