§140.72. Board of commissioners; members; officers; agents; employees

A.(1) The district shall be governed by a board of commissioners consisting of the following members:

(a) Two members appointed by the governing authority of each parish.

(b) One member shall be appointed jointly by the parishes from within the district to serve at large.

(2) 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.

(3) The terms of office of the initial appointments shall be staggered with one, two, and three-year terms. They shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.

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

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 appointing authority consistent with the original appointment procedure. In the event that the entity responsible for making the appointment fails to appoint a new member within thirty days of such vacancy, the board of commissioners shall appoint an interim successor to serve until the position is filled as provided in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section.

C. Any member of the board of commissioners may be removed by the entity that originally appointed him, 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 appointing entity ordering his removal.

D. The members of the board of commissioners shall receive a per diem as may be authorized by the appointing authority. 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 every other month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes them or on the written request of four members. A majority of the members of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum.

I. The board of commissioners shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings, shall hold meetings in the city and parish as may be designated by the board, 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 2004, No. 435, §1, eff. June 24, 2004.