§1496. Appointment of members of board; term; vacancies

A. The board of commissioners shall consist of five members, except as provided in Paragraph (B)(5) of this Section.

B. In the case of a district comprising all or part of a single parish, members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) In the case where no municipality is included within the boundaries of a district lying within a single parish, the parish governing authority shall appoint the five members. The members so appointed shall elect the chairman of the board.

(2) In the case where one municipality is included within the boundaries of a district lying within a single parish:

(a) Two members shall be appointed by the parish governing authority.

(b) Two members shall be appointed by the governing authority of the municipality; and

(c) One shall be selected by the other four members and shall serve as chairman of the board.

(3) In the case where two municipalities are included within the boundaries of a district lying within a single parish:

(a) The parish governing authority shall appoint two members.

(b) The governing authority of each municipality shall appoint one member; and

(c) One member shall be selected by the other four members and shall serve as chairman of the board.

(4) In any case where three or more municipalities are included within the boundaries of a district lying within a single parish, the parish governing authority shall appoint two members and the governing authority of each municipality shall appoint one member notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A herein. The members so appointed shall elect the chairman of the board.

(5)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Part or any other law to the contrary, the board of commissioners of Caddo Parish Fire District Number Five shall consist of six members. The Caddo Parish Commission shall appoint the additional member of the board of commissioners. The additional member shall serve a term of two years.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Part or any other law to the contrary, the board of commissioners of Caddo Parish Fire District Number One shall consist of seven members. The Caddo Parish governing authority shall appoint the additional members of the board. The parish governing authority shall set the initial terms of the two additional members. Such initial terms shall not exceed two years and shall be set so as to retain an orderly and balanced staggering of terms of commissioners. Thereafter, each member shall serve a term of two years.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section or any other law to the contrary, the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish may, by ordinance, provide that the board of commissioners of the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District shall consist of seven members. An ordinance adopted pursuant to this Subparagraph shall provide that the parish governing authority appoints the two additional members and shall provide for the initial terms of such additional members.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Part or any other law to the contrary, the board of commissioners of Ward 5 Fire Protection District of the Parish of Evangeline may consist of seven members. The parish governing authority shall appoint the additional members of the board.

(e) The board of commissioners of St. Landry Parish Fire District No. 7 shall consist of seven members. The parish governing authority shall appoint the additional members of the board and shall set the initial terms of the two additional members.

C. In districts comprising all or part of two or more parishes, members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) In the case of a district comprising all or part of two or more parishes, but excluding any municipality, the parish governing authority of each such parish shall appoint two members, and the last member, shall be selected by the other four members and shall serve as chairman of the board.

(2) In the case of a district comprising all or part of two or more parishes, and which includes one municipality, the parish governing authority of each such parish shall appoint two members, and the last member shall be selected by the governing authority body of the municipal corporation in the district. The members shall elect the chairman of such board.

(3) In any case where more than one municipality is included within the boundaries of any district, the governing authority of each parish affected shall appoint two members and each municipality shall appoint one member to the board notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A herein. The members so appointed shall elect the chairman of such board.

D.(1) Each member of the board shall be a resident property taxpayer of the district.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to a district that comprises all or part of two or more parishes and in which district there are no resident property taxpayers. Each member of the board of commissioners of such a district shall reside within fifty miles of the district.

E. Two of the initial members of the board shall hold office until one year from the January first immediately succeeding their appointment and three members shall hold office until two years from the January first immediately succeeding their appointment, the respective terms to be determined by lot. Thereafter, each member appointed shall serve for a term of two years. Members are eligible for reappointment. If a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled for the unexpired term by the body originally making the appointment so vacated.

F. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the board of commissioners of Terrebonne Parish Fire Protection District Number Six shall consist of seven members to be appointed as follows provided that the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish and the governing authority of Lafourche Parish have respectively authorized the extension of the boundaries of Terrebonne Parish Fire Protection District Number Six into Lafourche Parish as such an extension is provided for by R.S. 40:1493 and 1494:

(1) Five members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish. Such commissioners shall be electors of the area of Terrebonne Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(2) Two commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority of Lafourche Parish. Such commissioners shall be electors of the area of Lafourche Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(3) The commissioners so appointed shall elect from their number a chairman of the board.

(4) Initial terms of two of the commissioners from Terrebonne Parish and one of the commissioners from Lafourche Parish shall be one year, and the initial terms of the remaining commissioners shall be two years as determined by lot. All subsequent terms of commissioners shall be two years.

G.(1) When four or more municipalities are included within the boundaries of a district lying within the parish of Claiborne, Grant, or Winn, in addition to the membership provided in Paragraph (B)(4) of this Section, the respective parish governing authority may appoint up to three additional members to the board.

(2) Of the additional members appointed pursuant to Paragraph (1), the first initial member shall hold office until one year from the January first immediately succeeding his appointment, the second initial member shall hold office until two years from the January first immediately succeeding his appointment, and the third initial member shall hold office until one year from the January first immediately succeeding his appointment. Thereafter, each additional member appointed shall serve for a term of two years.

H. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the board of commissioners of the Bayou Blue Fire Protection District shall consist of seven members, to be appointed as follows, provided that the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish and the governing authority of Lafourche Parish have respectively authorized the extension of the boundaries of the Bayou Blue Fire Protection District into Lafourche Parish as such an extension is provided for by R.S. 40:1493 and 1494:

(1) Three members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish. Such commissioners shall be electors and resident property taxpayers of the area of Terrebonne Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(2) Four commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority of Lafourche Parish. Such commissioners shall be electors and resident property taxpayers of the area of Lafourche Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(3) The commissioners so appointed shall elect from their number a chairman of the board.

(4) Initial terms of two of the commissioners from Lafourche Parish and one of the commissioners from Terrebonne Parish shall be one year, and the initial terms of the remaining commissioners shall be two years as determined by lot. All subsequent terms of commissioners shall be two years.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, the board of commissioners of the Terrebonne Parish Fire District No. Five shall consist of seven members, to be appointed as follows, provided that the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish and the governing authority of Lafourche Parish have respectively authorized the extension of the boundaries of the Terrebonne Parish Fire District No. Five into Lafourche Parish as such an extension is provided for by R.S. 40:1493 and 1494:

(1) Six members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Terrebonne Parish. Such commissioners shall be electors and resident property taxpayers of the area of Terrebonne Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(2) One commissioner shall be appointed by the governing authority of Lafourche Parish. The commissioner shall be an elector and resident property taxpayer of the area of Lafourche Parish lying within the boundaries of the district.

(3) The commissioners so appointed shall elect from their number a chairman of the board.

(4) Initial terms of four of the commissioners from Terrebonne Parish shall be one year, and the initial terms of the remaining commissioners shall be two years as determined by lot. The term of the Lafourche Parish commissioner and all subsequent terms of any commissioners shall be two years.

Amended by Acts 1975, No. 17, §1; Acts 1981, No. 116, §1, eff. July 3, 1981; Acts 1984, No. 72, §2; Acts 1995, No. 259, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1198, §1; Acts 2001, No. 102, §1, eff. May 24, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 481, §1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 60, §1, eff. June 16, 2005; Acts 2007, No. 88, §1, eff. June 22, 2007; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 12, §1, eff. June 12, 2011; Acts 2011, No. 69, §1; Acts 2013, No. 135, §1; Acts 2013, No. 146, §1; Acts 2018, No. 58, §1.