108B-26. Organization and authority.

(a) Agencies, as provided in G.S. 108B-24 shall have or be required to establish a governing board of directors which shall consist of not less than 15 nor more than 51 members. One-third of the members shall be low-income, elderly, or handicapped consumers residing in the service area of the agency. Consumer representatives shall be selected through a democratic process pursuant to guidelines established by the Department. Not less than one-third of the members of the board shall be appointed by the chief elected officials in the service area. The remaining positions on the board, if any, shall be filled by officials or members of business, industry, labor, religious, welfare, education, or civic organizations located in the service area.

(b) The board of directors shall be responsible for all of the following:

(1) The appointment and dismissal of an executive director.

(2) The approval of contracts, budgets, requests, and major modifications of budgets and contracts.

(3) The performance of an annual audit by certified public accountants to include all assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenditures.

(4) The establishment of policies for the operation of the agency.

(5) Annually advising the chief elected officials of the units of local government within the service area of the nature and extent of poverty within the area. Included in this annual report will be an assessment of the community action agency policies and programs and their impact on the problems of poverty in the service area.

(6) The convening of public meetings to provide low-income and other persons the opportunity to comment upon public policies and programs to reduce poverty.