(A) The Boone County Deputy Sheriff Merit Board (hereafter, Merit Board or Board) is hereby created and charged with the duty of holding hearings, public and executive, in disciplinary matters concerning deputy sheriffs consistent with the duties and limitations set forth in this subchapter and KRS 70.260 to 70.273.
(B) The reasonable and necessary expenses of the Merit Board, including the funds necessary to retain an attorney to advise the Board on legal matters, shall be paid out of the fees and commissions collected by the Sheriff. If the fees and commissions are not sufficient to pay the expenses of the Board and the other expenses authorized by statute to be paid from these fees and commissions, the Sheriff may negotiate with the Fiscal Court to determine a method of paying all or part of the expenses of the Board.
(C) The Merit Board shall consist of five members, two members appointed by the Boone County Judge/Executive with approval by the Fiscal Court, two members appointed by the Boone County Sheriff, and one member elected by the deputy sheriffs of Boone County. Each Board appointee shall be at least 30 years of age and a resident of the county. No person shall serve on the Board who is a deputy sheriff or who holds any elected public office. No person shall be appointed to the Board who is a member of the immediate family of the Boone County Sheriff, which, for the purposes of this subchapter, means the Sheriff's father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law. The members of the Board shall not receive a salary but shall receive reimbursement for necessary expenses upon submission of proper receipts or documentation for all such expenses.
(D) All appointments shall be for two years, and any vacancies shall be filled in the same manner in which the departing Board member was appointed or elected.
(E) The Merit Board shall elect a chairman from its membership and keep an accurate record of its proceedings.
(F) The Merit Board shall meet when a disciplinary matter concerning a deputy sheriff is brought to its attention or at other times at the discretion of the Board, upon notification of its members.
(G) Three members shall constitute a quorum in all matters which may come before the Merit Board.
(Ord. 09-98-02, passed 9-29-98)