(A) A five-member Merit Board for the Police Merit Commission shall be established pursuant to the terms of I.C. 36-8-3.5-1 et seq.
(B) The Merit Commission shall adopt rules governing the items referred to in I.C. 36-8-3.5-1 et seq., including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Applications and hiring;
(2) Conduct of police officers;
(3) Performance ratings and evaluations of officers;
(4) Promotions;
(5) Discipline of police officers;
(6) Demotion of police officers;
(7) Dismissal of police officers from the Department;
(8) Due process for all of the above; and
(9) Any appropriate matter added to I.C. 36-8-3.5-1 et seq. by future legislation or any federal or state case law which may govern Police Departments and their administration.
(C) Each commissioner shall serve a four-year term of office with no limitations of terms other than the appointment by the respective appointive body.
(D) The Mayor of the city shall appoint two members (during the initial appointment one shall serve two years and one shall serve four years) who must be of different political parties.
(E) The Police Department shall by its members elect two members (during the initial appointment one shall serve two years and one shall serve four years) who must be of different political parties and not active members of any Police or Fire Department.
(F) The Common Council of the city shall appoint one member for a four-year term.
(G) Within 60 days of adoption of the ordinance codified in this section, the Public Works and Safety Board shall give at least three weeks written notice to all active members of the Police Department that a meeting will be held to approve or reject the merit system.
(H) The notice shall be personally delivered to all active police officers and accompanied by a copy of this section and a full copy of I.C. 36-8-3.5-1 et seq. at least one week prior to the meeting.
(I) At the meeting, each active police officer shall have the right of secret written ballot.
(J) Any active police officer on duty for the public safety at the time of the meting shall have an opportunity to cast his or her vote prior to the meeting.
(K) The merit system shall take effect January 1 following the vote and Commissioners shall be appointed by March 1 of that year.
(L) The Commission shall elect a President, Vice President and Secretary and shall record all proceedings.
(M) The minutes of all meetings shall be kept in written form and signed by the members present and voting.
(N) This section hereby incorporates all other aspects and components of I.C. 36-8-3.5-1 et seq.
(Ord. 2007-OR-15, passed 12-3-2007)