(A) Creation of board. Under the provisions of IC 36-10-3, there is hereby created a Parks and Recreation Board for the City of Connersville, Indiana.
(B) Membership. The Parks and Recreation Board shall be composed of four members appointed by the mayor. The members shall be appointed on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation.
(C) Terms.
(1) (a) Initial appointments to the board are as follows:
1. One member shall be appointed for a term of one year.
2. One member shall be appointed for a term of two years.
3. One member shall be appointed for a term of three years.
4. One member shall be appointed for a term of four years.
(b) As a term expires, each new appointment is for a four-year term. All terms expire on the first Monday in January, but a member shall continue in office until his or her successor is appointed.
(2) The Mayor shall make initial appointments within 90 days after the creation of the board.
(3) If an appointment for any term is not made by the first Monday in April, the incumbent shall serve another term.
(4) If a vacancy on the board occurs, the Mayor shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(D) Ex officio membership.
(1) In addition, the Parks and Recreation Board shall have two ex officio members as follows:
(a) One member of the governing body of the school corporation selected by that body for a four-year term.
(b) One member of the governing body of the library district selected by that body for a four- year term.
(2) As a term expires, each new ex officio appointment is for a four-year term. All terms expire on the first Monday in January, but a member shall continue in office until his or her successor is appointed.
(3) The governing body shall make initial ex officio member appointments within 90 days after creation of the board.
(4) If an appointment for any new term is not made by the first Monday in April, the incumbent shall serve another term.
(5) If an ex officio member vacancy occurs, the governing body shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(6) Ex officio members shall have all the rights of regular members, including the right to vote.
(E) At its first regular meeting each year, the board shall elect a president and vice president. The vice president may act as president during the absence or disability of the president. The board may elect a secretary either from within or outside its membership.
(F) Removal of members for cause. A member may be removed only for cause, upon specific written charges filed against him or her. The charges shall be filed with and heard by the appointing authority, unless the appointing authority is bringing the charges. If the appointing authority is bringing the charges, the unit’s fiscal body shall appoint a hearing officer. The person to hear the charges shall fix a date for a pubic hearing and give public notice at least 10 days in advance of the hearing. At the hearing the member is entitled to present evidence and argument and to be represented by counsel.
(G) Regular and special meetings; election of officers; quorum.
(1) All meeting of the board are open to the public. The board shall fix the time and place of its regular meetings, but it shall meet at least quarterly.
(2) Special meetings of the board may be called by the president or by any two members by written request to the secretary. The secretary shall send to each member, at least two days before a special meeting, a written notice fixing the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. Written notice of a special meeting is not required if the time of the special meeting is fixed at a regular meeting or if all members are present at the special meeting,
(3) At its regular meeting each year the board shall elect a president and a vice president. The vice president may act as president during the absence or disability of the president. The board may select a secretary either from within or outside its membership.
(4) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum. Action of the board is not official unless it is authorized by at least three members present and acting.
(H) Compensation; attendance at conferences; per diem allowance; offices.
(1) The members of the board may receive a salary in an amount fixed by the fiscal body.
(2) If the board determines that members or employees should attend a state, regional, or national conference dealing with park and recreation problems, the board may authorize the payment of the actual expenses involved in attending the conference. However, the amount must be available as part of the board’s appropriation.
(3) A fiscal body may appropriate and approve a per diem allowance to a member of a board for attending a meeting of the board.
(4) The city shall provide suitable quarters for holding meetings and conducting the work of the board.
(I) Powers and duties of board.
(1) The board shall:
(a) Exercise general supervision of and make rules for the department;
(b) Establish rules governing the use of the park and recreation facilities by the public;
(c) Provide police protection for its property and activities, either by requesting assistance from state, municipal, or county police authorities, or by having specified employees deputized as police officers; the deputized employees, however, are not eligible for police pension benefits or other emoluments of police officers;
(d) Appoint the necessary administrative officers of the department and fix their duties;
(e) Establish standards and qualifications for the appointment of all personnel and approve their appointments without regard to politics;
(f) Make recommendations and an annual report to the executive and fiscal body of the unit concerning the operation of the board and the status of park and recreation programs in the district;
(g) Prepare and submit an annual budget in the same manner as other executive departments of the unit; and
(h) Appoint a member of the board to serve on another kind of board or commission, whenever a statute allows a park or recreation board to do this.
(2) In a municipality, the board shall fix the compensation of officers and personnel appointed under divisions (I)(1)(d) and (I)(1)(e) above, subject to IC 36-4-7-5 and IC 36-4-7-6.
(J) The board shall have the power to perform all acts necessary to acquire and develop sites and facilities and to conduct such programs as are generally understood to be parks and recreation functions. In addition, the board shall have all the powers listed in IC 36-10-3 et seq.
(K) The board shall prepare and submit an annual budget in the same manner as other departments of city government as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts. The board may accept gifts, donations, and subsidies for parks and recreation purposes.
(Ord. 6285, passed 2-1-16; Am. Ord. 6604, passed 12-2-19)