(A) Under the provisions of Acts 1981, P.L. 309, SEC 110, (I.C. 36-10-3-3) there is hereby established a Department of Parks and Recreation, composed of the Parks and Recreation Board (hereafter referred to as Board,) a superintendent and other personnel as the Board may determine.
(B) (1) The Board shall consist of 4 members to be appointed by the Town Council President.
(2) The members shall be appointed on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation, but no more than 2 members may be affiliated with the same political party.
(C) In addition the Town Council may provide for 1 or 2 ex-officio members, those being:
(1) A member of the governing body of the school corporation selected by that body;
(2) A member of the governing body of the library district selected by that body; or
(3) Both (1) and (2).
(D) Ex-officio members have all the rights of regular members, including the right to vote. A vacancy in an ex-officio position shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(E) Initial appointments to the Board are as follows: 1 member for a term of 1 year; 1 member for a term of 2 years; 1 member for a term of 3 years; 1 member for a term of 4 years.
(F) (1) The Town Council President shall make the initial appointments within 90 days of the adoption of this section.
(2) Thereafter, as a term expires, each new appointment is for a 4-year term.
(3) All terms expire on the first Monday in January, but a member continues in office until his or her successor is appointed.
(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 a vacancy on the Board occurs, the Town Council President shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(G) (1) All meetings of the Board are open to the public. The Board shall fix the time and place of the regular meetings, but shall meet at least quarterly.
(2) At its first regular meeting each year the Board shall elect a President and a Vice President.
(3) 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.
(H) The Board shall have the general power to perform all acts necessary to acquire and develop sites and facilities and to conduct programs as are generally understood to be park and recreation functions. In addition to all other powers necessary to achieve the general objectives of the Board, the Board shall have, for park and recreation purposes, all the powers and duties listed in 110 Acts 1981, P.L. 309, amended by Acts 1981. P.L. 320, SEC. 6; P.L. 228-1986, § 1.
(I.C. 36-10-3-10 and 36-10-3-11) (1996 Code, § 5-1)