(A) Under the provisions of I.C. 36-10-3, there is hereby created a Board of Parks and Recreation.
(B) (1) The Parks and Recreation Board shall be composed of four members appointed by the Town Council on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation.
(2) The Town Council waives the requirement that “no more than two members shall be of the same political party,” per I.C. 36-10-3-4.1.
(3) The Town Council shall appoint a (non-voting) liaison to the Board of Parks and Recreation from the elected body. The liaison appointment will be for a one-year term from January to December. The liaison may serve as an unpaid secretary at the will of the Park Board.
(C) (1) Upon establishment of the Board, the terms initially appointed shall be:
(a) One member for a term of one year;
(b) One member for a term of two years;
(c) One member for a term of three years; and
(d) One member for a term of four years.
(2) As a term expires, each new appointment shall be made by the Town Council for a term of four years.
(3) All terms expire on the first Monday in January, but a member shall continue in office until his or her successor is appointed. If an appointment for a new term is not made by the Town Council by the first Monday in April, the incumbent shall serve another term. If a vacancy occurs, the executive shall appoint a new member for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(D) (1) A member may be removed only for cause, upon specific written charges filed against the member. 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 public hearing and give public notice at least ten days in advance of the hearing. At the hearing, the member is entitled to present evidence and argument and to be represented by counsel.
(2) At its first regular meeting each year, the Board shall elect a president and vice-president. The vice-president shall have authority to act as the president of the Board during the absence or disability of the president. The Board may select a secretary from within its own membership, or elect to have the Town Council liaison serve in this capacity. All positions serving within this Board shall be unpaid.
(3) All meetings 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 monthly.
(E) 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 park and recreation functions. In addition, the Board shall have all the powers listed in I.C. 36-10-3 et seq.
(F) The Board shall prepare and submit an annual budget in the same manner as other departments of town government as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts. The Board may accept gifts, donations, and subsidies for park and recreation purposes.
(Ord. 2023-04, passed 6-12-2023)
Cross-reference:
Parks and recreation, generally, see Chapter 95
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see I.C. 36-10-3-5 and 36-10-3-6