(A) Composition of the Commission; appointments.
(1) The initial Jennings County Convention and Visitors Commission (the "JCCVC") shall consist of five members. The number of members may be changed form time to time, but shall consist of an odd number of members, and shall be consistent with the provisions of I.C. 6-9-18-5, as amended or, with any successor statute or law governing the subject matter hereof.
(2) A simple majority of the JCCVS shall be:
(a) Engaged convention, visitor, or tourism business; or
(b) Involved in promoting conventions, visitors, or tourism.
(3) If available and willing to serve, a least two of the members must be engaged in the business of renting or furnishing rooms, lodging, or accommodations as described in I.C. 6-9-18-3.
(4) Not more than one member may be affiliated with the same business entity.
(5) No more than a simple majority of the members may be affiliated with the same political party.
(6) Each member of the JCCVS must reside in Jennings County.
(7) The county executive (the County Commissioners) shall determine who will make the appointments to the Commission, except that the executive of the largest municipality in the county (currently, the Mayor of the City of North Vernon) shall appoint a number of the members of the Commission, which number shall be in the same ratio to the total size of the Commission (rounded off to the nearest whole number) that the population of the largest municipality bears to the total population of the county. The Commissioners find that currently, the Mayor is entitled to make one appointment to the JCCVS, and the County Commissioners are entitled to make the other four appointments. The County Commissioners will make their initial four appointments to the JCCVS, but may, by amendment to this section or by resolution, delegate that authority as provided by I.C. 6-9-18-5.
(B) Terms. All initial appointments to the JCCVC are interim, and will expire on January 1, 2021, or as soon thereafter as their successors are appointed. Thereafter, in conformance with I.C. 6-9-18-5(d), all terms of office for all commission members begin on January 1. Initial appointments shall be for staggered terms, with subsequent appointments for two-year terms. A member whose term expires may be reappointed to serve another term. If a vacancy occurs, the appointing authority shall appoint a qualified person to serve for the remainder of the term. If an initial appointment is not made by February 1 or a vacancy is not filled within 30 days, the Commission shall appoint a member by majority vote.
(C) Removal. A member of the JCCVC may be removed for cause by the authority that appointed the member.
(D) No compensation. Members of the JCCVC shall not receive a salary for their membership. However, JCCVC members are entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their respective duties, but consistent with the written policies of county government and state and federal law.
(E) Oath. Each JCCVC member, before entering his or her duties, shall take an oath of office in the usual form, to be endorsed upon his certificate of appointment and promptly filed with the Clerk of the Circuit court of the county.
(F) Organizational meeting. The JCCVC shall meet after January 1 each year for ht purpose of organization. It shall elect one of its members president, another vice president, another secretary, and another treasurer. The members elected to those offices shall perform the duties pertaining to the offices. The first officers chosen shall serve from the date of their election until their successors are elected and qualified. A majority of the JCCVC constitutes a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority of the JCCVC is necessary to authorize any action.
(Ord. 2019-12, passed 11-21-2019)