(A) Pursuant to I.C. 8-1.5-3-3(a)(3), there is hereby established the Utility Service Board (“Utility Board”).
(B) The Council now transfers exclusive control of the City’s municipally-owned water utility and sewer utility from the Board of Public Works and Safety to the Utility Board.
(C) The Utility Board shall consist of five members. Not more than three of the members may be of the same political party. All members must be residents of the City of Lawrence.
(D) Three members of the Utility Board shall be appointed by the Mayor, and two members of the Utility Board shall be appointed by the Council.
(E) The term of office of a member of the Utility Board shall be four years, with the initial terms being staggered as follows. Vacancies on the Utility Board shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term:
(1) One initial appointment by the Mayor and one initial appointment by the Council shall be for two years;
(2) One initial appointment by the Mayor and one initial appointment by the Council shall be for three years; and
(3) One initial appointment by the Mayor shall be for four years.
(F) Each member of the Utility Board is entitled to the compensation, if any, that is fixed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Council, as a salary or as payment for meetings attended. Each member also is entitled to payment for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties.
(G) The Utility Board shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from its members.
(H) The Utility Board shall establish rules and bylaws for its own governance.
(I) The members of the Utility Board each shall file an individual surety bond in the amount of $10,000 to cover the faithful performance of the duties of the member. The City, in accordance with I.C. 5-4-1-18, may obtain a blanket bond or a crime insurance policy endorsed to include faithful performance to cover the faithful performance of the members of the Utility Board. These bonds shall be filed with the Marion County Recorder in accordance with I.C. 5-4-1-5.1.
(J) This section shall be in full force and effect upon adoption and compliance with I.C. 36-4-6-14, and the authority of the Board of Public Works and Safety over the City’s municipally owned water utility and sewage works shall immediately cease.
(Ord. 17, 2006, passed 9-5-2006)