(A) Under the provision of I.C. 36-10-3, there is hereby created the town’s Parks and Recreation Board.
(B) A Parks and Recreation Board shall be composed of four members and an ex-officio member from the members of the School Board of the Manchester Community Schools. The members shall be appointed by the Town Council on the basis of their interest in and knowledge of parks and recreation. No more than two members shall be of the same political party. The ex-officio member shall be appointed by members of the School Board of Manchester Community Schools and shall have all the rights of a member, including the right to vote.
(C) The original appointments to the Board by the Town Council shall be for staggered terms of one, two, three and four years. Thereafter, as a term expires, each new appointment should be for a four-year term. All terms shall expire on the first Monday in January, but the appointee shall continue in office until a 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 Town Council shall appoint a new member for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(D) At its first regular meeting in 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 either from within or without its own membership.
(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 parks and recreation functions. In addition, the Board shall have the powers and duties 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’s Board of Accounts and Department of Local Government Finance. The Board may accept gifts, donations and subsidies for parks and recreation purposes.
(G) The Board shall have the power and shall exercise the functions given to it by law as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended or enacted, but subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Town Council may, from time to time, by ordinance establish.
(Prior Code, Title VI, Ch. I, Art. I) (Ord. 9, 2015, passed 12-16-2015)