Sec. 11-245. - Board of trustees—Established; composition; terms; vacancies; oath; management of system generally.

(a)

The system created by this article shall be construed to be a trust, separate and distinct from all other entities. The responsibility for the direction and operation of the system and for making effective the provisions hereof is hereby vested in a board of trustees. The board shall consist of seven members, as follows:

(1)

Two members representing the city, who shall be ex officio, the mayor and the director of finance of the city.

(2)

One police officer and one firefighter, each having at least five years of credited service, who shall be members of the system from the respective occupational groups according to rules of election to be adopted by the board. Until elections for trustees are held, the mayor shall appoint two temporary trustees meeting the foregoing qualifications from among the police officers and firefighters who shall hold office until permanent trustees are elected, but the terms of such temporary trustees shall not extend for more than six months.

The original elected trustees shall serve for the following terms: One representing police officers for a term of two years, and one representing firefighters for a term of three years. The trustees so elected shall take office upon their election and shall succeed the temporary trustees appointed by the mayor. Their terms of office shall terminate on October 31 of the second and third year following their election, as the case may be. The trustees shall serve for terms of three years.

(3)

One member who shall be elected from the city police and fire retirees association, and who shall serve for a term of three years, such term to terminate as of October 31, 1993; and one member who shall be an elected member of the city council, and who shall be selected by the mayor, who shall serve for a two-year term with such term as trustee to terminate as of October 31, 1993 or at the termination of his service as a city councilman should that event occur prior to the stated date, and his successors shall serve for terms of two years.

(4)

One member, who shall be selected by the remaining six members of the board, who shall serve for a term of three years. The initial member so selected shall serve until October 31, 1961, and his successors shall serve for terms of three years.

(b)

A trustee shall continue in office until his successor is elected or appointed and qualified. Any trustee who is a police officer or firefighter shall be disqualified to serve in that capacity upon termination of service with the city. If a vacancy occurs in the office of an elective trustee, a successor shall be elected by the board for the period until the next regular annual election, such person to be elected from among the members of the system represented by the person who vacated. If a vacancy occurs in the office of an appointive trustee, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the office was previously filled.

(c)

Each trustee shall take an oath that, so far as it devolves upon him, he will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the board and that he will not knowingly or willfully permit to be violated any of the provisions of this article applicable to the system. Such oath shall be subscribed by the member making it, certified by the officer before whom it is taken and immediately filed with the city clerk. A trustee shall be deemed to have qualified for membership on the board when such oath shall have been filed.

(d)

Subject to the limitations prescribed in this section, the board shall from time to time establish rules and regulations for the administration of the system and to implement the provisions of this article as may be required. It shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly in each year and such special meetings as may be deemed necessary. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of January of each year. All meetings shall be open to the public. A record of proceedings of all meetings shall be kept by the board.

(e)

Each trustee shall be entitled to one vote on the board, and the concurrence of three trustees shall be necessary for a decision at any regular or special meeting.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 11-246; Ch. 877, § XX, 6-6-23)

Cross reference— Boards, committees and commissions, § 2-36 et seq.