15-2105 — Organization of the boards of river regulating districts

1. Within thirty days after the incorporation of a river regulating district as hereinbefore provided, the Governor shall appoint three persons, two at least of whom shall be resident freeholders within the district, as a board to be known as the Board of River Regulating District; one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years. At the expiration of their respective terms of office, appointments shall be made for terms of five years. The Governor shall fill any vacancy on the board within thirty days after it occurs.

2. The members of the board including the chairperson shall not receive a salary or other compensation but shall receive all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Expenses for any member shall be approved by the board before being paid.

3. Each member of such board, before entering upon his duties, shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, which oath shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. Upon taking the oath, the board shall choose one of its number president, and shall select some suitable person or persons to act as secretary and treasurer, who may or may not be a member of the board. It shall adopt a seal and shall keep in well bound books a record of all its meetings and proceedings, certificates, contracts, surety bonds, and corporate acts, which shall be open to the inspection of the department, the members thereof and all owners of real estate in the district and all other interested parties.

4. A majority of such board shall constitute a quorum, and a concurrence of a majority in any matter shall be sufficient, for its determination, except as otherwise provided by the Local Finance Law.

5. The secretary shall keep and be the custodian of the records of the board, and of its corporate seal, and shall assist the board in such particulars as it may direct in the performance of its duties. He shall attest under the corporate seal of the district all certified copies of the office records and files of the district that may be required of him by the provisions of title 21 of this article or by any person ordering the same and paying the reasonable cost of transcription. Any portion of the records so certified and attested shall prima facie import verity. The secretary shall also serve as treasurer of the district unless a separate treasurer is selected by the board.

6. The board may employ such attorneys, engineers, agents, assistants and employees as may be needful, and fix their compensation, including the compensation of its secretary and treasurer.

7. The Governor may remove a member of such board for inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office, giving to him a copy of the charges against him and an opportunity of being publicly heard in person or by counsel in his own defense upon not less than ten day`s notice. If such member shall be removed the Governor shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a complete statement of all charges made against such member and his findings thereon, together with a complete record of the proceedings.