Creation — Board of Directors — Membership — Terms — Appointment of Replacement
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Upon approval by a majority of the eligible voters within the area of the proposed district voting at such referendum, the legislative body may create an emergency communications district.
Except as otherwise provided by law, an emergency communications district shall have a board of directors composed of no fewer than seven (7) nor more than nine (9) members to govern the affairs of the district. For districts created by a county legislative body, the county mayor shall appoint the members of the board of directors subject to confirmation by the county legislative body. When the county mayor names an appointee to the board, the county legislative body has ninety (90) days or until the conclusion of its next regularly scheduled meeting, whichever is later, to confirm or reject the appointment. If the legislative body does not act within this time period, the appointment shall take effect without confirmation. In any municipality having a population of less than thirty thousand (30,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, having adopted home rule pursuant to the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, § 9, and having an incorporated area lying in two (2) counties, the board of directors may be the legislative body of such municipality, if the emergency services are provided by such municipality.
In any county having a metropolitan form of government and having a population of not less than four hundred thousand (400,000) nor more than five hundred thousand (500,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the chief executive officer of the metropolitan government may appoint a board of directors, composed of no fewer than seven (7) nor more than nine (9) members, subject to confirmation by the chief legislative body of the metropolitan government, which shall govern the affairs of the district. Appointments to the board of directors shall include members selected from minorities as well as members of the sex that historically has been underrepresented on boards and commissions of the metropolitan government.
In emergency communication districts established by counties with a population greater than three hundred thousand (300,000) and less than seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, except in counties with a metropolitan form of government, the mayor, the chief of police and the fire chief of the municipality, or their representatives, with the largest population in the district, the county sheriff in the district, and the county mayor in the district, or their representatives, shall be members of the board of directors of the district. If, at the time this subdivision (b)(3) takes effect, any person or persons holding any one (1) of the positions mentioned in this subdivision (b)(3) is not a member of the board of directors of the district, then the board shall be immediately expanded to include such person or persons. In districts covered by this subsection (b), the legislative body may appoint up to eleven (11) members to govern the affairs of the district to allow for the appointment of two (2) additional directors, one (1) of whom shall be a woman and one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the nongovernmental emergency agencies servicing such district. Such additional members shall serve for an initial term of one (1) year. Each term thereafter shall be for a period of four (4) years. The method of appointment of the board of directors by the county legislative body referred to in this subdivision (b)(3) shall be by the confirmation process described in subdivision (b)(1).
Notwithstanding this subsection (b) to the contrary, in any county having a population of not less than forty-three thousand seven hundred (43,700) nor more than forty-three thousand eight hundred (43,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the legislative body may appoint an additional two (2) members to the board of directors for an initial term of two (2) years. Each term thereafter of such members shall be for a period of four (4) years.
Notwithstanding this section to the contrary, in any county having a population of not less than eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, the county mayor may appoint a board of directors, composed of no fewer than seven (7) nor more than eleven (11) members, subject to confirmation by the chief legislative body of the county, which shall govern the affairs of the district. The county mayor and legislative body shall ensure that the views and opinions of all participating governmental entities are given full consideration in the selection of members of the board, with the exact methodology to be determined by local ordinance or resolution. The county mayor and legislative body shall make every effort to appoint members who represent the diversity of the community, including women and minorities.
In emergency communication districts established in any county having a population in excess of eight hundred thousand (800,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, one (1) of the members of the board of the directors of the district shall be an actively engaged firefighter, police officer or emergency medical technician; provided, that, if, on April 5, 1995, one (1) such person is not a member of the board in such county, when a vacancy occurs on the board or at the expiration of the term of office of a member of the board, at least one (1) person meeting the qualifications established in this subdivision (b)(6) shall be appointed to the board.
It is the public policy of this state to encourage the consolidation of emergency communications operations in order to provide the best possible technology and service to all areas of the state in the most economical and efficient manner possible. Pursuant to this policy, if two (2) or more counties, cities, or existing emergency communications districts, or any combination of these, desire to consolidate their emergency communications operations, a joint emergency communications district may be established by the parties using an interlocal agreement as authorized by title 5, chapter 1, part 1, and title 12, chapter 9; provided, that, notwithstanding the language of this subdivision (b)(7) or any other law to the contrary, no such consolidation of emergency communications operations shall result in the creation of a separate emergency communications district within the boundaries of an existing emergency communications district. Under such an agreement, the funding percentages for each party, and the size and appointment of the board of directors of such combined emergency communications district shall be determined by negotiation of the parties, notwithstanding this subsection (b) to the contrary; provided, that the board of directors of such combined district shall be composed of no fewer than seven (7) members to govern the affairs of the district. The terms, remuneration, and duties stated in subsections (c)-(i) shall apply to any board of directors of any combined emergency communications district.
Notwithstanding this section to the contrary, in any emergency communications district created by a municipality after July 1, 2002, the board of directors of the district may be the legislative body of such municipality. If the board of the directors of the district is comprised of the legislative body, then the terms of the members of the board of directors shall run concurrently with their terms as members of the legislative body. The terms of the members of the legislative body shall run concurrently with their terms as members on the board of directors.
In the event subdivision (b)(8)(A) is in effect for an emergency communications district, and any member of the emergency communications district board is removed pursuant to § 7-86-314, then the mayor shall appoint a private citizen to serve in the member's place until such time as the replaced member no longer serves on the legislative body of the municipality. Such appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the remaining members of the board of directors of the district.
In the event subdivision (b)(8)(A) is in effect for an emergency communications district, and the entire emergency communications district board is removed pursuant to § 7-86-314, then the mayor shall appoint private citizens to serve in each such member's place until such time as the replaced members no longer serve on the legislative body of the municipality. Such appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the board.
Nothing in this subdivision (b)(8) shall be construed to be contrary to § 7-86-310.
The members shall serve for a term of four (4) years. The initial members shall be appointed for staggered terms of two (2), three (3) and four (4) years, dating from the effective date of the ordinance or resolution creating such district. Members shall serve until a successor is duly appointed and, if required by this section or any other law, confirmed.
The members shall serve without compensation.
The board of directors shall have complete and sole authority to appoint a chair and any other officers the board may deem necessary from among the membership of the board of directors.
A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum, and all official action of the board shall require a quorum.
The board has the authority to employ such employees, experts and consultants as the board may deem necessary to assist the board in the discharge of its responsibilities to the extent that funds are made available.
The board has the authority to establish or make available for the benefit and welfare of the board's employees such pension, insurance or other employee benefit plans as the board may deem appropriate, including participation in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system in accordance with title 8, chapter 35, part 2.
No member of the board of directors shall be an employee of the emergency communications district.