(a) The Virgin Islands Electricians' Licensing Board, the Virgin Islands Plumbers' Licensing Board, the Mechanical Licensing Board and the Fiber Optic Installers’ Licensing Board, heretofore existing within the Department of Public Works, are continued within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
(b) Each Board shall be composed of five members as follows:
(1) Four members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature, who shall be licensed electricians, licensed plumbers and mechanics and licensed fiber optic installers , respectively, actively engaged in their trade. However, the initial members appointed to the Fiber Optics Licensing Board need not be licensed fiber optic technicians, but must have been certified by a nationally-recognized certifying entity such as the Fiber Optic Association. Two of such members of each Board shall be residents of the District of St. Croix and two residents of the District of St. Thomas-St. John. The terms of the initial members of the Fiber Optic Licensing board shall be for the term of one, two, three and four years, respectively.
(2) The Chief Electrical Inspector, the Chief Plumbing Inspector, Chief Fiber Optic Inspector and the Chief Mechanical Inspector of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources shall be ex officio voting members of the appropriate Board and each shall serve as Secretary of the Board of which he is a member.
(c) The four appointed members of each Board shall serve for terms of two years. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on either Board, prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. Each member of each Board shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his successor. Three members of each Board shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Each Board shall elect at its first meeting in each calendar year one of its members to serve as its Chairman and one member to serve as Vice Chairman.
(e) Each Board under the hand of its Chairman and the seal of the Board may subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, and it may require the production of papers, records or documents in any inquiry or proceeding which may be instituted by it or be pending before it. Any member of each Board may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before such Board.
(f) Each appointed member of each Board shall receive $75.00 for each day or part thereof spent in the work of a Board, plus actual travel expenses.
(g) The members of each Board may be removed by the Governor for cause.
(h) In addition to the performance of its functions prescribed by law, the Boards shall perform such functions as the Commissioner prescribe or as required by law.
(i) As used in this chapter, “Board” means the Virgin Islands Electricians' Licensing Board or the Virgin Islands Plumbers' and Mechanical Licensing Board or Fiber Optic Installer Board, as the case may be.