By-Laws

ARTICLE 1

SECTION 1: TITLE OF ORGANIZATION

The Title of this Organization shall be the St. Tammany Parish Communication District Number 1. The geographical boundaries shall comprise all of the territory lying wholly within the Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana having been established by the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury. The St. Tammany Parish Communication District No. 1 was duly created by Ordinance P.J.S. No. 86-620, adopted May 15, 1986, and became Section 2-010.00 if the Parish Code of Ordinances. The District shall be a political and legal subdivision of the State, with power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to incur debt and issue bonds. The authority for the creation of said Communication District being Louisiana Revised Statues 33:9101-9106.
SECTION 2: OFFICIAL DOMICILE
The Official Domicile shall be the St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center, 510 East Boston Street suite 200, Covington, Louisiana.

ARTICLE 2

SECTION 1: THE PURPOSE OF THE DISTRICT
The purpose of the District is to reduce the time required for a citizen to request and receive emergency aid. The District is to establish the number 911 as the primary emergency telephone number for use by the District. The District is mandated to take whatever actions are necessary to accomplish this task.

ARTICLE 3

SECTION 1: GOVERNING BODY
The Board shall be composed of seven (7) members who will constitute the governing body of the District.

SECTION 2: APPOINTMENTS
The Board of Commissioners shall be appointed by the following method:

  1. Three (3) members appointed by the Parish Council representing the Parish Governing Authority who may be Parish Council Members;
  2. One (1) member appointed by the Parish President;
  3. One (1) member appointed by the Parish Council representing the Parish Sheriff’s Office which will be nominated by the Sheriff;
  4. One (1) member appointed by the Parish Council representing the Municipal Police Chiefs who shall be nominated by a vote of said Police Chiefs.
  5. One (1) member appointed by the Parish Council representing the District Fire Chiefs who shall be nominated by a vote of said Fire Chiefs.
  6. The Executive Director of the District shall be a non-voting ex-officio member of the Board of Commissioners.

SECTION 3: TERMS OF OFFICE
Terms of office of each Board Member shall serve 4-year terms concurrently with the Parish President and Council.

SECTION 4: SELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, VICE-CHAIR AND SECRETARY/TREASURER
A Chairman will be elected or re-elected by the Board Members at a scheduled meeting of the Board. The Chairman will serve for a period of one (1) year from date of election.

A Vice-Chairman will be elected or re-elected by the Board Members at a scheduled meeting of the Board. The Vice-Chairman will serve for a period of one (1) year.

A Secretary/Treasurer will be appointed or re-appointed by the Chairmen of the Board and will serve for one (1) year.

SECTION 5: CAUSES AND PROCEDURRES FOR REMOVAL:

  1. Causes:
  2. Absence from four (4) Board Meetings per year for a period of one (1) year.
  3. Public misconduct or wrong doing that would cause serious reflections on the individual or Board in general, that is contrary to acceptable standards of good conduct and morals.
  4. Malfeasance or violation of the State Code of Ethics while performing the duties of a Commissioner.
  5. Procedures:
  6. In such cases that a member is accused of such misconduct and/or behavior and by a majority vote of the Board, the Parish Council shall be petitioned in writing requesting removal action.
  7. In all such actions for removal, the Board must procedurally comply with constitutional due process, those being legal and just causes and then only after a full hearing held for that specific purpose. The member at issue must be properly notified in writing in advance of the hearing and given the opportunity to appear together with witnesses and present his/her own defense against removal.
  8. In the case of removal action against the Board/s Chairman as Chairman, a majority vote of the Board members will suffice.
  9. In the event any Board Member has missed three (3) Board Meetings within a 12 month period, the District will notify the board member in writing of potential cause for removal.

ARTICLE 4

SECTION 1: RULES AND PROCEDURES.
The Board of Commissioners shall adopt its Rules and Procedures and fix the time and place of its regular meetings. Generally, it has such powers to perform such duties as are customary for the governing bodies of taxing districts and political subdivisions, including the right to levy taxes and to operate and control the property acquired by the District. It may do all things necessary to carry out the purpose for which the District was created.

SECTION 2: LIMITS OF DISTRICT
Communication Districts constitute public corporations, including perpetual existence, the right and power to incur debt and contract obligations, to sue and be sued, to have a corporate seal, to do and perform all acts in their corporate capacity and in their corporate name necessary for the purpose of acquiring, maintain, and operating buildings, machinery, equipment, and such other things as might be necessary or proper for effective emergency communication, including both moveable and immoveable property, considered necessary for the protection of life and property within the limits of the District.

SECTION 3: CONTRACTS
The District may enter into such contracts as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes for which they were created.

SECTION 4: AIDS AND GRANTS
The District may also do such things and enter into such contracts and agreements with the United States or with any State or Federal Agency or instrumentality as are necessary to procure aids and grants to assist them in carrying out the purposes for which the District was created.

SECTION 5: INDEMNITY CLAUSE
The District shall indemnify and hold each Commissioner and Officer not or hereafter serving the District from and against any and all claims and liabilities to which he may be or become subject by reason of his now or hereafter being or having heretofore been a Commissioner or Officer of the District and/or by reason of his alleged acts or omissions as such Commissioner or Officer, whether or not he continues to be such Officer or Commissioner at the time such claims or liability is asserted and shall reimburse each such Commissioner or Officer for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with defending any or all such claims or liabilities, including amounts paid or agreed to be paid in connection with reasonable settlements made before final adjudication with the approval of the Board of Commissioners, whether or not he continues to be such Commissioner or Officer shall be indemnified against any claim or liability arising out of his own negligence or willful misconduct or shall be indemnified against or reimbursed for any expense incurred in defending any or all such claims or liability or in settling the same unless in judgment of the Commissioners of the District the Commissioner or Officer against whom such claim or liability is asserted has not been guilty of willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of the rights to which any Commissioner or Officer may be entitled to as a matter of law.

SECTION 6: POWERS AND AUTHORITIES
In addition to the powers and authorities by these By-laws expressly confirmed upon it, the Board may exercise all such powers of the District and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by these By-Laws prohibited.

ARTICLE 5

SECTION 1: REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held monthly at such time and place as the Board may determine. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman on 48 hours notice to each Board Member, either personally, by mail or by e-mail. A majority of the Board Members shall constitute a quorum of the Board, a quorum being required for all meetings of the Board.

SECTION 2: CHAIRMAN
At all meetings of the Board, the Chairman shall preside. All duties and powers vested in Board Members are also vested to the Chairman and may be exercised by him as his prerogative. In the event of an emergency, the Chairman and/or his designee, along with the Executive Director, may make decisions on the Boards behalf. The Chairmen and/or the Executive Director shall review and articulate the reason and expense of the emergency at the next Board Meeting.

SECTION 3: AGENDA
An Agenda, prepared by the Chairman and published at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance is required for all meetings of the Board (Following Louisiana State Open Meetings Law R.S. 42:14-42:23). Order of business at all meetings shall confirm with the agenda, unless by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Commissioners to change or amend the published agenda.

SECTION 4: PUBLIC MEETINGS
All meetings of the Board are to be public meetings with due notice posted not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance (Following Louisiana State Open Meetings Law R.S. 42:14-42:23). All proceedings of the meetings are to confirm with State Laws governing meetings of public bodies.

SECTION 5: COMPENSATION
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.

ARTICLE 6

SECTION 1: APPOINTED AGENTS
The Board may appoint such Individuals and/or Agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board Members. Such appointees may be compensated for such appointments by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 2: REMOVAL OF AGENT
Such Individuals or Agents appointed by the Board shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified in their stead. Any Individual or Agent appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.

ARTICLE 7

SECTION 1: APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
The Chairman may appoint such committees as he deems necessary.

ARTICLE 8

SECTION 1: ALTERED, AMEDED OR REPEALED BY-LAWS
These By-Laws may be altered or amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Boards Members present at any regular or special meeting of the Board called for that purpose, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board; provided, however, that no change of the time or place for the election of Officers shall be made within sixty (60) days preceding the day on which such election is to be held, and that in case of any change of such time or place notice thereto shall be given to each Board Member in person or letter mailed to his last known post office address, at least twenty (20) days before the election is held.