§ 36-8-11-12 — Board of fire trustees; appointment; terms of office; vacancies

(a) This section does not apply to the
appointment of a governing board under section 12.5 of this chapter.
(b) Within thirty (30) days after the ordinance or resolution
establishing the district becomes final, the county legislative body shall
appoint a board of fire trustees. The trustees must be qualified by
knowledge and experience in matters pertaining to fire protection and
related activities in the district. A person who:
(1) is a party to a contract with the district; or
(2) is a member, an employee, a director, or a shareholder of any
corporation or association that has a contract with the district;
may not be appointed or serve as a trustee. The legislative body shall
appoint one (1) trustee from each township or part of a township
contained in the district and one (1) trustee from each municipality
contained in the district. If the number of trustees selected by this
method is an even number, the legislative body shall appoint one (1)
additional trustee so that the number of trustees is always an odd
number. If the requirements of this section do not provide at least three
(3) trustees, the legislative body shall make additional appointments so
that there is a minimum of three (3) trustees.
(c) The original trustees shall be appointed as follows:
(1) One (1) for a term of one (1) year.
(2) One (1) for a term of two (2) years.
(3) One (1) for a term of three (3) years.
(4) All others for a term of four (4) years.
The terms expire on the first Monday of January of the year their
appointments expire. As the terms expire, each new appointment is for
a term of four (4) years.
(d) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the county legislative body
shall appoint a trustee with the qualifications specified in subsection
(b) for the unexpired term.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation:
19-1-45-14.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.63. Amended by
P.L.63-1991, SEC.5; P.L.236-2023, SEC.197.