In this Section, “reasonable emergency” means any imminent need to maintain the operations or facilities of the community college district and that such need is due to circumstances beyond the control of the board.
     Following each election and canvass, the new board shall hold its organizational meeting on or before the 28th day after the election. If the election is the initial election ordered by the regional superintendent, the organizational meeting shall be convened by the regional superintendent, who shall preside over the meeting until the election for chairman, vice chairman and secretary of board is completed. At all other organizational meetings, the chairman of the board, or, in his or her absence, the president of the community college or acting chief executive officer of the college shall convene the new board, and conduct the election for chairman, vice chairman and secretary. The chairman and vice chairman elected by the board shall be members of the board, but the secretary elected by the board may be either a member of the board or not a member of the board, as determined by the board. The secretary, if not a member of the board, may receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the board prior to the election of the secretary. The board shall then proceed with its organization under the newly elected board officers, and shall fix a time and place for its regular meetings. It shall then enter upon the discharge of its duties. Public notice of the schedule of regular meetings for the next calendar year, as set at the organizational meeting, must be given at the beginning of that calendar year. The terms of board office shall be 2 years, except that the board by resolution may establish a policy for the terms of office to be one year, and provide for the election of officers for the remaining one year period. Terms of members are subject to § 2A-54 of the Election Code.
     Beginning 45 days prior to the Tuesday following the first Monday of April in odd-numbered years until the first organizational meeting of the new board, no addendum to modify or amend an employee agreement between a community college district and the district’s president, chancellor, or chief executive officer may be agreed to or executed, nor may an employment contract be made and entered into between the board of an established community college district and a president, chancellor, or chief executive officer. If the current board must take such action at any time during the 45 days prior to the Tuesday following the first Monday of April in odd-numbered years until the first organizational meeting of the new board due to a reasonable emergency, then that action shall be terminated on the 60th day after the first organizational meeting, unless the new board, by resolution, reaffirms the agreed-upon addendum or new employment contract.
     Special meetings of the board may be called by the chairman or by any 3 members of the board by giving notice thereof in writing stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. Such notice may be served by mail 48 hours before the meeting or by personal service 24 hours before the meeting.
     At each regular and special meeting which is open to the public, members of the public and employees of the community college district shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to comment to or ask questions of the board.