(1) The business, activities, and affairs of a transit authority shall be managed, controlled, and conducted by a board consisting of members appointed as follows:
(a) If the authority is established by one (1) city alone, or by a county alone, the members shall be eight (8) in number and shall be appointed by the appointing authority of such city or county;
(b) If the authority is established by joint proceedings of two (2) public bodies, the membership shall be eight (8) in number, four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the appointing authority of each of such public bodies;
(c) If an authority is created and established by joint proceedings of more than two (2) public bodies, the membership shall be eight (8) in number, plus one (1) additional member for each participating public body in excess of two (2), and the members thereof shall be appointed by the appointing authorities of the participating public bodies in such manner as may be set forth in the joint proceedings; and
(d) If an authority is created and established, and subsequently one (1) or more other public bodies are permitted to join therein, the membership of the board may be enlarged, with the concurrence and approval of the governing bodies of the public bodies theretofore participating, by not more than one (1) additional member for each additional public body so permitted to join the authority.
(2) No officer or employee of any public body represented in the creation, establishment, or enlargement of an authority shall be eligible for appointment to the board.
(3) After the effective date of the creation of an authority as provided in this chapter, the appointing authority or the appointing authorities, as the case may be, shall, in such manner as may be specified in the proceedings or joint proceedings, appoint at least two (2) members for terms of one (1) year, at least two (2) members for terms of two (2) years, at least two (2) members for terms of three (3) years, and the remaining number for terms of four (4) years; such terms to expire, in each instance, on June 30 and thereafter until a successor is appointed and accepts appointment. Upon the expiration of these initial staggered terms, successors shall be appointed by the respective appointing authorities, for terms of four (4) years, and until successors are appointed and accept their appointments. Members shall be eligible for reappointment.
(4) Any member of the board may be removed by his or her appointing authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, conflict of interest, or want of mental or physical capacity to serve. Any appointing authority exercising the power to remove a member of the board shall submit to the board a written statement setting forth the reasons for removal. Notice shall be given to the member named in such statement; a hearing, if requested, shall be conducted within thirty (30) days before the members of the board who are not the subject of such removal proceedings; a
record of the hearing shall be made by the secretary-treasurer of the board; and the member named in such removal notice may appeal any adverse decision, within ten (10) days after the rendering thereof, to the Circuit Court of any county which is served in whole or in part by the facilities of the transit authority, such appeal to be perfected by filing with the clerk of such court a copy of the removal proceedings certified by the secretary-treasurer of the board. The court, upon application of the member removed, may in its discretion order that the original record of the proceedings be filed with the clerk as the basis for such appeal. There shall be a right of appeal to the Court of Appeals.
(5) Members of the board shall be allowed reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by them in the conduct of the affairs of the authority. Compensation may be paid to members of the board if so provided in the proceedings or joint proceedings, subject to such limitations as may be set forth therein.
(6) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, when a city of the first class and a county containing such city have in effect a compact under KRS § 79.310 to KRS § 79.330, the terms of the members on the board shall be for three (3) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Upon the effective date of the compact, the mayor, and county judge/executive with the approval of the fiscal court, shall adjust the terms of the sitting members so that the terms of two (2) of each of their appointments expire in one (1) year, the term of one (1) of each of their appointments expire in two (2) years and the term of one (1) of each of their appointments expire in three (3) years. Upon expiration of these staggered terms, successors shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Upon the establishment of a consolidated local government in a county where a city of the first class and a county containing such city have had in effect a cooperative compact pursuant to KRS § 79.310 to KRS § 79.330, all members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor of the consolidated local government pursuant to the provisions of KRS § 67C.139 for a term of three (3) years. Incumbent members upon the establishment of the consolidated local government shall continue to serve as members of the board for the time remaining of their current term of appointment.
Effective: July 15, 2002
History: Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 117, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 77, sec. 16, effective July 15, 1986. — Amended 1976
Ky. Acts ch. 62, sec. 84. — Created 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 243, sec. 5.