MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res

By: Senator(s) Cuevas, Dawkins

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-17-313, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF COUNTY MEMBERS OF A REGIONAL SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY THAT IS THE SITUS OF THE SOLID WASTE LANDFILL; TO CREATE SECTION 17-17-313.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS CREATED BY LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS TO CONFORM TO SECTION 17-17-313, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 17-17-313, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

17-17-313. (1) All powers of the authority shall be vested in the board of commissioners. Each member of the authority shall have at least one (1) commissioner on the board.

The incorporators shall by duly adopted resolution or bylaws designate the vote of each commissioner based upon pro rata population, municipal solid waste volume or such other criteria as they may determine. In the alternative, the incorporators by duly adopted resolution, may authorize appointments to the board by the members to reflect population, municipal solid waste volume or such other criteria as the incorporators may determine. In addition, the incorporators shall designate a term for each commissioner at the time of incorporation so as to establish staggered terms of office. No commissioner shall serve for a term to exceed four (4) years unless duly reappointed. Such resolutions for the composition of the board and the vote of its commissioners shall be filed with the incorporation agreement.

(a) Initially, the board shall be composed as follows:

(i) Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of the incorporation agreement, the board of supervisors of each participating county and the mayor of each municipality acting on behalf and with the consent of the governing body of each participating municipality shall appoint at least one (1) person to the board as determined by the resolution of the incorporators.

(ii) The governing body of each county or municipality shall appoint only individuals who are residents of its respective county or municipality or an employee thereof.

(iii) The number of commissioners of the board shall be increased by at least one (1) each time a county or municipality enters into membership and executes a contract for solid waste management. The board shall establish the vote or number of commissioners based upon the same terms as the original resolution of the incorporators. Within fifteen (15) days of entering into the contract, the governing body of the county or municipality, entering into such contract shall appoint at least one (1) person to the board. Any commissioner appointed under the provision shall serve for a term of four (4) years.

(iv) After the initial term, the commissioners shall serve a term of four (4) years, and for such period thereafter until a successor shall be duly appointed and qualified.

(v) Upon selection of a site for any municipal solid waste management facility owned and/or operated by the authority, the situs county shall have a minimum representation at least equal to the total representation of all other members. This requirement for equal representation shall apply to any authority created after July 1, 2001, and any authority created by a local and private act as provided in Section 17-17-313.1. Such representation shall include a minimum of one (1) commissioner from the supervisor district in which the facility is located. The supervisor of the district or his designee shall serve in this position.

(b) Each commissioner of the board shall be eligible for reappointment. All vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner, provided that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term. Any commissioner may be removed at any time prior to the expiration of the member's term of office for misfeasance, malfeasance or willful neglect of duty, as determined by the appointing political subdivision. Before assuming office, each commissioner shall take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office before a chancery clerk, and a record of such oath shall be filed with the Secretary of State. The board of commissioners shall annually select a chairman and a vice chairman.

(2) The board may appoint an executive committee to be composed of not less than five (5) persons. No member shall have more than one (1) representative on the executive committee. The chairman of the board shall serve as chairman of the executive committee. The executive committee is empowered to execute all powers vested in the full board between meetings of the board. A majority plus one (1) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All actions of the executive committee must be ratified by a majority of the board at a regular or called meeting of the board.

(3) The board may employ such personnel and appoint and prescribe the duties of such officers as the board deems necessary or advisable, including a general manager and a secretary of the authority. The general manager may also serve as secretary and shall be a person of good moral character and of proven ability as an administrator with a minimum of five (5) years' experience in the management and administration of a public works operation or comparable experience which may include, but is not limited to, supervision, public financing, regulatory codes and related functions as minimum qualifications to administer the programs and duties of the authority. The general manager shall administer, manage and direct the affairs and business of the authority, subject to the policies, control and direction of the board. The general manager and any commissioner not bonded in another capacity shall give bond executed by a surety company or companies authorized to do business in this state in the penal sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) payable to the authority conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties and the proper accounting for all funds. The board may require any of its employees to be bonded. The cost of any bond required by this section or by the board shall be paid from funds of the authority. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the authority and shall be custodian of all books, documents and papers filed with the authority, the minute book or journal, and the official seal. The secretary may make copies of all minutes and other records and documents of the authority and to certify under the seal of the authority that such copies are true and accurate copies, and all persons dealing with the authority may rely upon such certificates.

(4) Regular meetings of the board shall be held as set forth in its bylaws, rules or regulations. Additional meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever any three (3) commissioners so request.

(5) Upon express, prior authorization of the authority, each commissioner may receive compensation in an amount not to exceed Forty Dollars ($40.00) per day for attending each day's meeting of the board and for each day spent in attending to the business of the authority and, in addition, may receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred as provided by Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972. Each commissioner shall not be entitled to any additional compensation other than that specifically provided for in this subsection.

(6) The board shall prepare a budget for the authority for each fiscal year at least ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, which shall be from July 1 to June 30 of each year, and shall submit it to the governing body of each member.

SECTION 2. This section shall be codified as Section 17-17-313.1, Mississippi Code of 1972:

17-17-313.1. Any solid waste management district created by a local and private act prior to July 1, 1991, shall reconstitute its board of directors in accordance with Section 17-17-313 before December 31, 2001. Any such solid waste management district failing to reconstitute its board shall be deemed in noncompliance with the "Nonhazardous Solid Waste Planning Act of 1991."

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.