§ 144b. How governed; board of port commissioners.

(1)

Such authority shall be governed by a board of not less than seven nor more than nine commissioners, one-third of whom may be from areas outside of the City of Norfolk, who shall be known as commissioners, and who shall be appointed by the Council of the City of Norfolk, and who shall be residents of the City of Norfolk at the time of their appointment and during the term of their office except as herein provided. All of the powers and duties conferred upon such authority shall be exercised through said board of commissioners.

(2)

All members shall be appointed for terms of four years. Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Council for the unexpired term. Each commissioner shall continue, however, to hold office until his successor has been appointed and qualified. Each commissioner, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe the oath provided by the Norfolk Charter of 1918 for city officers, and a certificate of the same shall be filed with the city clerk.

(3)

Immediately after their appointment such commissioners shall enter upon the performance of their duties. Said commissioners shall annually elect one of its members as chairman and another as vice-chairman, and shall also elect annually a secretary and a treasurer, each of whom may or may not be one of the said commissioners. The positions of secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The board of commissioners shall make rules and regulations for its own government and procedure and shall hold such special meetings as it may deem necessary.

(4)

The commissioners shall receive no salaries but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred while engaged in the performance of their duties.

(5)

Any of said commissioners may be removed from office by the Council of the City of Norfolk for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence or gross neglect of official duty, but a commissioner may be removed only after he shall have been given a copy of the charges against him at least ten days prior to the hearing thereon before the Council and had an opportunity to be heard in person and by counsel. In event of the removal of any commissioner a record of the proceedings, together with the charges and findings thereon, shall be filed in the office of the city clerk.

(Acts 1948, Ch. 463; Acts 1980, Ch. 42, § 1; Acts 1988, Ch. 519, § 1; Acts 2007, Ch. 193, § 1)

(Acts 1948, Ch. 463; Acts 1980, Ch. 42, § 1; Acts 1988, Ch. 519, § 1; Acts 2007, Ch. 193, § 1)