Open meetings; quorum; voting; executive sessions

(a) The board shall meet at least three times per year at a time and place set forth in the minutes of the district and at such other times as the chairperson may direct. All such meetings shall be open to the public. (b) A majority of the members to which the board is entitled shall constitute a quorum. (c) Once a quorum has been established, a majority of the members to which the board is entitled shall be required to adopt any matter before the district. 655 12-5-576 CONSERVATION & NATURAL RES. 12-5-577 (d) Each member of the board shall have one vote to be cast in person, and there shall be no voting by proxy; provided, however, that each member serving on the board pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of Code Section 12-5-575 shall be entitled to designate in writing to the chairperson of the board an alternate who may exercise any of the powers and discharge any of the duties of such member provided for in this article, including voting, in the absence of such member, other than serving as chairperson, vice chairperson, or secretary-treasurer of the board. (e) The district, by a majority vote of those members of the board present, may go into executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel matters, meeting with attorneys representing the district in adversarial or potentially adversarial situations, and for any other purpose authorized by and consistent with Chapter 14 of Title 50. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-576, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 470, § 1. 12-5-577. Operating budget; sources of funding; power to enter into contracts and to expend funds; depositing. (a) Prior to July 1 each year, the officers of the board shall submit to the district for adoption a preliminary budget required for the operation of the district during the ensuing calendar year, which shall also be the fiscal year. (b) Funding for the district operations shall be derived from the following sources: (1) Dues paid by cities and counties within the district such that the aggregate total of all such dues from all such cities and counties shall be no less than $500,000.00 annually. Such fees shall be raised on a per capita assessment or water-usage fee basis or based on a formula adopted and approved by the local government members of the district; and (2) Appropriated or contracted state funds. (c) The district is specifically empowered to contract or otherwise participate in and to accept grants, funds, gifts, or services from any federal, state, or local government or its agencies or instrumentalities and from private and civic sources and to expend funds received therefrom under provisions as may be required and agreed upon by the district in connection with any program or purpose for which the district exists. (d) All funds of the district not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the district in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the district may select. 656 History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-577, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1; Ga. L. 12-5-580 2004, p. 470, § 2; Ga. L. 2006, p. 72, § 12/SB 465. 12-5-578. Adjoining counties or municipalities application to be added to the district area. Any county or municipality adjoining a member county or municipality shall be added to the district area upon the application of such entity to be included in the district by resolution of its governing authority and upon approval of the director. History. — Code 1981, § 12-5-578, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 115, § 1. 12-5-579. Staffing; cooperation among agencies.