§ 4-3-162. Governing body of district, organization, officers, bond required, authority of board of commissioners.

(a)

The business and affairs of the district shall be administered and governed by an elected board of five (5) commissioners, and said board shall, at least annually, elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary-treasurer. All commissioners shall receive as compensation from the funds of the district the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) per year, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses; except that the secretary-treasurer shall receive as compensation from the funds of the district the sum of nine hundred dollars ($900.00) per year plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses.

(b)

Each commissioner shall, before he enters upon his duties as commissioner, execute to the governor, for the benefit of the district, a good and sufficient bond approved by and filed with the clerk of the circuit court of Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) with a qualified corporate surety conditioned upon his faithful performance of the duties of such commissioner and to account for all funds to come into his hands as such commissioner. All premiums for such bonds shall be paid by the district.

(c)

The board of commissioners shall have the authority to adopt and amend rules and regulations for the administration of the affairs of the district under the terms of this act [this article] which shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the administration and supervision of the property and personnel of the district. Said commissioners shall have all the lawful power and authority necessary to implement the purposes for which the said fire district is created, which power and authority shall include, but not be limited to, the power to purchase with or without bids all necessary fire equipment, rescue equipment and all other equipment necessary to carry out the purposes of said fire district, to purchase all necessary real and personal property, to purchase and carry standard insurance policies on all such equipment, to employ such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of said fire district, to provide adequate insurance for said employees, to purchase and carry appropriate insurance for the protection of all volunteer firemen and personnel as well as all equipment and personal property on loan to the district, to conduct studies for such employees' pension or retirement plans and to implement same when feasible, to participate in state retirement plans or other pension plans for the benefit of employees, to sell surplus real and personal property in the same manner and subject to the same restrictions as provided for such sales by counties, to enter into contracts with other fire districts, municipalities, state and federal governmental units for the purpose of obtaining financial aid, assistance or benefits, expanding services, providing effective mutual aid and for otherwise carrying out the purposes of the district. The commissioners shall have the power to dispose of all surplus and unnecessary books and records of said fire district after five (5) years from the date said books and records were examined for annual postaudit, except that said commissioners must permanently maintain permanent records and payroll records. The commissioners shall adopt a fiscal year for said fire district which shall be October 1 to September 30.

(Laws of Fla., Ch. 82-381, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 90-417, § 1)