§ 2-191. Purpose.

The USO/Community Building Commission is hereby established to supervise the renovation and operation of the USO/Community Building as follows:

(1)

To manage and operate the facility known as the USO/Community Building, which was built as and formerly known as the USO Building on the grounds of Fort Johnson between Howe and Bay Streets in Southport.

(2)

To oversee completion of the renovation of the building, including planning, contracting, and leading a fund raising drive, taking into account the need to make the building functional while preserving its character and historic nature; provided that all contracts shall be authorized by the board of aldermen and entered into in accordance with North Carolina law governing municipal contracts.

(3)

To develop and implement policies and procedures for use of the building which will allow maximum public use while preserving the character and historic nature of the building.

To set fee schedules for use of the building.

The commission shall submit all proposed policies, procedures and fee schedules to the board of aldermen for review and comment before final adoption of policies, procedures and fee schedules by the commission.

(4)

To develop and submit yearly budgets based on the city's fiscal year for submission to the board of aldermen for approval, and to account yearly for funds received and expended.

To maintain banking and checking accounts necessary to carry out the functions of the commission.

To receive and expend donations on behalf of the city for renovation of the USO/Community Building and to receive rentals and other income and make expenditures related to the ongoing operation of the USO/Community Building.

All budgetary and fiscal matters of the commission, including but not limited to those outlined above, are to comport with Local Government Commission Rules and Regulations under the Local Government Finance Act, NCGS Chapter 159. The city finance officer must approve all expenditures of the commission.

(5)

To negotiate and recommend to the board of aldermen for execution, contracts with public or private agencies for cleaning, maintenance, renovation, reservation and booking services, and other functions necessary for proper operation of the building.

(6)

To do those things necessary for the ongoing management and maintenance of the USO/Community Building as a center for social gatherings, meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

(7)

To comply with all open meetings, laws and regulations.

(8)

To comply with the terms and agreements of the licensing provisions between the United States Government and the City of Southport regarding use of the USO/Community Building.

(9)

To adopt by-laws in keeping with the mandates of this resolution and with North Carolina law for the conduct of the commissions meetings and other business.

The commission shall consist of nine (9) members who shall be appointed for three (3) year terms, except for the initial members, three (3) of whom shall serve a three (3) year term, three (3) of whom shall serve a two (2) year term, and three (3) of whom shall serve a one (1) year term so that the terms of office of future commissioners shall be staggered, three (3) members being replaced each year.

The aldermen initially shall each appoint one (1) member and the mayor initially shall appoint three (3) members to the commission, with terms staggered as follows: Two (2) of the aldermen and the mayor shall each appoint one (1) commissioner whose term will end December 31st, 1995, two (2) other aldermen and the mayor will each appoint a commissioner whose term will end December 31st, 1996, and the final two (2) aldermen and the mayor shall each appoint a commissioner whose term will end December 31st, 1997. Beginning with the board of aldermen's meeting in December, 1995, and each year thereafter, the two (2) aldermen or their successors who appointed the commissioner whose term ends that year, and the mayor shall each appoint one (1) new commissioner to replace those whose terms end December 31st of that year, and who will serve a three (3) year term, each year ending December 31. Commissioners may be reappointed.

Any commissioner who misses three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the commission without good cause shall be removed automatically from the commission. In addition, by two-thirds vote, the commission may remove a member for good cause, subject to an appeal by that commissioner to the board of aldermen. Before such a removal, the commission must hold a hearing and give the commissioner to be removed ten (10) days written notice of the hearing, stating the cause for removal. The hearing may be held in closed session only if the city attorney determines that a closed session would be permissible under the then existing open meetings laws and the commissioner to be removed consents to the closed session.

If a commissioner is removed from or vacates office before the end of the term, the alderman who initially appointed that commissioner (or that alderman's successor) shall appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of that commissioner's term.

Commissioners shall receive no compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses related to renovation and operation of the USO/Community Building if the reimbursement is approved by the board of aldermen before the expenses are incurred.

(Ord. of 1-12-95, §§ 1—9)