How many members serve on the Lake Charles Fire and Police Civil Service Board? What are the qualifications for serving? How long is their tenure of service? Who are the present members of the board? Is there payment to serve?

Louisiana R.S. 33:2476 says the civil service board “shall be composed of five members who shall serve without compensation” — one nominated by the city, two nominated by the resident or nearest four-year college, and one each from the police and fire departments.

The Lake Charles City Council makes the appointments; the terms run three years.

The members of the Lake Charles board are David Morgan, chairman; Russell Ham, vice chairman; Delma Porter; Cpl. Dustin Gaudet, police representative; and Capt. Joseph Dantley, firefighter representative.

“In order to serve on a municipal fire and police civil service board, one must be a citizen of the United States, a qualified voter in the area served, and a resident of the area served for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding appointment to the board. …,” reads the website of the Office of State Examiner for the Louisiana Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service.

“Persons elected to public office or candidates for public office are prohibited from serving on the board, as are public employees (this does not include the classified employee members, members of the military, and notaries.)

“Also, no person may be appointed to the board who, for a period of not less than six months preceding his or her appointment, has been a member of a local, state, or national committee of a political party, or as a member or officer of a factional political club or organization.”

The board can broaden the residency requirement to encompass the parish for the fire and police representatives. The law says the fire and police members must hold posts that are “lower than that of chief, assistant chief, district chief, or battalion chief in the fire service; or a position or office lower than that of chief, assistant chief, or major in the police service.”

State law says the board must meet at least once each quarter. The Lake Charles board meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 326 Pujo St., on the first Friday of each month.

“Each member shall take the oath of office before entering upon the duties of his office. His oath shall include a statement to uphold the constitution and laws of Louisiana and of the United States; to administer faithfully and impartially the provisions of this Part and the rules adopted under the authority of this Part. …,” reads the statute.

“Any member of a board shall be liable to removal from office by judgment of the district court of his domicile for high crimes and misdemeanors in office, incompetency, corruption, favoritism, extortion, oppression in office, gross misconduct, or habitual drunkenness.”

Online: www.ose.louisiana.gov.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.

(MGNonline)