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Atoka IDB directs counsel to draft attendance resolution, considers cutting meetings to 10 annually
Summary
The board discussed bylaws changes to set attendance expectations, asked counsel to draft a resolution addressing unexcused absences, and agreed in principle to amend bylaws to require 10 meetings per year rather than 12.
The Atoka Industrial Development Board directed its attorney to draft a resolution setting attendance expectations for board members and discussed amending bylaws to reduce the number of required meetings from 12 to 10 per year.
Board legal counsel Will reviewed state law and told members that the law governing industrial development boards is ambiguous about who can remove members. Will said his firm had successfully defended the position that the mayor and board of aldermen — the appointing authority — can remove IDB members, but he cautioned there is no clear, controlling statutory or case law that settled the question.
On attendance, board members proposed a standard the board could recommend: three unexcused absences within a 12-month period (the board discussed using the fiscal year, July 1 to June 30, as the measurement window). Members said a resolution setting expectations would be more practical than embedding removal language directly into the bylaws because nonprofit and IDB statutes prescribe some bylaws elements.
The board also discussed meeting frequency. Members said they would prefer to reduce meetings from 12 to 10 annually by combining November and December meetings to accommodate holidays, and they agreed that the chair retain flexibility to call additional or special meetings as needed. Legal counsel said a bylaw amendment requires special notice (seven days) before action to amend.
Will said he would prepare and circulate a draft resolution addressing attendance and a separate draft bylaw amendment for the board’s review, with the intent to circulate those drafts at least two weeks before an amendment vote.
Ending: The board directed counsel to prepare the drafts; no changes to the bylaws or member removals were finalized at the meeting. Any eventual removal of a member would follow the appointing authority’s procedures and any applicable statutes.
