§45-17-91.24. Public meetings; notices of meetings; public records.

(a) The committee shall be deemed a governmental body, as that term is defined in Section 36-25A-2. Meetings of the committee shall be held and conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Chapter 25A of Title 36.

(b) Notice of each meeting of the committee shall be posted at the courthouse of each of the counties, not less than 24 hours prior to the hour fixed for such meeting. In addition, notice of each such meeting shall be given to each member of the committee, at such time or times prior thereto, and by such method or methods, whether by United States mail, private delivery service, electronic mail, telephone, facsimile, or other method reasonably likely to provide such notice, as the bylaws of the committee may require. Whenever any such notice is required to be so given, a waiver thereof in writing, signed, whether before or after such meeting, by the person or persons entitled to such notice, shall be the equivalent to the giving of such notice. No other notice of any meeting of the committee shall be required under this subpart. Notices of meetings of the committee shall nevertheless be otherwise publicized if and to the extent needed in order to comply with applicable provisions of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.

(c) The initial members of the committee shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of such members, and at such time and place as shall be specified in such call. Such meeting may not be held prior to August 1, 2007. At such organizational meeting, the committee may elect officers, adopt bylaws, and carry on any other business brought before the meeting.

(d) The committee may adopt, alter, amend, and repeal bylaws, which may contain any provision for managing the business of the committee that is not inconsistent with this subpart or other applicable law. Copies of the bylaws of the committee shall be retained together with the proceedings of the committee described in subsection (g).

(e) The committee shall, if its bylaws so provide, hold regular meetings at the time or times specified or provided for in such bylaws, and it may hold other meetings at any time and from time to time upon such notice as may be required by such bylaws. The committee shall hold a special meeting upon either the call of the chair of the committee or the call of not less than six of the members of the committee.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in the Alabama Open Meetings Act to the contrary, a majority of the members of the committee then holding office as such shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but any meeting of the committee may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the members of the committee present or may be so adjourned by a single member if such member is the only member present at the meeting. No vacancy in the membership of the committee shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all powers, and to perform all duties, of the committee.

(g) Any matter on which the committee is authorized to act may be acted upon at any regular, special, or called meeting. At the request of any member of the committee, the vote on any question before the committee shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the record. Every vote with respect to the adoption of any resolution described in subsection (b) of Section 45-17-91.22 shall be so taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the record. All resolutions adopted by the committee shall constitute actions of the committee. All proceedings of the committee shall be reduced to writing and signed by such member or members of the committee as it shall designate beforehand. Such proceedings shall be recorded in a well-bound book, which shall be retained at the offices of the county commission in Lauderdale County, and a copy thereof shall be retained at the offices of the county commission in Colbert County. All such documents shall be deemed to be public records, within the scope of Section 36-25A-4.

(h) Copies of such proceedings, when certified by either the chair or the secretary of the committee, shall be received in all courts as prima facie evidence of the matters and things therein certified.

(i) Each member of the committee shall serve without compensation and may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred by him or her, in and about the performance of his or her duties. The committee may, by resolution duly adopted prior thereto, provide for reimbursement of any such expenses out of moneys on deposit in the Shoals Economic Development Fund, and no request, consent, or other action on the part of the authority shall be necessary in connection with any such reimbursement.

(Act 2007-212, p. 260, §5.)