175.061  Board of trustees; members, terms of office.--

(1)  In each municipality and in each special fire control district there is hereby created a board of trustees of the firefighters' pension trust fund, which shall be solely responsible for administering the trust fund. Effective October 1, 1986, and thereafter, the board of trustees shall consist of five members, two of whom, unless otherwise prohibited by law, shall be legal residents of the municipality or special fire control district, who shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district, and two of whom shall be full-time firefighters as defined in s. 175.032 who shall be elected by a majority of the firefighters who are members of such plan. The fifth member shall be chosen by a majority of the previous four members as provided for herein, and such person's name shall be submitted to the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district. Upon receipt of the fifth person's name, the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district shall, as a ministerial duty, appoint such person to the board of trustees as its fifth member. The fifth member shall have the same rights as each of the other four members appointed or elected as herein provided and may succeed himself or herself in office. Each resident member shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, unless sooner replaced by the governing body at whose pleasure he or she shall serve, and may succeed himself or herself as a trustee. Each firefighter member shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, unless he or she sooner leaves the employment of the municipality or special fire control district as a firefighter, whereupon a successor shall be chosen in the same manner as an original appointment. Each firefighter may succeed himself or herself in office. The board of trustees shall meet at least quarterly each year. Each board of trustees shall be a legal entity with, in addition to other powers and responsibilities contained herein, the power to bring and defend lawsuits of every kind, nature, and description.

(2)  The trustees shall by a majority vote elect a chair and a secretary. The secretary of the board shall keep a complete minute book of the actions, proceedings, or hearings of the board. The trustees shall not receive any compensation as such, but may receive expenses and per diem as provided by law.