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

(1)  In each municipality described in s. 185.03 there is hereby created a board of trustees of the municipal police officers' retirement 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, who shall be appointed by the legislative body of the municipality, and two of whom shall be police officers as defined in s. 185.02 who shall be elected by a majority of the police officers who are members of such plan. The fifth member shall be chosen by a majority of the previous four members, and such person's name shall be submitted to the legislative body of the municipality. Upon receipt of the fifth person's name, the legislative body of the municipality 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 legislative body at whose pleasure the member shall serve, and may succeed himself or herself as a trustee. However, the terms of the mayor, or corresponding chief executive officer of the municipality, and the chief of the police department as members of the board of trustees as provided in chapter 28230, Laws of Florida, 1953, as amended, together with any city manager and member of the legislative body of the municipality as members of the board of trustees shall terminate on September 30, 1986. Each police officer member shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, unless he or she sooner leaves the employment of the municipality as a police officer, whereupon the legislative body of the municipality shall choose a successor in the same manner as an original appointment. Each police officer 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 majority vote elect from its members 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.