Commissioners; qualifications; appointment; terms; removal; recusation

A. The commission shall be composed of seven members who shall be qualified electors of the city of New Orleans residing within the city during their term of office and shall include at least one member from each of the city's councilmanic districts. Such members, hereinafter referred to as "commissioners," shall be appointed by the mayor of the city with the approval of the city governing authority from lists of nominees as follows: (1) Five commissioners shall be appointed from a list comprised of one nomination submitted by each member of the state legislature representing a district wholly or partially within the city of New Orleans. (2) Two commissioners shall be appointed from a list comprised of two names submitted by each of the following organizations: the Lower Ninth Ward Housing Development Corporation, the Central City Housing Development Corporation, and the Desire Area Community Housing Development Corporation. B. The commissioners initially appointed shall serve terms as follows: one commissioner for one year, one commissioner for two years, one commissioner for three years, two commissioners for four years, and two commissioners for five years, as shall be specified by the mayor with the consent of the city governing authority. Commissioners thereafter appointed shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment and shall serve terms of five years. C. A vacancy in the office of any commissioner shall be promptly filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the mayor in the same manner as that commissioner was originally appointed. With consent of the city governing authority, the mayor may remove a commissioner for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office but only after the commissioner has been given a copy of the charges against him and has had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel before the city governing authority. D. Commissioners shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. E. No commissioner shall take part in the deliberations or vote on any matter involving property in which he has a direct or indirect economic interest. Failure to comply with this provision shall constitute misconduct in office and shall be grounds for removal from the commission as herein provided.