(70 ILCS 705/16.02) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 37.02)
    Sec. 16.02. Within thirty days after Sections 16.01 to 16.18, inclusive, become effective in a fire protection district, the Board of Trustees of a fire protection district having 12 or more full time paid members shall appoint the first members of the board of fire commissioners. No person shall be appointed a commissioner who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this State or comparable laws of any other state or the United States. One of the members shall be appointed to serve until the first Monday in June next following, another to serve until the first Monday of June of the second year after such appointment, and the third to serve until the first Monday in June of the third year following such appointment. Every member shall serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified. Vacancies on the board of fire commissioners shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.
    The board shall annually elect a chairman and a secretary to serve during the district's fiscal year. The members of the board shall be considered officers of the district and shall file an oath as may be required by the trustees. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting all business.
    Once appointed, members of the board of fire commissioners shall not be subject to removal, except for cause, upon written charges, and after an opportunity to be heard within 30 days in his or her defense before a regular meeting of the district trustees. A majority vote of the trustees shall be required to remove any member of the board from office.
(Source: P.A. 86-562; 87-423.)