Request By:
Mr. Allan S. Perry
Chairman, Big Sandy
Regional Airport Board
130 North Lake Drive
Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653
Opinion
Opinion By: Robert F. Stephens, Attorney General; By: Walter C. Herdman, Assistant Deputy Attorney General
This is in answer to your letter of March 28 in which you raise the question as to the legality of the use of proxies in board meetings where members are unable to attend. You particularly have reference to the Big Sandy Regional Airport Board, Inc., established in accordance with KRS 183.132.
The general rule is that proxies cannot be used for or on behalf of absent members at meetings of any board unless the statute creating said board authorizes such use. We are enclosing a copy of OAG 78-157 which explains the law involved in your question.
Since we find no authorization for the use of proxies by members of the airport board created pursuant to KRS 183.132, the use of proxies by or on behalf of board members would be illegal. In other words, a board member must be present at a regular or called meeting in order to cast a valid vote on any subject to be acted upon by the board.