The president and the vice-president of the board shall be elected by the members of the board. The board shall elect a secretary-treasurer from the members of the fund, who shall have been a civil service employe of the police department for at least five years prior to the date of his election, and may elect, or appoint, a solicitor and such other employees as the board may deem necessary, and shall fix the salary or compensation of all officers and employees, elected, or appointed, by the board.
53 P.S. § 23648