Any city may, by ordinance, create a cemetery board of seven directors, to manage, operate, maintain and improve cemeteries owned by the city. Such directors shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body, from the residents of the city at large, but no person holding any official position under the city shall be appointed a director while holding such office. The directors shall receive no compensation for such services, except that the board of directors may pay the secretary such a sum per annum as the governing body of the city shall fix for keeping the records, selling the lots, and other duties devolving upon the secretary in that office.