[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Hamilton 7-21-2003 by Ord. No. 1469-2003. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
There shall be by this chapter hereby established
within the Township of Hamilton, County of Atlantic, a Veterans' Advisory
Board, which shall serve as an ad hoc advisory board to the Township
Committee for the purposes of keeping the Township Committee informed
of developments regarding veterans, and which may respond to any ordinances
introduced by the Township Committee that may have an impact upon
veterans, and which shall otherwise advise the Township Committee
with respect to pending legislation at the county or state level which
may impact veterans.
A.
Meetings. The Veterans' Advisory Board shall meet
no less than 12 occasions per year to discuss matters of interest
to veterans, current and pending Township ordinances, county or state
laws affecting veterans and other issues of interest to veterans which
may have an impact upon the Township as a whole. The Advisory Board
shall report to the Township Committee at least two times per year,
or as often as the Advisory Board believes it is necessary, on activities
and discussions and provide the Committee with a summary of the issues
it has discussed and the positions it believes should be advanced
on behalf of veterans. The Advisory Board shall be strictly advisory,
and its recommendations, decisions, comments or other observations
shall not be binding in any way on the Township Committee or any other
municipal body, board or agency.
B.
Membership and term.
[Amended 11-13-2018 by Ord. No. 1887-2018]
(1)
The Veterans' Advisory Board shall consist of seven
members who shall be appointed by a majority of the Township Committee
in the following manner and for the following terms. The Veterans'
Advisory Board shall also consist of four alternate members who shall
be appointed by the majority of the Township Committee in the following
manner and on the following terms.
[Amended 11-15-2021 by Ord. No. 1975-2021]
(2)
The Veterans' Advisory Board shall consist of seven
members and four alternates serving three-year terms. Those members
currently on the Board shall fill their existing terms. Thereafter,
each member or alternate member shall be appointed for a three-year
term. All terms shall expire on December 31 of the appropriate year
and shall begin on January 1 of the appropriate year. The members
and alternate members of the Veterans' Advisory Board shall be residents
of the Township of Hamilton and be certified veterans with a DD-214
Record of Military Service.
[Amended 11-15-2021 by Ord. No. 1975-2021]
(3)
The members shall choose a Chairman, Vice Chairman
and Secretary for the Board. The Chairman shall serve as a liaison
between the Board and the Township Committee. The Secretary shall
keep notes of the meeting, which notes shall be deemed to be the property
of the Township. The Chairman shall serve as the spokesperson for
the Board in discussions with the Township Committee. The Chairman
shall vote on all issues before the Advisory Board, and his/her vote
shall be equal to all other members of the Advisory Board.
[Amended 6-5-2012 by Ord. No. 1720-2012]
A.
It is the
intent of this chapter that the Veterans’ Advisory Board shall
be solely an advisory board consisting of volunteers appointed by
the Township Committee.
B.
Notwithstanding
its status as an advisory board which is not subject to the Open Public
Meetings Act,[1] the Veterans’ Advisory Board will provide a schedule
of its meetings to the Township Clerk, who will advertise the meetings.
In addition, any recommendations made by the Board to the Committee
shall be reduced to writing, signed by the Chairperson, and sent to
the Township Clerk for placement on the next Committee agenda.
[1]
Editor’s Note; See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
C.
The Board
shall have no authority to expend any funds, and no funds shall be
appropriated in the budget for the Board. Any projects which require
Township funding would go through the Township Committee as part of
the recommendation to approve the project.
It is expressly intended that the Veterans'
Advisory Board is an ad hoc group to assist the Township Committee
in addressing issues and problems facing veterans. The Board shall
be permitted to communicate with other agencies in order to render
suggestions, opinions and recommendations with regard to veterans,
but all such communication should first be directed to the Township
Committee for approval.
