[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 9-27-2005 by L.L. No.
31-2005 (Ch. 652 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable. Uncodified sections of local laws amending these
provisions are included at the end of this chapter.]
The Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board is hereby created
to discuss issues of importance and relevance to the Hispanic community
and to make recommendations regarding proposed legislation to the
Suffolk County Legislature and to the Suffolk County Executive in
connection with the following:
A.
To advocate on behalf of the Hispanic community in Suffolk County;
B.
To encourage civic participation at all levels of government by members
of the Hispanic community;
C.
To promote Hispanic business development and to provide information
necessary for Hispanic businesses to enable them to have equal access
and opportunity to contracting and procurement in Suffolk County;
and
D.
To improve cultural understanding between the Hispanic community,
Suffolk County government and Suffolk County residents.
A.
The Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board shall consist of no fewer
than 15 members, to be selected as follows:
(1)
One member to be selected by the Presiding Officer of the Suffolk
County Legislature, said representative to serve an initial term of
one year;
(2)
One member to be selected by the leader of the political caucus of
the Suffolk County Legislature having the largest number of Legislators
that is not the same political caucus as the Presiding Officer, said
representative to serve an initial term of one year;
(3)
Members to be selected by any Legislator representing any legislative
district that contains a population comprised of 10% or more of Hispanic
residents rounded up to the nearest whole number, as determined by
the latest regular federal census or any County-wide special population
census, said representatives to serve an initial term of one year;
provided that before any person is appointed or reappointed to the
Board, the legislative district from which he or she is being appointed
from must be shown to meet the ten-percent threshold described above,
as determined by the latest federal census or any Countywide special
population census; and
[Amended 9-19-2006 by L.L. No. 46-2006]
(4)
Eleven members to be selected by the Suffolk County Executive, five
of said representatives to serve initial terms of two years, and six
of said representatives to serve initial terms of three years.
B.
No member appointed to the Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board
shall be an employee of the County of Suffolk. For the purposes of
this chapter, the term "employee" shall mean any commissioner, director,
officer, employee or any other person holding a position of employment
in the service of the County of Suffolk.
The initial terms of office shall commence upon appointment,
and subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years.
A.
The members of the Hispanic Advisory Board shall serve without compensation.
B.
The Board may submit requests to the County Executive and/or the
County Legislature for approval for the provision of secretarial services,
travel expenses or retention of consultants to assist the Board with
such endeavors, said total expenditures not to exceed $5,000 per fiscal
year, which services shall be subject to Legislative approval.
C.
Clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of this
Board, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be provided
by the staff of the County Division of Human Services.
The Board shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days
after the effective date of this chapter, which meeting shall be convened
by a representative appointed by the County Executive to serve as
interim Chairperson, for the purpose of organization and the appointment
of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. For the purposes
of this section, the Chairperson shall be selected by a majority of
the members of the Board.
The Board shall hold regular quarterly meetings, keep a record
of all its proceedings and determine the rules of its own proceedings,
with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon his or
her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request therefor signed
by at least three members of the Board. Written notice of the time
and place of such special meetings shall be given by the Secretary
to each member at least four days before the date fixed by the notice
for such special meeting.
A majority of the full Board shall constitute a quorum to transact
the business of the Board at both regular and special meetings.
A.
The Board may conduct such informal hearings and meetings at any
place or places within the County of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining
necessary information or other data to assist it in the proper performance
of its duties and functions as it deems necessary.
B.
The Board may delegate to any member of the Board the power and authority
to conduct such hearings and meetings.
The Board shall cooperate with the legislative committees of
the County Legislature and make available for each committee's
use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or
obtain.
The Board shall submit a written annual report of its findings
and determinations together with its recommendations for action, if
any, to the County Executive and to each member of the County Legislature
no later than January 31 of each year, for the prior calendar year
activities, for consideration, review and appropriate action, if necessary,
by the entire County Legislature.
None of the work contemplated by this chapter shall be performed
by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval
and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted
pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature.
