[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Atlantic
City 12-12-2018 by Ord. No. 36-2018[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 4.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 40,
Public Safety Civilian Review Board, adopted 5-23-2012 by Ord. No.
43-2012, as amended.
A.
There is hereby created an Atlantic City Citizens Advisory Board
(hereinafter "CAB").
B.
The overall goal of the CAB is to foster communication, inclusiveness,
and transparency between the community and the Police Department.
C.
Core membership of the CAB shall be drawn from City of Atlantic City
civic associations. Each civic association shall select members to
be considered for the Board. Each civic association shall be represented
on the Board.
D.
The CAB shall be comprised of membership as follows:
[Amended 10-16-2019 by Ord. No. 45-2019; 5-19-2021 by Ord. No. 17-2021]
(1)
The CAB shall be comprised of 21 members who shall be residents of
the City of Atlantic City and shall be appointed as follows:
(a)
Six appointments shall be made, one each, from the five civic
associations and the Boardwalk Committee. The first two appointments
shall be for a term of one year. The next two appointments shall be
for a term of two years, and the fifth and sixth appointments shall
be for a three-year term. Thereafter, all terms shall be for three
years.
(b)
Nine appointments shall be made by City Council. The first three
appointments shall be for a one-year term; the second three appointments
shall be for a two-year term; the final three appointments shall be
for a three-year term. Thereafter, all terms shall be for three years.
(c)
Three appointments shall be made by the Mayor. The first appointment
shall be for a one-year term; the second appointment shall be for
a two-year term; the third appointment shall be for a three-year term.
Thereafter, all terms shall be for three years.
(d)
One appointment shall be made by the Atlantic City Board of
Education for a three-year term.
(e)
Two appointments of youth members, ages 18 to 25, shall be made
by majority vote of the other members of the CAB. Youth members shall
commit to attend all meetings of the CAB for one year. The first youth
member shall be appointed for a two-year term; the second youth member
shall be appointed for a three-year term. Thereafter, all terms shall
be for three years.
(f)
In the event of a vacancy in the membership of the Citizen Advisory
Board during an unexpired term of office, a person shall be appointed
as a member of the Board to serve for such unexpired term.
(2)
CAB members shall serve a minimum of three years. Members shall serve
until their successors are appointed and qualified. CAB members' appointment
shall only be effective upon formal swearing in.
E.
A member may be removed from service on the CAB by a two-thirds vote
of the full membership of the CAB for failure to attend three consecutive
CAB meetings.
F.
Vacancies on the CAB shall be reported to the City Clerk, who will
then notify the Mayor and City Council that an appointment is needed
to fill the unexpired term.
G.
The CAB shall meet at least monthly in executive session, and the
Chief of Police shall attend each monthly meeting unless there is
good cause given for his absence. If the Chief cannot attend a monthly
meeting, the police representative shall be at the level of Deputy
Chief.
H.
The CAB shall have quarterly meetings that are open to the public.
Minutes and agendas for such public meetings shall be made available
to the public.
I.
All appointees shall undergo a criminal history background check
to be conducted by the appropriate division of the Atlantic City Police
Department. The Atlantic City Police Department will furnish the appropriate
forms for the applicant to complete to perform the background check.
All appointments or reappointments will be done with the understanding
that the appointee certifies he/she has not been convicted of a crime
or offense involving moral turpitude. Further, the appointment or
reappointment shall be conditioned upon the required background check
and any individual who is found to have committed a crime or offense
involving moral turpitude shall be subject to removal.
J.
The City shall not bear any financial obligation or responsibility
for any disbursement(s) incurred or as a result of activities performed
by the CAB.
K.
The City shall establish a link on the City's webpage for citizens
to make anonymous praise or complaints concerning the Atlantic City
Police Department.
The duties and responsibilities of the CAB shall be as follows:
A.
To receive/compile information from both the Police Department, as
determined by the Chief, and the general public so that the CAB can
review and report on public safety and law enforcement trends;
B.
To receive/compile information about best practices of law enforcement
from around the country, particularly in the area of community policing
and development of alternatives to incarceration;
C.
To provide citizens with the opportunity to converse directly with
Atlantic City Police leadership regarding public safety concerns;
D.
To provide citizens with the opportunity to give informed feedback
on the performance of the Police Department with respect to public
safety concerns and quality of police community relations, including
but not limited to concerns regarding neighborhood presence, quality
and frequency of police contacts, response time, proactive police
initiatives;
E.
To encourage candid and collaborative problem solving.
