City of Perth Amboy, NJ Chapter 7 Arts Council

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Perth Amboy 9-25-2014 by Ord. No. 1732-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 7-1 Establishment, Purpose and Functions.

[Amended 12-14-2016 by Ord. No. 1827-2016]

A. There is hereby established the Perth Amboy Arts Council, an advisory body to the Mayor and Council of the City of Perth Amboy.

B. The Arts Council shall promote public appreciation, accessibility and patronage of the arts in the City of Perth Amboy, as well as:

(1) Establish, amend and supplement bylaws, as needed, to govern its structure, operations and activities.

(2) Advise the Mayor and City Council and other City agencies with respect to matters relating to the advancement of the cultural, visual and performing arts in Perth Amboy and the County of Middlesex.

(3) Foster public and private partnerships to help enhance arts and cultural programming for Perth Amboy residents. Make an annual report of its activities and recommendations to the City Council and at such other time as the City Council shall request.

(4) Make an annual report of its activities and recommendations to the City Council and at such other time as the City Council shall request.

(5) Act as liaison between the City Council and federal, state and county bodies involved in promoting, funding or presenting cultural, visual and performing arts in the community.

(6) The Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency, Perth Amboy Planning Board, and any other City Departments seeking grants and proposing development of public spaces, maintain communication with the Arts Council and seek arts related input and suggestions for any application.

[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord. No. 1827-2016]

(7) The Arts Council shall accept and review mural applications in the City of Perth Amboy and shall make recommendations to the City Council.

[Added 9-24-2014 by Ord. No. 1741-2014]

§ 7-2 Membership.

[Amended 9-24-2014 by Ord. No. 1741-2014; 10-22-2014 by Ord. No. 1745-2014; 6-28-2017 by Ord. No. 1853-2017]

A. The Arts Council shall consist of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council as provided for herein. The Council shall also appoint first and second alternate members, who may attend all meetings, but shall be entitled to vote only when serving in the place of an absent regular member.

(1) The Council shall also appoint first and second alternate members, who may attend all meetings, but shall be entitled to vote only when serving in the place of an absent regular member.

B. Public candidates for appointment to the Arts Council shall be selected in accordance with the Citizen Service Position Notification procedures of the City Code (Chapter 21). By formal vote, the Arts Council may forward to the City Council its recommendations for appointments or reappointments from among the list of candidates. In the event of a vacancy, a person appointed serves for the balance of the unexpired term, at which point he or she may be appointed to a full term.

C. Each member of the Arts Council shall have one (1) vote in decisions of the Arts Council.

§ 7-3 Conditions and Terms of Appointment.

[Amended 10-22-2014 by Ord. No. 1745-2014; 6-28-2017 by Ord. No. 1853-2017]

The following provisions shall apply to members appointed to serve on the Arts Council:

A. At least five (5) members of the Arts Council must reside or own property within the City or, alternatively, work or own a business within the City's municipal boundaries.

B. The City Council will endeavor to include among the members of the Arts Council:

(1) Artists or residents interested in the arts;

(2) One (1) City Council representative, mandatory;

(3) One (1) interested volunteer representative from the City Department of Recreation.

C. Any City Council member may express his or her interest in serving as the Council representative and request appointment by the City Council to a two (2) year term. In the absence of a volunteer, the Council President shall appoint a Council member to the two (2) year term.

D. Members of the Arts Council shall serve staggered terms. To achieve this result, the initial appointments of the five (5) at-large members shall be for the following durations:

(1)

Two (2) members:	two (2) year terms
Three (3) members:	three (3) year terms

(2) Alternates shall be appointed to a two (2) year term.

Thereafter, all at-large members appointed shall serve staggered three (3) year terms or the unexpired balance of the term for which appointed, whichever is the lesser period, with the following exceptions:

(a) The City Council representative shall be appointed to a two (2) year term;

(b) The Department of Recreation representative shall be appointed for a one (1) year term.

[Added 11-8-2017 by Ord. No. 1866-2017]

E. Members may serve up to two (2) consecutive full terms, or six (6) consecutive years, whichever is longer.

§ 7-4 Officers.

The Arts Council shall elect its officers, including a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and such officers as it may deem necessary. Such persons shall occupy their respective offices for a period of one (1) year. No person shall be elected to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in any particular office.

§ 7-5 Meetings.

[Amended 3-14-2018 by Ord. No. 1878-2018; 8-11-2021 by Ord. No. 1985-2021]

A. The Arts Council shall hold regular public meetings bimonthly on the third Thursday of the month, and shall keep written minutes of its proceedings, which minutes shall be a public record. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act,[1] the public shall be give advance notice of these meetings.

[1] Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.

B. A quorum is required for any action to take place, which shall consist of 50% of appointed members plus one.