[Ord. No. 19-2269, 9-16-2019]
A.
For the purpose of promoting the general welfare of the community
and the specific welfare of residents of the City who are veterans
of military service to the United States of America, a Veterans Commission
for the City of Manchester is hereby established.
B.
The Veterans Commission shall consist of eleven (11) voting members,
nine (9) volunteer members, a Board of Aldermen ex-officio representative
and the Mayor. Of the volunteer members, at least five (5) shall be
veterans or spouses of veterans; one (1) shall be designated by the
Walter Le Pere American Legion Post 208, at least six (6) shall be
City residents, and all shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval
of the Board of Aldermen. The Commission shall elect its chairperson
and secretary from among the nine (9) volunteer members, and both
will serve for a one-year term with eligibility for reelection. The
resident members of the Veterans Commission shall live in the City
at the time of their appointment and during their term. All members
shall serve without compensation.
C.
In addition to the Mayor, resident and non-resident members, there
shall be an ex-officio member of the Commission from the Board of
Aldermen who is expected to attend all meetings and give input and
shall have a vote on any recommendations of the Committee. The ex-officio
member will be appointed by the Mayor with approval of the Board of
Aldermen and will report Commission activities to the Board of Aldermen.
The City Administrator will appoint a City staff person to serve as
a liaison between the Commission and City staff. That person will
not have voting power.
D.
Terms for the initial volunteer member appointments to this Veterans
Commission shall be staggered with three members initially appointed
for a term of one (1) year ending in 2020, and three (3) members initially
appointed for a term of two (2) years ending in 2021, the balance
for a full three-year term ending in 2022. Thereafter, the terms for
volunteer members of the Commission appointed by the Mayor shall be
for three-year terms. The limit on the successive three-year terms
a member may serve is three (3), for a total of nine (9) years. The
initial appointees may serve nine (9) years plus their original appointment
term length. Members shall serve until their successors are duly appointed
except that a vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred upon a citizen
member's non-residency or an aldermanic (ex-officio) member's
going off of the Board of Aldermen.
E.
The Veterans Commission shall hold regular and special meetings in
accordance with the schedule established by the Commission, its Chairperson
and the Mayor.
F.
The Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings and provide the
City Clerk with copies of those minutes for distribution to the Board
of Aldermen. All Commission meetings shall be held in compliance with
the Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo.) and the City's
policy relating to open meetings and records.
[Ord. No. 19-2269, 9-16-2019]
Unless provided otherwise by law, any member of this Commission
may be removed by the Mayor, with or without cause, with the approval
of a majority of the members of the Board of Aldermen, at any time,
or by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Board of Aldermen without
the consent and approval of the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 19-2269, 9-16-2019]
The purpose and duties of the Veterans Commission is to plan
and coordinate all veterans programs with support from City departments,
and to make recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen concerning
any programs or changes to existing programs, as it deems appropriate.
The Commission shall insure the needs of the local veterans are identifiable
and a top community priority, with emphasis on connecting them with
known resources. The Commission shall make an annual, year-end report
to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen concerning its activities.
[Ord. No. 19-2269, 9-16-2019]
A.
The payment and processing of expenses shall be in accordance with
the regulations of the City and only as appropriated by the Board
of Aldermen in the annual budget. Nothing herein shall require an
appropriation of any funds by the Board.
B.
The Commission shall accept grants and gifts by permission of and
within the terms of such permission as may be granted by the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen and by written City policy.
[Ord. No. 19-2269, 9-16-2019]
The Veterans Commission is advisory. The Committee at its discretion
and subject to the direction of the City Administrator may request
the City staff to undertake research, to advertise and to do other
ministerial duties as required.
