[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The purpose of the Committee shall be to advise the Mayor and City Council on issues of homelessness in the City of Pittsfield with efforts focusing on advocacy and public education. This Committee shall work with community leaders, city residents and service providers to understand the needs of those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, explore in collaboration with the City, community leaders, City residents and service providers ways to address these needs, and recommend actions the City may wish to take to address identified needs. The work of the Committee shall be done in a manner that ensures all are treated with dignity and respect and in compliance with the City's policy. The Committee shall be a multimember body as defined in Article
10, Section
10-6 of the City Charter.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The Committee shall consist of 15 members appointed pursuant
to the City Charter and shall include at least one representative
from each of the following groups:
(a) Pittsfield Public Schools.
(b) Emergency medical professional.
(c) Mental health and/or trauma-informed care agencies.
(d) Nonprofit social services agencies.
(e) Public housing authority representative.
(g) Veteran services agencies.
(h) Pittsfield Police Department.
(j) Pittsfield Community Development Department.
(k) Current or former homeless person.
(l) Berkshire County Sheriff's Department.
The Mayor shall appoint all of the members to the Committee
subject to City Council approval. The Mayor, in making said appointments
shall select such members from a pool of potential candidates as may
be developed by the Mayor's office and which may contain the names
of additional candidates which may be submitted from time to time
by the Committee by its vote. In accordance with the procedures as
set forth in the City Charter under the procedures governing multimember
bodies, the members of the Committee shall elect from its membership
a chairperson, vice chairperson, a secretary and any other officers
that the membership deems necessary. An annual election of officers
shall be held at the first meeting after adoption of this article
and appointment of at least eight members and in July each year thereafter.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The Mayor shall have the authority, with the approval of the
City Council, to discharge a Committee member for cause. Any Committee
members absent for three consecutive meetings shall be automatically
removed by the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
Each member shall serve a term for three years. However, the
initial appointments shall consist of five members that will serve
for one year, five members that will serve for two years, and five
members that will serve for three years. In the event of a vacancy,
the Mayor shall appoint a successor as soon as practicable, subject
to City Council approval, and said successor shall fulfill the unexpired
term of the member whose seat was vacated.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The term quorum is defined by Article
10, Section
10-6(e) of the City Charter.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
Meetings of the Committee shall be held quarterly or more frequently as needed. In accordance with Article
10, Section
10-6(b) of the City Charter, the Committee shall make rules governing its meetings.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
In accordance with Article
10, Section
10-6(c) of the City Charter, the Committee shall make rules governing its recordkeeping.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The Committee will advocate for and provide general public education
about the general issues of homelessness and the provision of homelessness
services in the City. In connection with this duty, the Committee
will:
(a) Review local, state and federal data regarding homelessness in Pittsfield
and Berkshire County including but not limited to the number of homeless
individuals in the City and county, shelter capacity, occupancy and
conditions, the availability and need for non-housing services, and
reports provided to the City from organizations receiving City funds
to aid the homeless;
(b) Identify the financial needs of those servicing this population as
well as identify potential funding sources to meet needs;
(c) Identify model programs that may be applicable to meet needs in Pittsfield;
(d) Solicit views on homelessness services needs from citizens and groups
concerned therewith, including, but not limited to, representatives
of human service agencies, and shall provide opportunities for citizens
and groups to present their views; function as an advisory resource
on homelessness services issues for the City government and as such
shall not solicit or receive funding or grants; and
(e) File annual report with the City Clerk, Mayor and City Council no
later than September 30 of each year.
[Ord. No. 1229, § I, 10-13-2020]
The Director of the Department of Community Development or its
designee may assign staff to provide secretarial and administrative
services to the Committee. Said staff shall at all times remain under
the direction and control of the Director of Community Development.
