The purpose and intent of this article is to further enhance
the Town of Manchester's efforts to provide its veterans with
the services and opportunities consistent with Connecticut General
Statutes § 27-135.
There is established a Veterans Advisory Committee. The Committee
shall consist of nine voting members appointed by the Board of Directors,
six of whom shall be electors of the Town of Manchester and three
of whom are representatives from local veterans service organizations
and are not required to be electors of the Town of Manchester. The
initial terms of the nine Committee members first appointed to the
Committee are as follows: three shall serve until November 2022; three
shall serve until November 2023; and three shall serve until November
2024. Thereafter, each succeeding member shall serve a term of three
years. In addition, the Director of Human Services shall serve as
a nonvoting ex-officio member of the Committee and shall also serve
as the Town of Manchester's municipal veterans' representative
pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 27-135(b)(1).
As such ex-officio member of the Committee, the Director of Human
Services shall function as a liaison between the Committee and the
Town Administration for purposes of coordination, obtaining information
that might be required by the Committee and such clerical or other
assistance as may be reasonably available and necessary for the Committee
to carry out its duties and responsibilities. The Board of Directors
shall also appoint one of its own members to serve on the Committee
as a nonvoting member. The members of the Committee shall serve without
compensation.
The Committee shall meet at least quarter-annually and at such
other times as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall,
at its first meeting and annually thereafter, elect a Chairperson
and Vice Chairperson from among its members and such other officers
as the Committee may determine.
The Committee shall serve as a resource for information concerning
federal, state and local benefits and services for veterans, active
duty personnel and their families. The Committee shall compile contact
information from federal and state veterans' affairs agencies
and veterans' advocacy groups and coordinate efforts to recognize
veterans in Manchester, including fundraising to enhance and establish
veterans' memorials on Town property. The Committee may coordinate
the scheduling of regular hours for veterans' advocates to meet
with veterans at Town Hall or other Town facilities. The Committee
may assist the agent for veterans' affairs in communicating matters
of interest to veterans, active duty personnel and their families
in the Town of Manchester. The Committee may work with Town organizations
and volunteers to carry out its projects and may officially recognize
such organization and volunteers for their service. The Committee
shall keep records of its meetings and activities and shall, at least
annually, report to the Board of Directors on its activities.
The Committee shall act as a resource for such other organizations
in Manchester, including, but not limited to, the Permanent Memorial
Day Committee, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and
the Army Navy Club.