Town of Manchester, CT Veterans Advisory Committee

§ 28-75 Purpose.

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.

§ 28-76 Membership; terms.

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.

§ 28-77 Meetings; elections of officers; rules of procedure.

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.

§ 28-78 Duties.

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.

§ 28-79 Coordination with other organizations.

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.