Town of Westfield, NJ Westfield Mental Health Council

The Council shall consist of 10 members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Town Council.

The Council shall be comprised of appointed members and interested groups in the Town, as well as resident volunteers, as follows: Mayor's representative; Town Council representative; representative from nonprofit organizations that provide mental health services; Westfield Public Schools representative; Board of Health representative; medical mental health professional; and four residents to be selected from volunteer applications. Volunteers shall demonstrate a strong personal interest in this field and interest in making an impact in the community related to mental health.

In addition to the foregoing, there shall be two alternate members, designated as Alternate Number 1 and Alternate Number 2, who shall be permitted to vote only in the absence of a regular member. The Mayor shall also appoint one member of the Town Council to act ex officio as the liaison between the Council and the Town Council.

(d)

The members shall serve without compensation and must be residents of the Town of Westfield, except that they shall be entitled to be reimbursed for their preapproved reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and within the budgetary limitations of the Council.

(e)

The Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, shall name one member of the Council as Chairperson to serve for one year.

§ 2-117 Terms.

[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]

All members of the Council shall serve for a term of two years, except that upon the original organization of the Council, three members shall be appointed for a term of one year; three members for a term of two years; and four members for a term of three years. Thereafter, the term of each member shall be for two years. All terms shall be measured from the first day of the year of appointment, and any vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was filled.

Any member of the Council may be removed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Town Council for neglect of duty, misconduct or malfeasance in office, after being given a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be heard thereon by the Town Council. In the event of a vacancy, the Mayor, with the approval of the Town Council, shall appoint another person to fill the unexpired term of such vacancy.

In addition, cause for removal may be found where a member is absent without prior notification to the Chairperson from three consecutive meetings or from 50% of the Council's regularly scheduled meetings for a year.

§ 2-118 Powers and duties.

[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]

The Council shall determine the mental health support needs of the Town, and shall have the power and duty to manage, oversee, direct and establish policies and standards for mental health support programs. It shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to exercise its responsibilities. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Council shall have the following powers and duties:

Provide facilities and programs to promote the mental health of the community.

Raise awareness of the local mental health resources available within the Town regardless of income; link residents in need to local mental health resources; and create a culture wherein residents who are in need of mental health services are supported by their community and neighbors and feel free to seek treatment.

Disseminate educational, informational and promotional materials, in all available media formats, to foster an environment of mental well-being, including, but not limited to, mailings, newsletters, banners, brochures, flyers, websites, and social media presence.

(d)

Recommend for adoption by resolution of the Mayor and Town Council all such guidelines, rules and regulations as the Council shall deem necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this article.

§ 2-119 Expenditure of funds.

[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]

The Town Council may, but is not required to, annually appropriate funds for the use of the Council. The Council shall conduct its affairs and policies each year within the amount appropriated by the Town Council for such purposes and at no time shall expend more than the sum so appropriated.

In consultation with the Department of Health and such other departments as appropriate, the Council shall also establish funding priorities for services and programs that address mental health treatment for residents; review and evaluate applications requesting funding from the Town; submit funding recommendations for public and social services to the Mayor and Town Council; and monitor past and present uses of funds by services and programs that received funds from the Town.

§ 2-120 Meetings.

[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]

Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at the call of the Chairperson, provided that a meeting may also be called upon the written request of five regular members of the Council. At least two days' notice of any such meeting shall be given to all regular and alternate members unless such notice is waived in writing.

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the regular members of the Council, except that in the absence of a regular member an alternate member may take the place of a regular member in establishing said quorum.