[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
There is hereby established the Westfield Mental Health Council
of the Town of Westfield having the powers and duties hereinafter
enumerated.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
(a) The
Council shall consist of 10 members appointed by the Mayor with the
advice and consent of the Town Council.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
[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:
(a) Provide
facilities and programs to promote the mental health of the community.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) Alternate
members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may
not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member
of the Council. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular
member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that
a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate
Number 1 shall vote.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict or inconsistent
with any part of this article are hereby repealed to the extent that
they are in conflict or inconsistent. If any section, provision, or
part of provision of this article shall be held to be unenforceable
or invalid by any court, such holding shall not affect the validity
of this article, or any part thereof, other than the part so held
unenforceable or invalid.
[Added 6-30-2020 by G.O. No. 2174]
This article shall take effect after posting, publication and
final passage in the manner prescribed by law.