There is hereby created in and for the Town of Dover the position
of Ombudsman. The Town of Dover hereby establishes, in addition to
other remedies or rights of appeal, an independent, impartial municipal
office, responsible to the Mayor and Board of Alderman, empowered
to investigate the acts of municipal officers, employees, offices
and agencies, to recommend appropriate actions and changes toward
the goals of safeguarding the rights of persons and of promoting higher
standards of competency, efficiency and equity in the provision of
municipal services.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ADMINISTRATIVE ACT
An action, omission, decision, recommendation, practice,
policy or procedure.
AGENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY
Includes a department, office, institution, corporation,
authority, board, commission, or committee or subdivision of the Town
of Dover, including boards and commissions, a contractor providing
service to the public on behalf of the municipality, and any official,
officer, officeholder, appointee, employee or member of such entities
acting or purporting to act in the exercise of their official duties.
A person may be nominated for appointment as the Ombudsman by
the Mayor and appointed with the advice and consent of the Board of
Alderman.
The term of office of the Ombudsman shall be one year, ending
on December 31 of the calendar year.
The Ombudsman may be removed from office during the term by
a majority vote of the Board of Alderman.