[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Georgetown: Article I, 3-3-1969
Annual Town Meeting, Art. 30; Article II, 5-24-1993 Annual
Town Meeting, Art. 43. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 3-3-1969 ATM, Art. 30]
[Amended 3-2-1970 ATM, Art. 15; 6-10-2002
ATM, Art. 17]
A Council on Aging is hereby established, as provided in MGL C. 40,
§ 8B, consisting of nine members. Members shall annually in March
be appointed by the Selectmen for three years.
[Amended 3-2-1970 ATM, Art. 15]
[Amended 3-2-1970 ATM, Art. 15; 6-10-2002
ATM, Art. 17]
Of the members first appointed, one shall serve until the third Monday
in March 1970, one until March 1971 and one until March 1972. Of the additional
members added in 1970, two shall serve until the third Monday in March 1971,
one shall serve until March 1972 and one shall serve until March 1973. Of
the additional members added in 2002, one member shall serve until March 2003
and one member shall serve until March 2004.
The Council may appoint, subject to appropriation under MGL C. 40, § 5,
Clause 49, such clerks and other employees as it may require.
[Adopted 5-24-1993 ATM, Art. 43[1]]
A.
There is hereby established under MGL C. 40, § 8J,
a Commission on Disability to be known as the "Georgetown Equal Access Commission,"
hereinafter called the "Commission," which shall consist of seven members,
a majority of whom shall be residents of Georgetown. At least five of the
seven members shall be persons with disabilities or deafness and represent
as many cross-disabilities as possible. One of such members shall be a member
of the immediate family of a disabled or deaf person. Commission members shall
serve without compensation. All members shall be appointed by the Board of
Selectmen. The Commission will be available to consult with the Board of Selectmen
regarding prospective Commission members.
[Amended 6-26-1995 ATM, Art. 24]
B.
Of the seven members originally appointed to the Commission,
two shall be appointed for a term ending one year from the date of adoption
of this article; two shall be appointed for a term ending two years from the
date of adoption of this article; and three shall be appointed for a term
ending three years from the date of adoption of this article. Thereafter,
as the terms of the original appointees expire, their successors shall be
appointed for three-year terms. In the event of the death or resignation of
any member, a successor shall be appointed to serve the unexpired term by
the Board of Selectmen.
A.
The members shall annually elect a Chairperson, Vice
Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
B.
A minimum of a majority of Commission members shall constitute
a quorum in the exercise of any of the Commission's powers and duties.
[Amended 6-26-1995 ATM, Art. 24]
C.
The Commission shall propose bylaws which designate such
practices, rules and regulations as it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes
and provisions of this article.
The Commission may receive funds, bequests and gifts subject to the
approval of the Board of Selectmen. Any such funds shall be deposited in a
separate fund or account and shall be known as the "Georgetown Commission
on Equal Access Fund."
A.
The Commission is empowered to hold public hearings in
regard to issues of concern to residents with disabilities in the public interest.
B.
Notice of such hearings shall be posted with the Town
Clerk at least 14 days prior to the established meeting, published in the
area newspapers, including the Council on Aging newsletter. Meetings shall
be posted 48 hours in advance in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
It shall be the function of the Commission to:
A.
Act as a centralizing force in the Town of Georgetown
which will deal with all issues relating to citizens with disabilities, providing
technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations
and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to enhance the
quality of living and eliminate prejudices and discrimination against persons
with disabilities.
B.
Take such action as the Commission considers appropriate
to ensure equal status of persons with disabilities.
C.
Endeavor to assure that no otherwise qualified individual
with a disability in the Town of Georgetown shall solely by reason of his
or her disability be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of
or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
within the Town of Georgetown.
A.
The Commission shall meet a minimum of 10 times per year.
B.
The Commission shall keep accurate records of all its
meetings and actions and shall file an annual report which shall be included
in the Town's Annual Report.
C.
The Commission shall submit an annual finance report
to the Town Clerk and the Finance and Advisory Board.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall include the following:
A.
To design and implement programs that promote equality
for all persons with disabilities in the Town.
B.
To initiate, coordinate and monitor the enactment of
legislation which promotes equal status of persons with disabilities.
C.
To be a resource for persons who have disabilities or
are deaf.
D.
To obtain from the Town departments and agencies information
necessary to carry out the functions, purposes, programs and activities of
the Commission.
E.
To review pertinent policies of all departments and agencies
of the Town as they directly relate to the powers, duties and
functions of the Commission.
F.
To assist in public awareness of persons with disabilities
via participation in public and media events.
G.
To acquire, analyze, use and store disability-related
statistics for program planning, evaluation and assistance.
H.
To research local problems of persons with disabilities
and may advertise, prepare, print and distribute books, charts and pamphlets
necessary to its work.
I.
Such other powers and duties as may be agreed upon by
the Board of Selectmen in accordance with the purposes of this article.
J.
To advise businesses and other groups in the Town of
Georgetown about their required compliance under the Americans With Disabilities
Act.
