CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ORDINANCE

ARTICLE II
Citizens Advisory Commission (§ 22-12 - § 22-16)
[Adopted as Ch. 2, Art. XVI, of the 1977 Code]

§ 22-12 Establishment, members and terms of office.

A. There is hereby established a Citizens Advisory Commission for the City which shall consist of 15 members.

B. The members shall be appointed as follows: The Mayor shall appoint six at-large members, the City Councillors at-large shall each appoint one additional at-large member, the City Councillors representing the City's seven wards shall each appoint a member to represent their respective ward. The at-large appointments shall be used to ensure the representation of the City's many interests and areas. The members shall be appointed for a term of two years during the month of January in the even-numbered years. Any member of the Commission so appointed may, after a public hearing, if requested, be removed for cause by the appointing authority.

C. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.

D. The Commission members shall serve without compensation and shall elect their own officers.

§ 22-13 Purposes.

The purposes of the Commission will be to ensure a broad citizen participation in the process of our City's government, to provide a focal point for that participation and to provide support for public and private efforts in carrying out the community's improvement program.

§ 22-14 Duties.

A. The Commission shall assist the Mayor and City Council in the establishment of a statement of goals for the City. In developing its recommendations for goals the Commission shall consult with all departments, boards and commissions of the City government.

B. When developing its recommendations for a statement of community goals, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing on its recommendations prior to their submission to the Mayor and City Council.

C. Public hearings of the Commission shall be held only after giving notice of the time, place and subject of the same by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Northampton at least seven days prior to the hearing.

D. The Commission shall assist the Mayor and City Council in the development and implementation of the City's workable program of community improvement.

E. The Commission shall serve as a vehicle for continuous and regular input for the residents of the community to their elected and appointed officials.

F. In carrying out these duties, the Commission shall encourage public participation with the citizen-involvement campaigns using newspaper, radio and television publicity, surveys, information meetings and public hearings.

G. The Citizens Advisory Commission shall have the power to call upon any other department, board or commission of the City government for assistance in performing its duties, and it shall be the duty of such other departments, boards and commissions to comply with a proper request of said Commission. Any question as to what constitutes a proper request for assistance shall be decided by the City Council.

§ 22-15 Meetings.

The Citizens Advisory Commission shall hold regular meetings, at least quarterly, and shall designate the time and place thereof, and shall so inform the City Clerk. The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations, subject to or with the approval of the City Council, for the conduct of business within its jurisdiction and shall keep a record of its proceedings; a copy of such record shall be regularly supplied to and kept on file for public review by the office of the City Clerk. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy shall occur when any member shall fail to be present at four consecutive regular meetings, unless such absences shall be excused by the Commission and the reason therefor entered in the proceedings.

§ 22-16 Annual reports.

The Commission shall prepare and file an annual report of its activities in accordance with the provisions of City ordinances. Said report shall contain an evaluation of the Commission's effectiveness.