[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 8-31-2000 by Res. No.
687-2000 (Ch. 540 of the 1985 Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The Suffolk County African-American Advisory Board (Board) is
hereby ratified to discuss issues of importance and relevance to the
Afro-American community and to make recommendations regarding proposed
legislation to the Suffolk County Legislature in connection with the
following, all through educational programs, conferences, committees,
projects, and programs without participating in or endorsing political
organizations or candidates for public office:
A.
To advocate on behalf of the emerging Afro-American community in
Suffolk County.
B.
To encourage civic participation at all levels by members of the
Afro-American community.
C.
To promote Afro-American business development and to provide information
necessary for Afro-American businesses to enable them to have equal
access and opportunity to contracting and procurement in Suffolk County.
D.
To improve cultural understanding between the Afro-American community,
Suffolk County government, and Suffolk County residents.
The members of said Board shall serve without compensation and
shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities.
The Board shall hold regular quarterly meetings, keep a record
of all its proceedings and determine the rules of its own proceedings,
with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon his or
her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request therefor signed
by at least three members of the Board. Written notice of the time
and place of such special meetings shall be given by the Secretary
to each member at least four days before the date fixed by the notice
for such special meeting.
Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact
the business of the Board at both regular and special meetings.
A.
The Board may submit requests to the County Executive and/or the
County Legislature for approval for the provision of secretarial services
or travel expenses or retention of consultants to assist the Board
with such endeavors, said total expenditures not to exceed $2,000
per fiscal year, which services shall be subject to legislative approval.
B.
Clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of this
Board, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be provided
by the staff of the County Division of Human Services.
A.
The Board may conduct such informal hearings and meetings at any
place or places within the County of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining
necessary information or other data to assist it in the proper performance
of its duties and functions as it deems necessary.
B.
The Board may delegate to any member of the Board the power and authority
to conduct such hearings and meetings.
The Board shall cooperate with the legislative committees of
the County Legislature and make available for each committee's
use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or
obtain.
The Board is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to create
a County Legislative Liaison Subcommittee to deal with issues related
to the Suffolk County Legislature and shall conduct such public hearings
throughout the County of Suffolk as may be determined to be necessary
to ascertain the views, wishes and opinions of the residents of the
Afro-American community in Suffolk County.
This Board shall submit a written annual report of its findings
and determinations together with its recommendations for action, if
any, to each member of the County Legislature and the County Executive
no later than January 31 of each year, for the prior calendar year
activities, for consideration, review and appropriate action, if necessary,
by the entire County Legislature.
None of the work contemplated by this chapter shall be performed
by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval
and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted
pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature.
