[Adopted 2-22-1994 by Ord. No. 94-3; amended in its entirety 4-26-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-5]
There is hereby established an Arts Council which shall be composed of 18 citizens of the Borough who shall serve without compensation, plus that member of the Borough Council serving as liaison from year to year. All 18 citizen members shall serve, on a staggered basis, for a term of three years. Each of the 13 citizens currently serving as full members of the Arts Council shall continue, without need for reappointment, until the expiration of their respective current terms. With respect to the five citizen members added by this article, two shall be appointed for one year, two shall be appointed for two years and one shall be appointed for a three-year term, all terms to expire at the organizational meeting of the Mayor and Council in January for each respective term.
All 18 citizen members shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. The Borough Council liaison shall be designated every year at the annual reorganization meeting of the Borough by the members of the Borough Council. All members shall serve until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. The members of the Arts Council shall designate one of its citizen members as Chairperson and that individual shall serve until the first day of January next following that election and until his or her successor shall be appointed and qualified. Vacancies occurring other than by the expiration of the term shall be filled in the manner prescribed therein, but only for the balance of the unexpired term.
The Arts Council shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
To establish, amend and supplement its own bylaws to govern its structure, operations and activities to the extent not inconsistent with this article or any other local, state or federal regulation or law.
B. 
To make recommendations to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Metuchen and other Borough agencies with respect to any matters relating to the advancement of the cultural, visual and performing arts in the Borough of Metuchen or the County of Middlesex.
C. 
To aid in bringing to the Borough those activities which will enhance the educational and cultural opportunities for the residents of the Borough.
D. 
To make an annual report of its activities and recommendations to the Borough Council and at such other time as the Borough Council shall request or the Arts Council deems desirable.
E. 
To act as liaison between the Borough Council and other federal, state and county bodies involved in promoting, funding or presenting cultural, visual and performing arts in the community.