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.