[Adopted 5-20-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-6; amended in its entirety 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-08[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also changed the title of this article from "Municipal Alliance – Youth Service Board" to "Community Action for Recovery, Education and Support (CARES) Committee."
A. 
There is hereby established a Community Action for Recovery, Education and Support ("CARES") Committee which shall be composed of no more than 15 members, not including the Mayor, who may serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the Committee. To the extent possible, members of the Board shall be representative of the community.
B. 
The purpose of the CARES Committee is to prevent and reduce substance use and behavioral addictions and to promote mental wellness in the Borough of Metuchen by raising awareness and providing education through programs focused on prevention and recovery.
C. 
The Mayor and Council, in its discretion, may provide an annual budget to the CARES Committee for funding and sponsoring programs and promoting mental wellness consistent with the purpose set forth herein.
A. 
All 15 members of the CARES Committee are to be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. Membership shall include the following:
(1) 
One member of the Borough Council, who shall serve as a voting member.
(2) 
A representative from the Police Department, the Chief or his designee, who shall serve as a voting member.
(3) 
The Board shall include a volunteer psychological counselor, who shall serve as a voting member.
(4) 
A representative of the Board of Education, who shall serve as a voting member.
(5) 
Eleven residents of Metuchen, at least one of whom shall be under the age of 18, all of whom shall be voting members, except for the elected Chairperson, who shall only be eligible to vote in the event of a tie.
B. 
To the extent possible, of the 11 members set forth in Subsection A(5) above, the Mayor and Council shall consider the following for appointment to the Committee: a Student Assistance Coordinator or another student support services staff member; a representative of parent-teacher organizations or home school association; parents and/or guardians of Borough students; a representative of local faith-based organizations; individuals who have been affected by substance use disorders and/or behavioral addictions, including those affected by their own or a family member's addiction; private citizens with interest in issues concerning substance use, addiction, and juvenile delinquency; representatives of local civic or volunteer groups; representatives from youth services organizations; representatives of local businesses; a senior citizen representative; health and human services agencies/professionals, including health care professionals, including pharmacists, physicians, or therapists; representatives of public and private organizations involved in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions; and/or representatives of the local communications media or public relations to serve on the CARES Committee.
C. 
The terms of the members appointed under Subsection A(1) and (4) shall be coextensive with their terms of office. The remaining members shall be appointed for terms of three years. However, at the time of the passage of this article, all present members of the Municipal Alliance — Youth Service Board shall continue to serve in that capacity as members on the CARES Committee until the expiration of their current terms. Any vacancies on the current Municipal Alliance — Youth Service Board, to the extent possible, shall be filled for terms to be determined by the Mayor with the consent of the Borough Council. Thereafter, each appointment to the CARES Committee shall be for three years. Members shall serve after the expiration of their terms until their respective successors shall have been appointed and have qualified. Vacancies occurring other than by the expiration of the term shall be filled in like manner, but for the balance of the unexpired term only. The Board shall advise the Mayor and Council of any vacancies among its membership. The determination of a vacancy on the Board shall be determined by the Council of the Borough based upon the criteria set forth in the Municipal Vacancy Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:16-1 et seq. The Board shall designate one of its members as Chairperson, and they shall serve as such until the first day of January next following the appointment and until their successor shall be appointed and qualify. The Chairperson shall only be eligible to vote on Committee matters in the case of a tie vote. All members shall serve without compensation.
The CARES Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
Determine through an annual assessment of community-based needs the scope and depth of substance use and behavioral addictions in the Borough of Metuchen and provide comprehensive community-based prevention programs and outreach.
B. 
Organize and coordinate efforts with the Borough of Metuchen schools, faith-based groups, youth members of the community, law enforcement, business groups and other community organizations for the purpose of reducing substance use disorders and behavioral addictions, as well as promoting mental wellness.
C. 
Provide comprehensive substance use and behavioral addiction education, support and outreach efforts for parents and other adults in the community.
D. 
Establish, amend and supplement its own bylaws, select other officers, and create any such subcommittees 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.
E. 
Make recommendations to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Metuchen and other Borough agencies with respect to any matters relating to the existence of any grants or funding available to the Borough to further the purpose and intent of the Committee.
F. 
Create and foster a network of community leaders, private citizens, and representatives from public and private human service agencies who are dedicated to supporting and developing educational programs which prevent and/or reduce substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.
G. 
Conduct an assessment of the community-wide needs pertaining to mental wellness and addiction.
H. 
Identify existing efforts and services that are acting to prevent and reduce substance use disorders and behavioral addictions and coordinate projects within the Borough to avoid fragmentation and duplication.
I. 
Develop programs and/or projects to be implemented at the Borough level or participate in regionally developed programs that accomplish the purpose of the Committee.
J. 
Report to the Mayor and Council on, at the very least, a quarterly annual basis or as requested by the Mayor and/or Council.