[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 1]
There is hereby established a Commission on the Arts to fund,
advise on, originate, coordinate and encourage, within the Town, participation
in, and promotion, development, acceptance and appreciation of, artistic
and cultural activities, which shall include, but are not limited
to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature,
films and allied arts and crafts, and to this end may join or contract
with consultants, private patrons, individual artists and ensembles
and with institutions, local sponsoring organizations and professional
organizations.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 2; 3-15-1979; Charter Revision of 1-1-1987; Ord. of 4-8-2013]
(a)
The Commission shall consist of 12 regular members and two alternates,
all of whom shall be electors of the Town of New Milford, who shall
be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the Town Council,
and one ex officio member, who shall be the Mayor. The initial term
for one alternate member position shall expire on November 30, 2014.
The initial term for the other alternate member position shall expire
November 30, 2015. Thereafter terms for both alternate membership
positions shall be three years.
(b)
The 14 electors appointed may include among its membership the following:
six representatives of private nonprofit organizations sponsoring
the arts in the Town of New Milford, one representative of the Board
of Trustees of the New Milford Public Library; one appointee who is
a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission; and four appointees
who are representatives of the general public interested in the arts.
The Commission shall maintain a list of such persons and, when so
requested, may recommend to the Mayor candidates to fill any vacancies
which may occur in the Commission.
(c)
As soon as is convenient after the effective date of this article,
the First Selectman, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen,
shall appoint four members of said Commission who shall serve until
June 30, 1977; four members who shall serve until June 30, 1978; and
four members who shall serve until June 30, 1979. Thereafter, all
appointments shall serve for terms of three years commencing December
1 and ending November 30 in the year of the expiration of their appointment.
(d)
All vacancies shall be filled by the Mayor subject to the approval
of the Town Council for the unexpired term of the vacating member.
(e)
Any member of the Commission may be removed for cause by the Mayor
with the approval of the Town Council. Any member who fails to attend
three consecutive meetings may be removed as a member of the Commission.
(f)
The Commission shall annually elect its Chairman and such other officers
as it shall from time to time determine.
(g)
No action by the Commission, except as herein otherwise specifically
stated, shall be valid unless authorized by a majority of its members.
(h)
Members of said Commission shall serve without compensation as such
but shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 3]
The Commission shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations
for the conduct of its meetings. A majority of its members shall constitute
a quorum, and said Commission shall hold regular meetings once a month,
open to the public, except when in executive session according to
the Connecticut General Statutes. Special meetings may be called by
the Chairman at any time, and shall be called upon written request
of any four members.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 4]
Said Commission shall maintain a survey of public and private
facilities engaged within the Town in artistic and cultural activities
and determine the needs of the citizens of the Town and the methods
by which existing resources may be utilized, or new resources developed,
to fulfill these needs. It shall also maintain a calendar of events
and disseminate such in the local media, and cooperate with the Board
of Education to encourage art activities in the schools.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 5]
(a)
The Commission on the Arts shall have the power to employ an Arts
Coordinator, which appointment shall be subject to the approval of
the First Selectman, and the power to employ such other personnel
as the Commission may deem necessary and proper, provided that there
shall be sufficient funds appropriated for the employment of such
personnel.
(b)
The Arts Coordinator shall be responsible for implementing the actions
of the Commission, for acting as an agent for the dissemination of
information to private organizations, for informing such organizations
of the community resources available to them and assisting them in
applying for federal and other available benefits, and for publicizing
such resources and benefits.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 6]
The Commission shall have the authority to request the legislative
body of the Town of New Milford to make appropriations to cover the
expenses of the Commission, including reasonable funds for official
stationery, clerical services, office space, telephone and postage.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 7]
The Commission on the Arts may make, subject to applicable Town
law and within the scope of its budget, all contracts necessary to
carry out the objectives and purposes of the Commission, and the Commission
shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may
be necessary for the proper administration of the affairs of the Commission.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 8]
(a)
Prior to the preparation of the annual Town budget by the Comptroller,
the Commission on the Arts shall submit a detailed statement on the
amount of money which it will require to meet the obligations thereof
and provide for its expenses for the ensuing fiscal year, together
with recommendations for the development of the Commission on the
Arts and such programs in the arts and crafts as it may deem advisable.
It shall also prepare an annual report of its proceedings and expenditures
during the preceding year and file such, pursuant to the provisions
of the Town Charter.
(b)
The Commission shall have the power to expend any funds appropriated
by the Board of Finance for such purposes. Within the limitations
of state law and the Town Charter, the Commission shall have the power
to receive and expend private, public, federal and state grants subject
to the written approval of the First Selectman; it shall also have
the power to expend any funds which are donated, devised or bequeathed,
for cultural purposes, to the Town of New Milford, and duly accepted
by the Town.
(c)
Said Commission shall have the power to make and enforce such rules
and regulations governing the use of such art facilities as it deems
proper and the power and authority to appoint subcommittees to study
any phase of the work of the Commission or to assist in carrying out
the functions of the Commission.
[Ord. of 3-3-1977, § 9]
The Commission on the Arts shall cause to be maintained accurate
records of the Commission's work. It shall keep a record of the minutes
of all meetings, procedures and accounts of the Commission, and shall
file a copy thereof with the Town Clerk and the office of the First
Selectman. Such records shall be open to the public.
