[Adopted by Ord. No. 1993-20 (Sec. 2-52 of the 1987 Revised General Ordinances); amended in its entirety 10-12-2023 by Ord. No. NP2023-16]
There is hereby created a Committee to be known as the "Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee." The Committee shall consist of seven members plus two alternate Commissioners, who shall be designated at the times of their appointment as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2," to be appointed by the Borough Council. All members are to serve without compensation. To the greatest extent possible, the ethnic composition of the Committee shall be comparable to that of the Borough of Red Bank. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote first.
All members of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a term of three years, except that upon the original organization of the Committee, two members shall be appointed for a term of one year; two members for a term of two years; and three members for a term of three years. Thereafter, the term of each member shall be for three years. Alternate Committee members shall serve for a term of two years except that upon the original appointments, one alternate shall serve for one year and one alternate shall serve for two years. Thereafter, the term of each alternate shall be for two years. All Committee members shall serve until a successor is duly appointed and qualified. The appointment of a member to an unexpired term shall be for the unexpired term of said Committee member only. The Borough Manager shall serve as an ex officio member of the Committee.
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee shall annually select a Chair, Vice Chair, and such other officers from its members as the Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee may determine.
A. 
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the Borough Council of the Borough of Red Bank and shall attempt to foster, through community effort or otherwise, goodwill, cooperation and conciliation between the diverse inhabitants of the Borough. The Committee shall make recommendations to the Borough Council for the development of bylaws, policies and procedures for the Committee in general. Additionally, the Committee shall recommend to the Borough Council programs of formal and informal education that will aid toward the elimination of all types of discrimination based on, but not limited to, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, social and economic status, physical and intellectual disabilities, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age. The Committee will advise on efforts to improve decisionmaking that represents everyone and is less likely to suffer from unintentional blind spots and biases.
B. 
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee shall, in conjunction with and in cooperation with other Borough departments and agencies, advise on the development of programs that will promote the health, education, welfare, employment, economics, recreation and the total prosperity of the diverse people of the Borough of Red Bank.
C. 
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee shall perform other reviews and assignments from time to time as may be requested by the governing body of the Borough.
D. 
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee will work to increase trust between community members by offering residents more opportunities to interact with one another. The Committee will explore additional options for residents to be seen and heard by local government to better understand local government initiatives.
The Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee shall meet periodically and shall make an annual report, in December, to the Borough Council of its activity, and shall make such recommendations periodically as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article.