Township of Galloway, NJ Veterans' Advisory Board

Establishment. There shall be, by this chapter hereby established within the Township of Galloway, County of Atlantic, a Veterans' Advisory Board, which shall serve as an ad hoc advisory board to the Township Council for the purpose of keeping the Township Council informed of developments regarding veterans, and which may respond to any ordinances introduced by the Township Council that may have an impact upon veterans, and which shall otherwise advise the Township Council with respect to pending legislation at the county or state level which may impact veterans.

Meetings. The Veterans' Advisory Board shall meet on no fewer than 12 occasions per year to discuss matters of interest to veterans, current and pending Township ordinances, county or state laws affecting veterans and other issues of interest to veterans which may have an impact upon the Township as a whole. The Advisory Board shall report to the Township Council at least two times per year, or as often as the Advisory Board believes it is necessary, on activities and discussions and provide the Council with a summary of the issues it has discussed and the positions it believes should be advanced on behalf of veterans. The Advisory Board shall be strictly advisory, and its recommendations, decisions, comments or other observations shall not be binding in any way on the Township Council or any other municipal body, board or agency.

Membership and terms. The Veterans' Advisory Board shall consist of no more than 12 members who shall be appointed by a majority of the Township Council in the following manner and for the following terms:

(1)

Each member shall be appointed to a three-year term. All terms shall expire on December 31 of the appropriate year and shall begin on January 1 of the appropriate year. The members of the Veterans' Advisory Board shall be residents of Galloway.

(2)

Two appointments shall serve a three-year term; three appointments shall serve for the remainder of the current year and for the following full year to establish the staggered terms.

(3)

All interim appointments shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(4)

The members shall choose a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary for the Board. The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Council at the first Council meeting of the year and shall be for a term of one year. The Chairman shall serve as a liaison between the Board and the Township Council. The Secretary shall keep notes of the meeting, which notes shall be deemed the property of the Township. The Chairman shall serve as the spokesperson for the Board in discussions with the Township Council. The Chairman shall vote on all issues before the Advisory Board, and his/her vote shall be equal to all other members of the Advisory Board.

(5)

Galloway Township is the home of the Stockton University campus, where younger generations of veterans are resident students. The Veterans' Advisory Board shall be permitted to establish associate members in order to accommodate these veteran students as members. Associate members shall accept their membership under the following conditions:

(a)

No more than two students may serve at a time.

(b)

Their military service credentials are reviewed by the Chairperson and approved by the Veterans' Advisory Board.

(c)

Their membership shall be categorized as associate members, because they are temporary residents.

(d)

Once recommended for membership by the Veterans' Advisory Board and approved by the Township Council, such membership shall be for a two-year term.

(e)

Associate members will have voting rights equal to those of a regular member.

Intent. It is the intent of this chapter that the Veterans' Advisory Board shall be solely an advisory board consisting of volunteers appointed by the Township Council.

Limitation of power. It is expressly intended that the Veterans' Advisory Board is an ad hoc group to assist the Township Council in addressing issues and problems facing veterans. The Board shall be permitted to communicate with other agencies in order to render suggestions, opinions and recommendations with regard to veterans, but all such communication should be first directed to the Township Council for approval.