The Suffolk County Hispanic Advisory Board is hereby created
to discuss issues of importance and relevance to the Hispanic community
and to make recommendations regarding proposed legislation to the
Suffolk County Legislature and to the Suffolk County Executive in
connection with the following:
A. To advocate on behalf of the Hispanic community in Suffolk County;
B. To encourage civic participation at all levels of government by members
of the Hispanic community;
C. To promote Hispanic business development and to provide information
necessary for Hispanic businesses to enable them to have equal access
and opportunity to contracting and procurement in Suffolk County;
and
D. To improve cultural understanding between the Hispanic community,
Suffolk County government and Suffolk County residents.
The initial terms of office shall commence upon appointment,
and subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years.
The Board shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days
after the effective date of this chapter, which meeting shall be convened
by a representative appointed by the County Executive to serve as
interim Chairperson, for the purpose of organization and the appointment
of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. For the purposes
of this section, the Chairperson shall be selected by a majority of
the members of the Board.
The Board shall hold regular quarterly meetings, keep a record
of all its proceedings and determine the rules of its own proceedings,
with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon his or
her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request therefor signed
by at least three members of the Board. Written notice of the time
and place of such special meetings shall be given by the Secretary
to each member at least four days before the date fixed by the notice
for such special meeting.
A majority of the full Board shall constitute a quorum to transact
the business of the Board at both regular and special meetings.
The Board shall cooperate with the legislative committees of
the County Legislature and make available for each committee's
use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or
obtain.
The Board shall submit a written annual report of its findings
and determinations together with its recommendations for action, if
any, to the County Executive and to each member of the County Legislature
no later than January 31 of each year, for the prior calendar year
activities, for consideration, review and appropriate action, if necessary,
by the entire County Legislature.
None of the work contemplated by this chapter shall be performed
by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval
and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted
pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature.