[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Smithtown 12-23-1980 as L.L. No.
2-1980. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Substance Abuse Prevention Council — See Ch.
71.
It is the intent of the Town of Smithtown to create a Youth
Bureau pursuant to the Executive Law, Article 19-A, for the purpose
of planning, coordinating and supplementing the activities of public,
private and religious agencies devoted to the welfare, protection
and development of persons under the age of 21. The Town of Smithtown
recognizes that the youth of Smithtown deserve special attention and
assistance in dealing with their needs. Further, it is the intent
of the Town of Smithtown to create a Youth Board to advise the Town
Supervisor on Youth Bureau policy.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have
the meanings indicated:
The head of the Youth Bureau and the executive secretary
to the Youth Board.
Any person under 21 years of age.
The Town of Smithtown Citizen Youth Board, to advise.
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau.
Any program designated to accomplish the objectives of the
Youth Bureau.
A.
Objectives. The Youth Bureau's powers and duties are to administer,
manage and provide for programs, projects and plans which promote
and advance the moral, physical, mental and social well-being of the
youth in the Town of Smithtown, which will stimulate and encourage
community interest and participation in youth programs and which,
alone or in cooperation with programs and alone or in cooperation
with other persons, groups and municipalities, will foster and cultivate
a wholesome environment for the involvement of youth in meaningful
activities. The Youth Bureau shall be concerned with all youth, the
untroubled as well as youth in trouble. In order to define and resolve
existing problems of our youth and to prevent the development of new
problem situations, the Bureau shall pursue the following objectives:
(1)
To conduct an ongoing program of research to determine the needs
of youth in the Town of Smithtown.
(2)
To make an inventory of community resources capable of meeting the
needs of youth.
(3)
To plan for and encourage the development of new services considered
essential for meeting the needs of youth or to endorse modifications
of current services.
(4)
To grant financial aid to public and private agencies in order to
expand current services or to create new services for youth.
(5)
To integrate and help coordinate the services of local, public and
private agencies working with the Town's youth.
(6)
To maintain a continuous research program on social problems affecting
youth and new ways of meeting the needs created by these problems.
B.
Organization. The Youth Bureau shall operate within and shall be
subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Supervisor
and upon such conditions as to qualify for state aid under Article
19-A of the Executive Law of the State of New York and any amendments
thereto. The Bureau shall be staffed by a full-time Executive Director
and such other personnel as shall be deemed necessary for accomplishing
the goals of the Youth Bureau. The Executive Director shall be responsible
to the Supervisor for the purpose of planning, coordinating and supplementing
the activities of public, private or religious agencies devoted in
whole or in part to the welfare and protection of youth.
A.
The Youth Bureau shall have a Youth Board to advise the Supervisor
on matters of Youth Bureau policy. The Youth Board shall consist of
persons representing the fields of education, law enforcement, mental
hygiene, judiciary, welfare, business, recreation and youth organizations,
who shall be appointed by the Supervisor, with the approval of the
Town Board. The Youth Board, in fulfilling its obligations to the
Youth Bureau and the Supervisor, shall advise and assist community
groups devoted in whole or in part to youth and recommend legislation.
The Executive Director shall also be the executive secretary of the
Youth Board. The executive secretary shall have no vote in the official
deliberations of the Youth Board, but shall administer to its needs
and requirements in the fulfillment of its obligations to the Youth
Bureau and the Supervisor.
B.
Composition of the Youth Board.
(1)
The Board shall consist of a minimum of 13 and a maximum of 28 adults
and youth, who shall be appointed by the Supervisor of the Town of
Smithtown, subject to confirmation by the Town Board. In addition,
the Supervisor may appoint one or more ex officio members.
(2)
One member of the Board shall be designated as Chairperson for a
specified term, by the Supervisor, subject to confirmation by the
Town Board.
(3)
Officers, other than the Chairperson, shall be elected from and by
the Board and confirmed by the Supervisor.
(4)
Members of the Board shall not be considered Town employees for any
purpose whatsoever.
C.
Terms of office.
D.
Vacancies and removals.
(1)
Any member of the Board appointed to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise
than by expiration of term shall be appointed for the remainder of
the unexpired term of the member whom he or she is to succeed.
(2)
The Supervisor and the Town Board may remove any member of the Board
for cause.
(3)
If a member of the Board is absent from three consecutive scheduled
(not special) meetings and is not excused by the Chairperson of the
Board, the Board shall declare his or her position vacant.
(4)
Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled by appointment by the
Supervisor, subject to confirmation by the Town Board.
E.
Personnel. The Youth Board may recommend to the Supervisor and the
Town Board the employment of personnel, subject to the rules of civil
service, who shall be responsible to the Supervisor.
G.
Meetings.
(1)
The Youth Board shall meet monthly and at such additional times as
the Chairperson of the Board or a majority thereof may determine.
(2)
One-third of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. A majority
of the quorum must approve any action of the Board. Each voting member
shall have one vote which must be cast in person. Ex officio members
shall have no vote.
H.
Powers and duties of the Board. The Board shall have the following
powers and duties:
(1)
To advise the Supervisor concerning Youth Bureau policy.
(2)
To establish local youth boards, with the approval of the Supervisor,
to oversee youth programs in specific communities in the Town of Smithtown.
(3)
To develop and effect policies and programs with the approval of
the Supervisor, such as guidance, education, counseling, community
involvement and recreation, for the Youth Board and any established
local youth boards.
(4)
To formulate and adopt rules and bylaws, with the approval of the
Supervisor, governing the activities of the Board and its relationship
to local youth boards.
(5)
To supplement and aid in coordinating the activities of public, private
and religious agencies devoted in whole or in part to the prevention
of delinquency and youthful offenders and serve as a consultant to
such agencies.
(6)
To encourage closer cooperation between all public and private agencies
and groups so as to stimulate employment for youth and encourage sound
youth programs.
(7)
To cooperate with all public and private agencies and groups in developing
plans, programs and facilities designed to promote the welfare of
youth.
(8)
To receive and expend grants, with the approval of the Supervisor,
from the state, federal or county governments or from private individuals,
corporations or associations and establish a reasonable basis, with
the approval of the Supervisor, for the allocation of these funds
to youth programs so as to serve most effectively the objectives of
this section.
(9)
To approve or reject applications, with the approval of the Supervisor,
for federal, state and/or county financial assistance to public and
private agencies seeking to engage in the development and expansion
of recreation and youth service projects, as defined by the laws of
the State of New York and the regulations of the New York State Division
of Youth.
(10)
To devise, analyze, accept or reject plans for the creation or expansion
of recreation and youth service projects or other youth programs,
all with the approval of the Supervisor, and make appropriate recommendations
to the Supervisor.
(11)
To obtain, assemble and develop statistical records and data, including
those that reflect the incidence and trends of delinquency and youthful
crimes and offenses in the Town, with the help of the Youth Bureau.
(12)
To make necessary studies and recommendations with respect to family
affairs and problems, youth guidance, adult education, recreation,
rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents and parole, institutional or
other corrective treatment.
(13)
To foster educational programs in connection with youth problems.
(14)
To appoint such advisory groups and committees as may be necessary
to carry out its powers and duties.
(15)
To keep minutes of all meetings.
(16)
To submit an annual report to the Supervisor.
(17)
To submit a proposed annual budget to the Supervisor.
(18)
To perform such other duties as may be assigned by
the Supervisor and/or the Town Board.
