[Adopted 12-6-1983; amended 3-17-1998 (Ch. 2, Art. IX, of the 2010 Code); amended in its entirety 3-22-2016]
There shall be a Taunton Commission for Individuals with Disabilities.
The Taunton Commission for Individuals with Disabilities, hereinafter called the "Commission," shall, in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 8J:
A. 
Research local problems of people with disabilities;
B. 
Advise and assist municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that affect people with disabilities;
C. 
Coordinate or carry out programs designed to meet the problems of people with disabilities in coordination with programs of the Massachusetts office on disability;
D. 
Review and make recommendations about policies, procedures, services, activities and facilities of departments, boards and agencies of the City of Taunton as they affect people with disabilities;
E. 
Provide information, referrals, guidance and technical assistance to individuals, public agencies, businesses and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability; and
F. 
Coordinate activities of other local groups organized for similar purposes.
(Reference: MGL c. 40, § 8J)
A. 
The Commission shall keep records of its meetings and actions and shall file an annual report with the Municipal Council. In any year in which the City prints an annual report, the annual report of the commission shall be contained therein. The commission shall have at least 10 meetings annually.
B. 
The commission shall consist of not fewer than five nor more than nine members. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the provisions of the City Charter. A majority of commission members shall consist of people with disabilities. One member shall be a member of the immediate family of a person with a disability and one member of said commission shall be either an elected or appointed official of the City of Taunton.
C. 
The terms of the first members of the commission shall be for one, two or three years, and so arranged so that the terms of 1/3 of the members expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed for terms of three years each. Any member of said commission may, after a public hearing, if so requested, be removed for cause by the appointing authority. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
D. 
The Chairperson and other officers shall be chosen by a majority vote of said commission members.
E. 
Said commission may receive gifts of property, both real and personal, in the name of the City of Taunton, subject to approval by the Municipal Council, such gifts to be managed and controlled by said commission for the purposes of § 10-29 in accordance with MGL c. 40 § 8J. (Reference: MGL. c. 40 § 8J)
The Committee on Disabilities of the Municipal Council shall oversee the commission and serve as the point of contact between the commission and the Municipal Council. Commission members shall serve without compensation. The commission may from time to time as it deems prudent or necessary in the discharge of its duties request that it, or one or more designated representatives, meet with the Committee on Disabilities, which request may be accommodated in the reasonable discretion of the Chairperson of said Committee. A meeting with the commission may also be initiated by the Chairperson of said Committee. Any recommendations by the commission for the expenditure of funds derived from collected handicapped parking fines shall be made in writing to the chairperson of the Committee on Disabilities.
A. 
In accordance with MGL c. 40, § 22G, all funds received from fines assessed for violations of handicap parking in the City of Taunton shall be deposited by the Treasurer in a separate account and shall be used solely for the benefit of persons with disabilities in accordance with this section. Said account shall be kept separate and apart from all other monies. Said account was established prior to the enactment of this section (See § 405-22E.), and all funds presently in said account may be expended as provided herein. Expenditures from said account, including accrued interest, if any, shall be made upon recommendation of the Committee on Disabilities in accordance with the accepted procedures of the City of Taunton for the disbursement of funds, including approval of the Mayor and Municipal Council. The City Auditor is designated as the City Accountant for the purposes of this section and shall submit annually a report of said account to the Mayor and Municipal Council for review, and a copy of said report shall be forwarded to the bureau of accounts. (Reference MGL c. 40 § 22G)
B. 
All funds from said account may be expended solely for the benefit of persons with disabilities to the extent permitted by MGL c. 40, § 22G, as same may be amended from time to time. The commission shall make recommendations for expenditure in writing to the Chairperson of the Committee on Disabilities. The Committee on Disabilities shall consider all said recommendations and report any approved recommendation to the Municipal Council for approval.