The name of this Commission is the Carver Commission on Disability.
A. 
The purpose of the Committee is to coordinate or carry out programs in coordination with programs of the State Office of Handicapped Affairs in order to bring about full and equal participation in all aspects of life in the Town of Carver for all people with disabilities.
B. 
The purpose of this by-law is to establish principles and procedures for the governance of this Committee.
A. 
Research local problems of people with disabilities.
B. 
Coordinate the activities of other local groups organized to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
C. 
Review and make recommendations about policies, procedures, services and activities of departments and agencies of the Town of Carver as they affect the people with disabilities.
D. 
Work in cooperation with the departments and agencies of the Town of Carver to bring about maximum participation of people with disabilities.
E. 
Initiate, monitor and promote legislation at the Town, state and federal level which advances the equal status of people with disabilities and ensure that appropriate regulations are adopted and enforced pursuant to such legislation.
F. 
Encourage public awareness of disability issues.
G. 
Provide information, referral, guidance and advice to individuals, businesses, organizations and public agencies in all matters pertaining to disability.
H. 
Recruit and recommend prospective Committee members to the Town Administrator.
I. 
File an annual report, which shall be printed in the Town Annual Report.
J. 
Take such action as the Committee considers appropriate to ensure the equal status of persons with disabilities, or any other activity deemed appropriate.
A. 
The Committee shall consist of seven members appointed annually by the Town Administrator. A majority of said 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 Town.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
B. 
Resignations shall be made by notifying the Town Clerk in writing.
C. 
The Town Administrator shall fill any vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
D. 
The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Committee shall receive the approval of the Committee prior to making statements or joining activities on behalf of the Committee.
E. 
All members shall have full voting rights.
F. 
There may be seven alternate members, who shall be appointed by the Town Administrator. In the event that an absence of a regular member creates a lack of a quorum at a meeting, an alternate member or members shall be eligible to participate and vote to the extent required to make up a quorum.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
A. 
The officers shall include a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
B. 
Officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the Committee at the first meeting after the Annual Town Election.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
C. 
Duties:
(1) 
The Chairperson shall:
(a) 
Develop the agenda in coordination with the other Committee members;
(b) 
Preside over all meetings;
(c) 
Appoint subcommittees as needed;
(d) 
Authorize expenditures as needed at the direction of the Committee.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
(2) 
The Vice Chairperson shall perform all the functions of the Chairperson in his/her absence.
(3) 
The Secretary shall:
(a) 
Keep records of all meeting attendance, minutes, and correspondence;
(b) 
Post notice of all meetings 48 hours before each meeting at the Town Clerk's office.
(4) 
The Treasurer shall:
(a) 
Keep records of all financial matters;
(b) 
Develop a budget in coordination with the Committee;
(c) 
Prepare a financial statement for inclusion in the Town Annual Report.
A. 
Regular meetings shall be held at least six times a year, "at the call of the Chair or a quorum of the Committee."
B. 
A quorum shall consist of four members.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
C. 
Meeting minutes will be amended and approved in the time required by the Open Meeting Law[1] and/or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, as may be amended from time to time.
[Amended 6-29-2020 ATM by Art. 12]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 30A, §§ 18 through 25.
D. 
Special meetings can be called by the Chairperson or by any three members.
E. 
Decisions will be made by a quorum of those members present, unless where otherwise noted in these by-laws.
F. 
Meetings shall adhere to Robert's Rules of Order "and shall make such other votes as are necessary to the conduct to its business."