City of Crestwood, MO Public Safety

[Ord. No. 5412, 11-28-2023[1]]

Composition. The Public Safety Board shall consist of seven (7) citizens of Crestwood with an interest in public safety, including the Police and Fire Departments. Members are appointed by the Mayor with the approval of a majority of the authorized membership of the Board of Aldermen. Reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure all wards are represented; however, the qualifications of members shall be the primary guiding principle in making appointments and no board shall be deemed improperly constituted or unlawful if all wards of the City are not represented thereon. All citizen members shall be appointed to terms of three (3) years in duration, with each term beginning and ending on July 1. The terms shall be staggered in three (3) groups, with one (1) group consisting of three (3) members and two (2) groups consisting of two (2) members each. Only one (1) group shall be appointed on July 1 of each year, and another group shall be appointed on July 1 of every following year.

Meetings And Quorum. The Public Safety Board shall hold regular meetings every other month, in the odd-numbered months. The Public Safety Board shall meet a minimum of four (4) times per year, at a time scheduled by the Public Safety Board. Additional meetings may be scheduled at any time by the Chairperson or three (3) members of the Public Safety Board, provided, that one (1) week's notice is provided to the public and all members of the Public Safety Board, including the Aldermanic representatives and the Police Chief and Fire Chief. A quorum shall consist of four (4) members of the Board. The Aldermanic representatives and any ex officio members do not count towards establishing quorum.

Attendance. Public Safety Board members absent without excuse from three (3) consecutive meetings, whether regular or special, shall be subject to replacement by the Mayor and a majority of the authorized membership of the Board of Aldermen.

Duties And Responsibilities. The Public Safety Board shall act in a general advisory capacity to the Police and Fire Departments. It shall make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen for improving police and fire protection within the City, suggest rules and regulations governing the conduct of the members of the Police and Fire Departments, subject to approval by the Board of Aldermen, and do and perform such other services for the safety and protection of the lives of the inhabitants and property of the City as may be directed by the Board of Aldermen from time to time.

Chairperson. The Mayor shall appoint a Chairperson from one (1) of the citizen members, who shall serve as Chairperson for the remainder of that person's term. The Chairperson shall be the presiding officer of all meetings of the Public Safety Board and shall have voice and vote the same as all other Public Safety Board members. At the beginning of each term, the Public Safety Board shall organize by electing a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary from the members. The Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in the Chairperson's absence. In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, the Secretary shall serve as Acting Chairperson.

Aldermanic Representatives. The Mayor, with the approval of a majority of the members the Board of Aldermen, shall appoint two (2) Aldermanic representatives from the members of the Board of Aldermen to serve as liaison between the Board of Aldermen and the Public Safety Board and provide policy direction. At least one (1) of the Aldermanic representatives shall be present at all scheduled meetings of the Public Safety Board. Participation in all discussions is strongly encouraged, but the representatives shall not have a vote. The Mayor may act as a substitute for the Aldermanic representative or Aldermanic representatives may designate a substitute from the Board of Aldermen if any Aldermanic representative is unable to attend a meeting.

Ex Officio Members. The Police Chief and the Fire Chief shall be ex officio, nonvoting members of the Public Safety Board, acting in an advisory capacity. Either the Police Chief or the Fire Chief shall be present at all meetings of the Public Safety Board. If the Police Chief or Fire Chief are unable to attend any such meeting, a representative shall be designated to attend by either the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, or the City Administrator.

Clerical Staff. The Public Safety Board shall be provided with a clerical staff person by the City administration who is not a voting member of the Board. It shall be the duty of this staff to take minutes of the proceedings of the Board. A set of minutes of the Public Safety Board meetings shall be made public in accordance with applicable State law.

Vacancies. Vacancies among non-ex officio members of the Public Safety Board shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, with the replacement to serve the unexpired term.

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date of January 1, 2024.