[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Winchester 12-21-1998; amended 3-1-1999; 10-19-2009 (§ 175 of the prior compilation). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established a Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which shall be a part of the administration of the municipal government and shall be subject to the Charter and General Ordinances of the Town.
A. 
The purposes and powers of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities shall be:
(1) 
To discover and study continuously the general and specific needs of persons with disabilities of the Town in relation to housing, economics, employment, health, recreation and other matters;
(2) 
To serve as a liaison between persons with disabilities of the Town and the governing body of the Town;
(3) 
To analyze, evaluate and make recommendations on existing or suggested programs to existing organizations and departments;
(4) 
To examine state and federal funding resources and special projects as they relate to persons with disabilities;
(5) 
To inform the governing body when the needs of persons with disabilities are not being met per Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
(6) 
To assist persons with disabilities to reach their fullest potential by removing barriers, to act as a forum for the needs of families of persons with disabilities and to provide community education to residents concerning persons with disabilities.
B. 
Neither the Commission nor any of its members shall give directives to the Town Manager or any of his administrative staff either publicly or privately.
C. 
The Commission shall provide the Board of Selectmen with an annual written report on or before September 1 of each fiscal year concerning Commission activities and shall present short- and long-range recommendations for action to the Board of Selectmen and other appropriate officials of the Town.
D. 
The Commission shall assume any other matters relating to people with disabilities as may be assigned to it by the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Commission which shall consist of seven regular members and three alternates. The term for each member shall expire on January 1 of each even-numbered year, regardless of the date of appointment.
The Board of Selectmen shall attempt to appoint members with disabilities and/or members of their families or other persons who work with the disabled or have a particular interest in serving the disabled. The Board may appoint a high school student who has not reached the age of majority as a nonvoting member.
A Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary shall be elected by the members of the Commission from among its members.