The Council on Aging was established by the Town of Templeton on May 8, 1976, under authority of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40, Section 8B. This bylaw was established by Annual Town Meeting vote on May 12, 2021, Article 14.
[Adopted 5-12-2021 ATM by Art. 14; amended in its entirety 10-23-2024 STM by Art. 5]
The Council shall consist of five members, who shall be appointed by the Select Board after filling out a Committee Interest Form that is available on the Town website or the Town Administrator's office. After appointment members must be sworn in by the Town Clerk. Terms of office shall be for 3 years and members can be appointed for consecutive years. Members of the Council shall serve without pay. The Council shall select their own officers: chair, vice-chair and secretary.
The duties of said Council on Aging shall be:
A.
Identify the total needs of the community's elderly population.
B.
Educate the community and enlist support and participation of all citizens concerning these needs.
C.
Design, promote or implement services to fill needs, or coordinate present existing services in the community.
D.
Promote and support any other programs which are designed to assist elderly persons in the community.
A.
The Board of Directors of the Council shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. Officers of the Council shall be elected at the Annual Meeting, in July, of the Council by majority vote of the members present, and shall take office upon election.
B.
Election of officers to fill vacancies created by death, resignation, or other cause, may take place at any regular or special meeting and shall be for a period of the unexpired term of the previous incumbent.
C.
The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Council, subject to the direction of the members of the Council, and shall have general knowledge of the business affairs and property of the Council in its general operations. The Chair will prepare an agenda in conjunction with the Director and shall preside at all meetings. The Chair shall ensure that each member have access to a copy of MGL Chapter 30A, Sections 18 to 25.
D.
During the absence or disability of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall exercise all the functions of the Chair and, when so acting, shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the Chair.
E.
The Secretary shall:
(1)
Cause all proceedings of the meetings to be recorded and posted on the town website.
(2)
Cause all notices to be duly given in accordance with these procedures and MGL Chapter 30A, Sections 18 through 25.
(3)
Cause the performance of all duties, including correspondence pertaining to the office of Secretary.
(4)
Cause the permanent retention of records (i.e. minutes, rosters, etc.) in accordance with the Secretary of State's Municipal Records Retention Schedule (01.157) of March 1, 2023.
(5)
Cause the maintenance of a roster of Council members with dates of term expiration, number of terms, as well as any office held and dates of said terms.
(6)
Cause the record of attendance of Council members.
F.
At all meetings of the members of the Council, the presence of three Board members shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of at least a majority of the Council Board members present shall be necessary and sufficient to decide such business, consistent with any applicable state and local laws.
The Council may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may require. (MGL Chapter 40, Section 8B)
In accordance with town bylaws, the Council shall submit an annual report for inclusion in the Annual Town Report and shall send a copy thereof to the state department of elder affairs. (MGL Chapter 40, Section 8B)