[Adopted 9-7-1994 by Ord. No. 17-1994; amended in its entirety10-14-2020 by Ord. No. 14-2020]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to establish and create a Health and Human Services Committee for the Borough of Eatontown, to protect all individuals in the Borough of Eatontown from any adverse action or activity based on that person's race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, liability for service in the armed forces, familial status or mental or physical handicap, and to ensure that residents have access to public and private human services.
B. 
The members of the Committee shall create and draft an Affirmative Action Plan for the Borough, shall promote greater involvement by minority citizens in all aspects of Borough activity, and shall work toward addressing the human services needs of all residents.
C. 
The Committee will be charged with maintaining and preserving the principles of fairness to which every citizen is entitled and shall do so through education and the promotion of good will, cooperation and equal opportunity in social, employment, recreational and community activities. The Committee will foster participation, cooperation and conciliation among all and commit itself to the elimination of ignorance, bias and discrimination.
The Constitution of the United States ensures every citizen equal rights under the law. The preservation of these rights, with its roots in the federal government, has traveled through our state governments and ultimately through our municipal governments to the citizens of every municipality in every state. The by-product of such a system is the rigorous enforcement and, thus, preservation of those rights granted to us by the United States Constitution through mutual checks and balances that begin with each individual citizen and end with the Supreme Court of the United States.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOROUGH
The Borough of Eatontown.
COMMITTEE
The Health and Human Services Committee for the Borough of Eatontown.
There shall be and is hereby created the Health and Human Services Committee of the Borough of Eatontown, to be composed of seven members who shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council. The seven-member Committee shall be composed of the following constituents:
A. 
A Council representative;
B. 
The Borough Administrator;
C. 
One representative of the Borough of Eatontown School District;
D. 
One representative of RWJ Barnabas Health;
E. 
One representative from a military veterans organization;
F. 
A representative from a long-term care, assisted living or memory care facility; and
G. 
One representative of the public from a local group of diversity, which shall include, but not be limited to, religious, racial, ethnic, or social established organizations and groups located in the Borough of Eatontown.
A. 
The Mayor shall appoint the members of the Committee upon advice and consent of the Council, except that no such consideration is required for the appointment of the members in Subsections A and B of § 7-39 above. The appointed members shall serve three-year terms. The original regular members shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this article and shall serve for a term expiring on December 31, 2023. All subsequent appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for a full term of three years beginning January 1 of the first term year.
B. 
In case of death, resignation or inability to serve, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the appointment of the original member, to fill the remainder of the term of such member. Each member shall serve until his successor is duly appointed and qualified.
The Committee shall, as soon as possible after the first day of each year, select a chairman and such other officers as it may deem necessary and shall adopt bylaws to govern its procedural operation. It shall have the power and authority to hire, supervise and discharge such persons as may be authorized in its budget, as approved by the Borough Council, and expend other money consistent with such budget appropriations.
The Committee shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
To take any and all steps it deems appropriate to aid in effectuating the purposes of this state's Law Against Discrimination, codified in N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 through 10:5-42, and all amendments and supplements thereto.
B. 
To coordinate an Affirmative Action Program of the Borough, and same shall be reflected in the following functions:
(1) 
The formulation and implementation of policies and procedures in general (consistent with applicable law) and programs of formal and informal education to eliminate all types of discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, marital status, liability for service in the armed forces, familial status and mental or physical handicap.
(2) 
The supervision of the Borough's compliance with state and federal regulations (pertaining to affirmative action) required to ensure the Borough's eligibility for all relevant aid and grants.
(3) 
The monitoring and review of minority representation in all phases of Borough government, as well as any unique problems endemic of any minority or agency or position; and work with these agencies and minorities to ameliorate the situation consistent with applicable law.
C. 
To foster participation in and encourage individual, organization, neighborhood and community efforts to engender understanding, goodwill, cooperation and conciliation among the various groups and individuals of this Borough and in cooperation with other agencies of larger jurisdictions of which this Borough shall be part.
D. 
To help Borough residents learn about social services and how to access them through expansive community information sharing, education/dialogue and resource navigation.
E. 
To mobilize impactful use of the Borough's resources through public/private partnerships for integrated human service planning, funding and delivery.
F. 
To address unmet service needs through an integrated planning process, and meet larger, long-term challenges through advocacy and new service approaches.
G. 
To liaison with Monmouth County ACTS and other public and private organizations to effectuate the Committee's purpose.
H. 
To organize other local groups as may be desired to implement the programs of the Committee, and to create advisory committees and subcommittees in furthering said Committee.
I. 
To cooperate with the various departments, boards, committees and agencies of the Borough and assist them in achieving the goals and purposes of this article.
J. 
To serve as the conciliation agency where the services of the Committee might be effective in accomplishing its objectives.
K. 
To report from time to time, and no less than once a year, to the Mayor and Borough Council on policies, procedures and programs which will assist in eliminating discrimination and group tensions and fostering tolerance and intergroup cooperation, and also to recommend proposed legislation which might assist in the foregoing.
In the event that a dispute arises with respect to the jurisdiction of the Committee in any matter arising under this article, the same shall be submitted to the Borough Attorney for a legal opinion with respect to the powers and duties of the Committee.