The Town Board of the Town of Amenia hereby determines that organized advisory boards can provide important and useful information and ideas to the Town Board when it is reviewing and considering appropriate action or policy with regard to Town issues, functions and/or projects. Advisory boards can assist the Town Board by reviewing, researching and gathering information and presenting such information, findings and/or recommendations, ideas and opinions to the Town Board. Further, a formal and organized advisory board can provide a vehicle for interested citizens to share their ideas and expertise with the Town Board. Such boards would also provide the means for interested citizens to be more involved in their community. In view of the foregoing, it is the Town Board's determination that advisory boards can assist and benefit the Town Board, as well as the entire community.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Amenia 12-5-2024 by L.L. No. 2-2024. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as and entitled "Advisory Boards."
The Town Board of the Town of Amenia hereby enacts this chapter under the authority granted by Municipal Home Rule Law § 10, Subdivision 1(i).
The Town Board of the Town of Amenia may, by resolution and subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter, establish advisory boards.
A.
Advisory boards will act in an advisory capacity only to the Town Board. The members will not be empowered to exercise any powers on behalf of the Town Board or bind the Town Board or the Town of Amenia in any way.
B.
The purpose for which the advisory board is created and for which it will meet and hold discussions shall be for the purpose of reviewing, researching, gathering information and presenting such information, findings and/or recommendations, ideas and opinions to the Town Board concerning such matters as the Town Board shall, with particularity, specify in the resolution establishing the advisory board.
A.
Advisory boards must be comprised of members who are residents of the Town of Amenia and who have such qualifications as may be determined to be appropriate by the Town Board of the Town of Amenia, except that no person who is a member of the Town Board shall be a member of an advisory board.
B.
Advisory boards will consist of that number of members that the Town Board shall determine by resolution to be appropriate in each instance that an advisory board is established. In determining the appropriate number of members, the Town Board may use any formula it feels is appropriate and may, from time to time, by resolution, adopted by majority vote, increase or decrease the number of members it deems necessary or appropriate, except that a decrease in the number of members shall not take effect until the expiration of the terms of the current board members and, therefore, shall not result in a removal of any member before the expiration of a term.
C.
Officers shall be named for the advisory board and shall have the duties as follows:
(1)
A Chairperson shall be named and shall have the duty of calling meetings, as set forth in this chapter, and shall also preside over all meetings.
(2)
The Chairperson shall be selected by the sitting members, except that, upon failure of the sitting members to do so, or agree upon a Chairperson within 60 days of the establishment of the advisory board, or the resignation or lapse of term of the Chairperson therefor, the Town Board shall select a Chairperson from any one of the members of the board.
(3)
The advisory board may elect from among its members a Vice Chairperson and Secretary.
D.
All members of the advisory board, including officers, will be voting members.
E.
Terms of office and vacancies shall be filled as follows:
(1)
Advisory committee members will serve at the pleasure of the Town Board for a two-year term commencing on the first day of January and may be removed by the Town Board at any time, with or without cause.
(2)
If a vacancy shall occur on the advisory board, other than by expiration of a term, the Town Board shall appoint a new member for the unexpired term.
A.
The advisory board must meet at least quarterly, or at such other intervals as the Town Board shall require or specify by resolution, at the call of the Chairperson. Additional meetings may be called upon at least five days' notice by the Chairperson or by petition of a majority of the board.
B.
All meetings of the advisory board must be held on notice to the Town Board, which must receive the same notice as is given members of the advisory board, and the members of the aforesaid Town Board shall be entitled, as of right, to attend any meeting called, whether the same is open or in executive session; provided, however, that members of the Town Board shall not be considered members of the advisory board and shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the advisory board.
C.
All meetings of the advisory board must be open to the public, except that executive sessions will be allowed to the extent permissible under the Public Officers Law of the State of New York.
D.
Public notice of every meeting held by the advisory board must be given in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York while notice to members must be given in accordance with the provisions set forth hereinabove.
E.
Written minutes must be kept of all meetings of each advisory board. Motions, resolutions and votes thereon must be recorded in their entirety.
F.
Discussions occurring at the meetings or leading to motions or resolutions must be briefly summarized.
G.
The advisory board shall operate in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order or in accordance with any agreed upon variation thereof, which may include any modification or elimination of such rules as may be agreed upon by unanimous vote of all board members.
H.
Each advisory board must file, with the Town Clerk, a copy of any minutes, reports or other information or records gathered by the Board as a result of meetings held.
I.
When requested, the Chairperson or other designated member of the advisory board shall report directly to the Town Board either in writing or by attendance at a Town Board meeting, as may be agreed upon by the members of the Town Board by resolution. Any recommendation or other resolutions of the advisory board will be deemed binding and a representation of the board, only if adopted by majority vote of the total number of members of the advisory board.
Advisory board members shall serve without pay. The Town Board may authorize the payment of the just and reasonable actual expenses of the members of such advisory board, such expenses including the cost of photocopying, typing and, if necessary, mileage. No payment of the just and reasonable actual expenses of the members or any other payments shall be made to the members of the advisory board unless the Town Board shall have, by resolution adopted by majority vote, approved of the incurring of the expense prior to the time that the expense was incurred.
The Town Board of the Town of Amenia shall have the right, at any time, to abolish any board established by resolution in accordance with this chapter.
The foregoing provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
A.
Town Board committees consisting of Town Board members which the Town Supervisor has sole discretion to create and appoint to aid and assist the Town Board in the performance of its duties.
B.
Boards and committees established by other local laws or ordinances, including but not limited to the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Advisory Council and Ethics Board.