[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Mount Vernon 10-12-1983, approved 10-13-1983. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a board of interested
citizens and to provide for them an opportunity to assist law enforcement
efforts through citizen cooperation in a crimestopper program. The
Board shall be empowered to create and administer a reward fund obtained
through private sources and shall make payments to individuals who
have supplied information to the Police Department which has aided
in a criminal investigation. In order to ensure confidentiality, the
Board shall be empowered to adopt procedures to guarantee anonymity
of any person supplying information and to take such steps and undertake
such programs as will enhance and foster the aforementioned programs.
The Mount Vernon Crimestoppers Board, hereinafter referred to
as the "Board," is established for the City of Mount Vernon.
[Amended 10-26-1983, approved 10-27-1983]
The Board shall consist of seven members to be appointed by
the Mayor. In addition, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department
of Public Safety shall be a member of the Board. Members shall be
residents of the City for a period of not less than five years. No
member may be an employee of the municipal government of the City
of Mount Vernon.
A member's term shall commence upon appointment and shall
continue at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Members of the Board shall serve without compensation.
A.
The
Board shall have three officers, a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson
and a Secretary.
B.
The
Chairperson presides at all meetings and shall execute all agreements
or resolutions and perform all duties incident to this office.
C.
The
Vice Chairperson shall preside in the absence of the Chairperson.
D.
The
Secretary shall issue notices of all regular and special meetings
and be responsible for the keeping of all minutes of meetings and
records pertaining to the work of the Board.
The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary shall be elected
by a majority of the members present at the first meeting of the Board
and annually thereafter.
The Board is authorized and empowered to do the following:
A.
To
be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a fund to be known
as the "rewards for information fund," which shall be funded and replenished
through contribution from the general public.
B.
To
make payment of rewards to the person or persons providing information
leading to the apprehension and indictment or conviction of an individual
for a felony or misdemeanor.
[Amended 4-8-1992, approved 4-9-1992]
C.
To
make determination as to the amount of the reward and the manner in
which the information received contributed to the apprehension and
indictment or conviction.
[Amended 4-8-1992, approved 4-9-1992]
D.
To
take such measures as may be necessary to ensure the confidentiality
of the person or persons offering such information.
[Amended 4-8-1992, approved 4-9-1992]
A.
A
person shall be deemed to have provided information leading to the
apprehension and indictment or conviction of an individual for any
felony or misdemeanor when such person has provided the Department
of Public Safety with information which the Board has determined to
have materially contributed to such apprehension and indictment or
conviction. The Board shall be authorized to conduct such investigation
as deemed necessary prior to making such determination.
B.
Upon
making a determination that the information submitted did materially
contribute to the apprehension and indictment or conviction of an
individual for a felony or misdemeanor, the person shall be entitled
to, and the Board shall pay from the reward fund, a reward not to
exceed $5,000. Payments made to two or more persons shall be in proportionate
shares and shall not exceed this limit.
[Amended 2-28-1996, approved 2-29-1996]
A.
This Board shall meet in the Mayor's conference room at a time
designated by the Chairperson. In the event of a holiday, the Chairperson
shall schedule a meeting on the evening when a quorum of the Board
can be gathered.
B.
Board meetings, in addition to those regularly scheduled, may be
called by the Chairperson or upon the request of the Mayor or any
member of the Board.
C.
The presence of the Chairperson and three members of the Board shall
constitute a quorum necessary to transact the business of the Board.
D.
Any Board members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings without
good cause shall be removed from the Board.
The rules in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern
this Board in all cases to which they are applicable and which are
not inconsistent with these bylaws.
