[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of New
Canaan 1-11-2006, effective 1-27-2006.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Requests for appropriations — See Charter, § C5-6.
Code of Ethics — See Ch. 17.
Health and sanitation — See Ch. 29.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
28, Health and Human Services Commission, adopted 5-11-2005, effective
5-27-2005.
There shall be, as successor to the Board of Social Services,
the Youth Commission, and the Commission for the Aging, a Health and
Human Services Commission of nine members. The members shall be electors
of the Town, and the First Selectman shall be a member ex officio
but shall vote only in case of a tie. With the exception of the First
Selectman, the members shall serve without compensation and shall
hold no other office of trust or emolument in the Town government.
Service on committees of the Town government is not prohibited by
this section, provided that such service does not create a conflict
of interest as defined in the Town's Code of Ethics.[1] There shall be minority representation on the Commission
in accordance with § 9-167a of the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Selectmen shall annually on or promptly after the first
day in December appoint three members of the Commission, all of whom,
after qualification, shall hold office for a term of three years from
the first day of December until their successors have been appointed
and have qualified.
On or promptly after the first of December in each year, the
Commission shall meet at the call of the First Selectman to choose
one of its members to be Chairman and one of its members to be Secretary.
The Chairman shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Commission
and shall vote as a member thereof. The Secretary shall file in the
office of the Town Clerk a full and detailed record of all proceedings,
acts and resolutions of the Commission, as required by the Freedom
of Information Act,[1] including the votes of each member on all actions taken,
and such record shall be a public record; provided, however, that
the names of needy persons and confidential matters relating to their
domestic, financial or other private affairs, and the votes of the
members of the Commission in specific instances granting or refusing
welfare, shall not be a public record. The concurrence of a majority
of the Commission shall be necessary for the transaction of business.
The Health and Human Services Commission shall have the following
general duties and responsibilities in serving Town needs in the areas
of human services, aging services, youth services and assigned public
health services:
A.
The
Commission shall possess and exercise all of the powers and duties
relating to the public's general welfare as described above,
imposed upon boards of selectmen or municipalities by the Town of
New Canaan, General Statutes of Connecticut or the United States Code.
B.
The
Commission shall establish policies and procedures to assist qualified
New Canaan residents in need of critical necessities such as food,
shelter, safety, and health services, including mental and physical
health.
C.
The
Commission shall recommend and, upon authorization, incur such expenses
and make such disbursements for public welfare in the Town as may
have been provided for in appropriations made by the Town, the state
or the federal government.
D.
The
Commission shall keep itself knowledgeable of the needs and conditions
of the health and general welfare of the citizens of the Town of New
Canaan as well as the services in the areas provided by public and
private agencies. The Commission shall develop and coordinate information
and programs concerning each assigned functional area of health and
human services responsibility in New Canaan. The Commission shall
encourage the development and coordination of public and private agencies
and organizations having like or kindred functions and shall cooperate
with them as it deems necessary or desirable.
E.
The
Commission shall make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding
the development of any programs and services for the general welfare
of the Town, and to help develop new programs for unmet needs.
A.
The Commission shall prepare and present to the Board of Selectmen a request for annual appropriations in accord with Charter § C5-6. As relevant, the request shall also contain a statement of possible additional or alternative funding available from both public (including federal or state government grants) and private sources, and shall delineate the efforts taken to obtain such funding.
B.
The
Commission shall submit an annual report of its activities to the
Board of Selectmen by February 1 of each calendar year as well as
such other reports as may be required.
