EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: Councilmembers Mitchell, Curran
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Title
Baltimore City Veterans Commission
FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore City Veterans Commission; providing for the appointment, terms, powers, and duties of the Commission; providing for staff to the Commission; defining certain terms; and generally relating to assisting veterans and their families.
Body
BY adding
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies
Section(s) 49-1 through 49-9, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle,
"Subtitle 49. Baltimore City Veterans Commission"
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
SECTION 1. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 1. Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies
SUBTITLE 49. BALTIMORE CITY VETERANS COMMISSION
§ 49-1. "VETERAN" DEFINED".
IN THIS SUBTITLE, "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO:
(1) SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF:
(I) THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, OR AIR FORCE;
(II) THE COAST GUARD, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS, OR MERCHANT MARINES;
(III) THE ARMY, AIR, OR STATE NATIONAL GUARD; OR
(IV) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF ONE OF THESE SERVICES; AND
(2) WAS RELEASED FROM THAT SERVICE OTHER THAN BY DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE.
§ 49-2. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED.
(A) IN GENERAL.
THERE IS A BALTIMORE CITY VETERANS COMMISSION.
(B) COMPOSITION.
THE COMMISSION COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING 11 MEMBERS:
(1) 5 MEMBERS, TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE IV, § 6 OF THE CITY CHARTER;
(2) 4 MEMBERS, TO BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL;
(3) THE POLICE COMMISSIONER; AND
(4) THE FIRE CHIEF.
(C) QUALIFICATIONS.
EACH APPOINTED MEMBER MUST BE A VETERAN.
§ 49-3. PURPOSE.
THE VETERANS COMMISSION IS DEDICATED TO:
(1) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN THE CITY, ARE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, OR ARE RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEES, AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHEN IN NEED; AND
(2) WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, VETERANS GROUPS, AND OTHERS ON POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND CONCERNS RELATED TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
§ 49-4. TERMS, COMPENSATION, VACANCIES.
(A) TERMS OF OFFICE.
(1) COMMISSION MEMBERS SERVE FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS, CONCURRENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
(2) AT THE END OF A TERM, A MEMBER CONTINUES TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES.
(B) COMPENSATION; EXPENSES.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION:
(1) ARE NOT ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES; BUT
(2) ARE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED, AS PROVIDED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
(C) VACANCIES.
A MEMBER APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANCY IN AN UNEXPIRED TERM OR TO SUCCEED A MEMBER WHO IS HOLDING OVER SERVES ONLY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM.
§ 49-5. OFFICERS; COMMITTEES.
(A) OFFICERS.
(1) THE MAYOR SHALL DESIGNATE A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION TO SERVE AS ITS CHAIR.
(2) MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION MAY SELECT ANY OTHER OFFICERS THEY CONSIDER NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE.
(B) COMMITTEES.
THE CHAIR MAY APPOINT COMMITTEES TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION IN CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
§ 49-6. MEETINGS; QUORUM.
(A) IN GENERAL.
(1) THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIR AS FREQUENTLY AS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES.
(2) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION CONSTITUTES A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS.
(3) AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY THE MAJORITY OF A QUORUM IS NEEDED FOR ANY OFFICIAL ACTION.
(B) RULES OF PROCEDURE.
THE COMMISSION MAY ADOPT RULES OF PROCEDURE TO GOVERN ITS MEETINGS AND OPERATIONS.
(C) FAILURE TO ATTEND MEETINGS.
IF ANY MEMBER IS ABSENT FROM REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS MORE THAN 3 TIMES IN 1 YEAR, NOT COUNTING ABSENCES EXCUSED BY THE CHAIR:
(1) THE MEMBER IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE RESIGNED; AND
(2) THE CHAIR SHALL REQUEST THAT MEMBER'S APPOINTING AUTHORITY TO FILL THE RESULTANT VACANCY.
§ 49-6. PERSONNEL; BUDGET.
(A) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
(1) THE COMMISSION MAY APPOINT A PROPERLY QUALIFIED PERSON AS ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
(2) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS ENTITLED TO A SALARY, AS PROVIDED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
(3) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL PERFORM THE DUTIES THAT THE COMMISSION PRESCRIBES.
(B) STAFF.
(1) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAY EMPLOY A STAFF AS PROVIDED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
(2) STAFF MEMBERS SHALL BE MEMBERS OF THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE.
(C) VOLUNTEERS.
THE COMMISSION MAY ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS AND CONSULTANTS, WITHOUT SALARY, AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY FROM TIME TO TIME.
(D) BUDGET.
THE COMMISSION MAY EXPEND FUNDS AS AUTHORIZED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES OR IN ANY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS.
§ 49-8. POWERS AND DUTIES.
(A) ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS, ETC.
THE COMMISSION SHALL ASSIST VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN THE CITY, ARE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY, OR ARE RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEES, AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN MATTERS RELATING TO:
(1) EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND RETRAINING SERVICES AND FACILITIES;
(2) HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND REHABILITATION SERVICES AND FACILITIES;
(3) SPECIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES PROVIDED BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS;
(4) EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT SERVICES; AND
(5) OTHER MATTERS OF A RELATED OR SIMILAR NATURE.
(B) INFORMATION RESOURCE.
THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION RELATING TO VETERANS' ISSUES.
(C) COMMUNITY AWARENESS.
THE COMMISSION SHALL UNDERTAKE AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS TO:
(1) INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF VETERANS' RIGHTS;
(2) HONOR AND MEMORIALIZE DECEASED VETERANS; AND
(3) HONOR THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.
§ 49-9. AGENCY COOPERATION.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMISSION, ALL CITY OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSION AND EXTEND THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES THAT THE COMMISSION REQUIRES.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.
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