Title
An Ordinance enacting Article XLVIII of Chapter Two of the Code of Ordinances of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, authorizing the creation of a commission to be called the “Commission on Veterans’ Affairs,” for the purpose of providing a support system and resources to veterans and their families and improving veteran community relations in Lexington-Fayette County and other appropriate purposes. [Council Office, Maynard]
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT:
Section 1 - That Sections 2-502 through 2-505 of Article XLVIII in Chapter Two of the Code of Ordinances be and hereby is created and reserved;
Section 2 - That Article XLVIII in Chapter Two of the Code of Ordinances be and hereby is created to read as follows:
Sec. 2-506. Created.
(a) A commission is hereby created which shall be known as the “Commission on Veterans’ Affairs.”
(b) The Commission is created for the purpose of establishing an integrated support system for veterans and their families by enhancing services, resources, and initiatives, strengthening communication across organizational lines, and promoting veteran-friendly community relations in Lexington-Fayette County.
Sec. 2-507. Membership.
(a) The Commission shall consist of nineteen (19) members, which shall be appointed by the Mayor and subject to confirmation by a majority of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
(b) The nineteen (19) members shall be comprised as follows:
(1) Three (3) ex-officio members shall be from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council;
(2) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Army;
(3) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Navy;
(4) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Air Force;
(5) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Coast Guard;
(6) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Marine Corps;
(7) One (1) member shall be a veteran of the United States Merchant Marine;
(8) One (1) member shall be an employee of the Lexington Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center;
(9) Five (5) members shall be affiliated with Veterans Service Organizations;
(10) One (1) member shall be affiliated with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC);
(11) One (1) ex-officio member shall be the Commissioner of the Lexington-Fayette Department of Public Safety, or his/her designee;
(12) One (1) ex-officio member shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, or his/her designee;
(13) One (1) member shall be an inductee to the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.
(c) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but May be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred within the limits of the funds appropriated by the Urban County Council in the annual Budget.
(d) A member of the Commission shall be removed only by a majority of the Urban County Council.
Sec. 2-508. Terms of Office.
(a) Appointed members of the Commission shall serve a term of four (4) years from the date of appointment, provided the terms of those originally appointed shall be staggered, as required by section 7.02 of the Urban County Charter, in the following manner:
(1) Ten (10) members shall be appointed for four (4) years;
(2) Nine (9) shall be appointed for two (2) years.
(b) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the matter prescribed for the original appointment.
(c) Members of the Commission May only serve two (2) consecutive terms. Members of the Commission who have served two (2) consecutive terms shall not be able to succeed themselves until the lapse of twelve (12) months from the end of said term.
(d) The terms of ex-officio members shall be deemed to have terminated upon their leaving office as members of the Urban County Council or as officers or employees of the Urban County Government.
Sec. 2-509. Officers.
The Officers of the Commission shall consist of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and any other Officer, to be designated by vote of the Commission. The vice-chairperson shall preside in the absence of the chairperson.
Sec. 2-510. Meetings.
(a) The Commission shall meet at least six (6) times a year, at a date, place, and time to be determined by the Commission.
(b) Special meetings May be called by the chairperson or a majority of the members of the Commission.
(c) The Commission shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall provide for keeping a record of its proceedings. Full and complete minutes of all meetings and records of all proceedings, including the number of votes for and against each motion and the record of the vote of each member, shall be kept and made available for public inspection.
(d) All meetings shall be open to the public in a manner consistent with the Open Meetings Act.
Sec. 2-511. Quorum.
A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Commission. The acts of a majority of those members present at any regular or special meeting shall be the acts of the Commission.
Sec. 2-512. Duties.
The powers and duties of the Commission shall include the following, as permitted by law:
(1) Evaluate and recommend programs, policies, and practices to the Urban County Council designed to improve benefits, opportunities, and recognition of veterans and their families in the Lexington community;
(2) Advise Urban County Dept.s and div.s on policy matters which affect the daily lives of veterans and their families;
(3) Facilitate a comprehensive community network to connect veterans and their families to existing benefits and opportunities in the Lexington community;
(4) Share information and resources to create avenues for veterans to communicate with each other;
(5) Plan and develop community events to raise awareness and support for veterans and their families.
Section 3 - That this Ordinance shall become effective on the date of its passage.
PASSED URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL:
____________________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
___________________________________
CLERK OF THE URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL