(A) Establishment. There is hereby created and established six "Community Advisory Boards," each of which shall be scheduled to meet and conduct business once the total membership of each individual "Board" has been appointed in accordance with division (B).
(B) Board membership. Each Community Advisory Board shall consist of three members recommended by the community, and appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Commissioners. Appointed members of the Board shall serve one-year terms. To be eligible to serve on a Community Advisory Board, all members must have a primary place of residence or a place of business within that neighborhood's boundaries.
(C) Organization of Advisory Board. Each Community Advisory Board shall elect from its appointed members a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Treasurer. The internal affairs of the Advisory Boards shall be governed by this section, their by-laws, and duly adopted policies. All members of the Advisory Boards shall serve without compensation and shall be governed by the City of Hazard's "Standard of Conduct" policy.
(D) Duties of Advisory Boards. It shall be the responsibility of the Community Advisory Boards to:
(1) Enhance the livability of the community by establishing and maintaining an open line of communication and liaison between the Mayor and Board of Commissioners, City Manager, city departments, and city government agencies, through the Executive Community Advisory Committee as set forth in division (H);
(2) Provide an open process by which all members of the community district may involve themselves in the affairs of the community district;
(3) Identify problems, issues, concerns, questions, and solutions within the community district;
(4) Develop an action plan for projects that the community citizens wish to accomplish. All action plans shall be approved by the City Commissioners and City Manager; and
(5) Support, assist, and promote any and all endeavors to identify future neighborhood needs and priorities that will promote the health, safety, and welfare of the community and its citizens.
(E) Powers and authority of Advisory Boards. The Advisory Boards shall have all such powers and authority as are reasonable and necessary to carry out their advisory responsibilities so long as they are exercised in furtherance of a public purpose of the community and are not in conflict with any constitutional provision, statute, or ordinance. The Advisory Boards shall serve as an advisory agency of the City of Hazard, Kentucky, through the Executive Community Advisory Committee, and shall not constitute a separate body politic or public agency. The Advisory Boards shall not hire any employees.
(F) Grants. The Advisory Boards shall have the authority, with the approval of the City Manager, to apply for and accept federal, state, and local government grants and donations from individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, foundations, or any and all other entities for the purpose of carrying out its advisory functions.
(G) The Executive Community Advisory Committee and all departments of the City of Hazard shall assist and cooperate with the Community Advisory Boards in carrying our their duties and functions, and shall furnish the Community Advisory Boards with all information or services that either can reasonably provide.
(H) Executive Community Advisory Commitee. There is hereby created and established, in addition to the Community Advisory Boards, an Executive Community Advisory Committee, consisting of the Chairperson of each Neighborhood Advisory Board or their designee, the City Manager, the Mayor and Board of Commissioners. The Executive Community Advisory Committee shall coordinate the efforts of Community Advisory Boards with the city, confer on upcoming decisions on a community-wide basis, and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners as the Community Task Force deems necessary and appropriate. The Executive Community Advisory Board will be led by the city officials. The Executive Community Advisory Committee shall be required to meet biannually.
(I) Finance. Each Community Advisory Board will receive an annual stipend of $500. The Chief Financial Officer for the City of Hazard shall establish financial policies, procedures, and regulations necessary to provide accountability and control over funds allocated by the City of Hazard or collected by the Community Advisory Boards or Executive Community Advisory Committee. There will be an initial $1,000 allotted to the program to address community awareness of and recruitment for the program.
(J) Elected city officials, the Mayor, and City Commissioners shall be required to attend at least one meeting for each Community Advisory Board each year. The Community Advisory Boards will lead the meeting, and the city official will attend to provide input and advice. There shall be one representative from either the Police Department or the Fire Department at each meeting.
(Ord. 2021-03, passed 10-29-20)