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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE II, ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 2:2, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND AGENCIES, PART 2, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND AGENCIES, ARTICLE 5, OFFICES, BOARDS COMMISSIONS, AND AUTHORITIES, BY ESTABLISHING SECTION 2:2-104, WEST WARD COMMUNITY AREA BOARD, TO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BY ENGAGING WEST WARD COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE OVERALL WELL BEING OF THE WEST WARD, INCLUDING AREAS OF ECONOMIC AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
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WHEREAS, the West Ward Community wishes to have a more active role in addressing the quality of life within their local neighborhood, especially in the area of economic and housing development; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Newark and the Newark Municipal Council wish to ensure that residents and business owners of the community will have an opportunity to be engaged in among other things, programs, services, neighborhood planning, and development process affecting the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
Note: Additions are shown in bold and underlined and deletions are shown as strikethrough.
Section 1. the establishment of WEST WARD Community Area Board.
§ 2:2-104 WEST WARD COMMUNITY AREA BOARD.
2:2-104.1 Purpose.
The West Ward Community Area Board, hereinafter referred to as the “WWCAB,” shall be created by the Newark Municipal Council (“Municipal Council”) to serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and the Municipal Council with the overall well-being of the West Ward, including but not limited to providing input regarding programs, services, neighborhood planning and development processes affecting the community.
2:2-104.2 MEMBERSHIP.
A. Appointment. The WWCAB shall consist of eleven (11) Members of the West Ward appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Municipal Council. The Mayor shall make the appointments to the WWCAB.
B. The individuals shall be nominated for the WWCAB subject to the following:
1. Individuals nominated shall be a resident or business owner within the West Ward and shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age (“Nominees”);
2. The West Ward Councilperson shall submit ten (10) Nominees to the Mayor for the Mayor’s selection (Appointment) as follows:
a. Two (2) Nominees from each section of the West Ward - Ivy Hill, Vailsburg, Fairmount, West Side and Roseville (“Section(s)”) - for a total of ten (10) Nominees; and
3. The Mayor shall nominate one (1) individual, as a Nominee, from any Section of the West Ward.
C. The Mayor shall appoint a total of eleven (11) Members.
D. Term. Members appointed to the WWCAB shall be appointed to serve as follows:
1. The appointment shall be for a term of three (3) years.
2. Members shall serve until their successors is appointed, but no Member may serve for more than ninety (90) days after the expiration of his or her original term, unless re-appointed by the Mayor.
3. Not more than one-third of the appointed Members shall be city employees.
4. Membership in the WWCAB is contingent upon continued residence or business ownership within the West Ward (i.e. Membership is terminated based on lack of residence or business ownership).
5. Vacancies shall be filled promptly for the remainder of an unexpired term as follows:
a. In the same manner as the initial appointment (i.e. if the vacancy is a Mayor nominee, the Mayor shall nominate and appoint a new Member. If the vacancy is the West Ward Councilperson’s nominee, the West Ward Councilperson shall nominate a new individual for the vacancy).
6. Members of the WWCAB shall serve without compensation.
E. Removal. A Member may be removed from the WWCAB for cause, which consists of the following:
1. Substantial non-attendance at Board Meetings over a period of six (6) months to be defined as, non-attendance at three (3) consecutive meetings;
2. By majority vote of the Members of the WWCAB
2:2-104.3 Powers and Duties.
a. The WWCAB shall:
1. Consider the needs of the West Ward;
2. Cooperate with, consult, assist and advise the Mayor and West Ward Councilperson with respect to any matter relating to the welfare of the West Ward and its residents;
3. Hold monthly board meetings to discuss any matter relating to the welfare of the West Ward and its residents, and at least one public meeting each quarter;
4. Render an annual report to the Mayor of the City of Newark and the Municipal Council within three (3) months of the end of each year and such other reports to the Mayor of the City of Newark and Municipal Council as they shall require; such reports or summaries thereof are to be published in the public record;
5. Elect its own officers; adopt by-laws, which shall be available for reasonable public inspection; keep a public record of its activities, including minutes of its meetings, majority and minority reports, and all documents the WWCAB reviews, which shall be made available, in accordance with law, to elected officials upon request and for reasonable public inspection;
6. Prepare and submit to the Mayor and Municipal Council, on or before a date established by the West Ward Councilperson, an annual statement of West Ward needs, including a brief description of the West Ward, the WWCAB’s assessment of its current and probable future needs, and its recommendations for programs, projects, or activities to meet those needs;
7. Hold community meetings to engage the residents and business owners of the West Ward in proposed development activities within the West Ward, and provide recommendations and/or concerns regarding said developments to the Mayor and West Ward Councilperson;
8. Evaluate the quality and quantity of services provided by agencies/departments within the West Ward;
9. Disseminate information about resources available through the City of Newark, such as services and programs;
10. Conduct substantial public outreach, including identifying the organizations active in the West Ward, maintaining a list of the names and mailing addresses of such community organizations, and making such names and, with the consent of the organization, mailing addresses available to the public upon request.
Section 2: If any provision of this Ordinance or application thereof to any person(s) or circumstance is judged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalidated provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared severable.
Section 3: This Ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Ordinance creates and establishes Title, II, Administration, Chapter 2:2, Office of the Mayor and Agencies, Part 2, Boards, Commissions, and Agencies, Article 5, Offices, Boards, Commissions and Authorities, by establishing Section 2:2-104, West Ward Community Area Board to serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and the Newark Municipal Council