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Providing for the reestablishment of the Veterans’ Advisory Commission and for the appointment of the members thereof, and defining the Commission’s powers and duties.
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WHEREAS, Resolution No. 050869 (adopted October 20, 2005) authorized Council’s Committee on Law and Government to hold public hearings on reestablishing the Veterans’ Advisory Commission and revitalizing its mission; and
WHEREAS, On December 13, 2005, the Committee on Law and Government held a public hearing as authorized by Resolution No. 050869, and heard testimony concerning the need to restructure the Commission; and
WHEREAS, Based on recommendations made at that hearing, Council desires by this Resolution to reestablish the Veterans’ Advisory Commission, provide a new method of appointing commissioners, and set forth the powers and duties of the Commission; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Veterans’ Advisory Commission established by Resolution No. 123 (adopted February 7, 1957) is hereby reestablished. The Commission shall hereafter consist of nine voting members, two of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor and seven of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Council with the approval of Council by resolution. Of the seven members appointed by the President, five shall be appointed from nominations made by the following veterans organizations (the “member organizations”): The United Veterans Council of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, the VFW, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Jewish War Veterans, the Catholic War Veterans, the Purple Heart Organization, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society and the 82nd Airborne Association, Philadelphia Chapter. In addition to the nine voting members of the Commission, the Mayor and the President of the Council shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members who may designate a person to represent them at any meetings of the Commission.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That except as may be otherwise provided in this Resolution, all commissioners shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority for a term of five years from the date of their appointment and until their successors are appointed. All commissioners shall be eligible for reappointment, except that no commissioner shall serve for more than three terms. A vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the remaining term in the same manner as the original appointment was made.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the President of the Council may delegate to the Chairperson and Director of the Commission the process of how the member organizations shall nominate candidates for appointment to the Commission.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Chairperson of the Veterans’ Advisory Commission shall be elected by the members of the Commission, and the Secretary shall be appointed by the Director and need not be a commissioner.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That from time to time, the Commission shall review the composition of the member organizations to determine if it is current, and, if the Commission believes that this Resolution should be amended to update the composition of the member organizations, it shall so notify the President of the Council.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Veterans’ Advisory Commission shall consult with the various City departments, boards and commissions which are engaged in the distribution of veterans’ benefits, in order that it may be able to counsel and advise veterans as to their rights, privileges, grants, gratuities and other benefits to which they are legally entitled.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Veterans’ Advisory Commission shall meet quarterly and after each quarterly meeting, issue a written report to the Mayor and to Council setting forth its findings with respect to the administration and distribution of veterans’ benefits, and making recommendations, including proposals for legislation, to carry out the intent and purpose of this Resolution.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That commissioners are required to attend at least two quarterly meetings each calendar year, and if a commissioner fails to do so, the commissioner may be removed upon a two-thirds vote of the Commission, which must first provide notice to the commissioner and an opportunity for the commissioner to be heard prior to any removal vote.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That persons serving as commissioners when this Resolution is adopted shall be deemed to be newly appointed to the commission under the provisions of this Resolution for five year terms beginning the date this Resolution was adopted, and shall be eligible to be reappointed to two additional five year terms. For purposes of filling vacancies or making new appointments when their terms expire, the three currently serving commissioners shall be deemed to have been appointed as follows: Commissioner Mariano shall be deemed to be one of the two appointees of the Council President not made from nominations of the member organizations; Commissioner Lowry shall be deemed to be one of the five appointees of the Council President made from nominations of the member organizations; and Commissioner Pirolli shall be deemed to be one of the two appointees of the Mayor.
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