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Designating the office within City Council that currently serves the needs of veterans and their families as the Office of Veterans Affairs; confirming the continuing responsibility of the Veterans Advisory Commission to provide assistance to that Office; and amending and restating Resolution No. 060059 (as amended by Resolution No. 070094) to further provide for the powers and duties of the Veterans Advisory Commission and the method of appointing its commissioners.
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WHEREAS, Resolution 060059 provided for the reestablishment of the Veterans Advisory Commission, specified a new method of appointing commissioners, and set forth the Commission’s powers and duties; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 070094 amended Resolution 060059 to further provide for the method of appointing commissioners; and
WHEREAS, Council remains committed to providing extraordinary constituent service to veterans and their families, in recognition of their extraordinary service to our nation. In furtherance of that goal, Council has determined that it is necessary and appropriate to clearly distinguish between the permanent office of Council that provides ongoing assistance, and those who assist that office through their service on the Veterans Advisory Commission; and
WHEREAS, Council has further determined that it is appropriate to again modify the method of appointing commissioners, and to revise and clarify the Commission’s powers and duties; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Resolution 060059, as amended by Resolution 070094, is hereby amended and restated as follows:
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Office of Veterans Affairs is hereby established as a permanent office of City Council. The President shall appoint and dismiss at the President’s discretion the Director and all other employees of this office. The Office of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for aiding veterans and their families in gaining access to the full range of resources available to them, and for identifying and pursuing additional resources as needed. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Office shall seek the ongoing assistance of the Veterans Advisory Commission.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Veterans Advisory Commission, reestablished by Resolution 060059, shall continue to 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, at least five shall be affiliated with one or more of the following veterans organizations: the Veterans Multi-Service Center and Women Veterans Center; the Disabled American Veterans; the American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Vietnam Veterans of America; the Jewish War Veterans; the Catholic War Veterans; the Purple Heart Organization; the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society; the Marine Corp-Law Enforcement Foundation; the 82nd Airborne Association, Philadelphia Chapter; the Paralyzed Veterans of America; the West Point Society of Philadelphia; the Association of the United States Army; the Union League Armed Services Council; the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network; the Student Veterans of America; the Navy Supply Corps Foundation, Philadelphia Area Chapter; the American Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces; Team Rubicon; Team Red, White, and Blue; Travis Manion Foundation; The Mission Continues; Bunker Labs; or any additional veterans organizations identified by the Commission or Director. 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 and may designate a person to represent them at any meetings of the Commission.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That 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 two 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 Chairperson of the Veterans’ Advisory Commission shall be elected by the members of the Commission, and the Secretary shall be appointed by the Chairperson and need not be a commissioner.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs and 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 the Office of Veterans Affairs 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, submit recommendations to the Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs and Council with respect to the administration and distribution of veterans’ benefits, 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 eligible to be reappointed to one additional five year term.
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