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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2011.09.22 - 18739MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION tt 11229 ‘444' I • By Commissioners Jim Nash, District #15, Gary McGillivray, District #24 and Janet Jackson, District #21 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — CREATION OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR OAKLAND COUNTY To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS Oakland County has a large population of United States Military veterans, from current conflicts and past, and a large number of families of service members still deployed overseas; and WHEREAS veterans as a group have made great sacrifices for our nation and we have moral and practical responsibilities to serve their needs on return and, as they age, help with their changing needs throughout life; and WHEREAS veterans in Oakland County and across the nation are more likely than the general population to suffer stress and depression, attempt suicide, have serious health issues and disabilities, have housing issues, and far too many are involved in the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS nationally the unemployment rate among veterans is alarmingly high; especially among former soldiers who have often learned a highly technical skill in the modern military and possess a strong sense of collaboration and discipline developed through the service they have given all of us; and WHEREAS all the issues listed above also affect the families of veterans and those of service members still deployed on foreign missions; and WHEREAS veterans and the families of currently deployed soldiers who reside in Oakland County are due our respect and the most effective and efficient system of care possible, including helping families of those serving make re-entry into civilian life easier for newly returned soldiers, and helping those who served in past conflicts who need help now; and WHEREAS our county human service agencies, veteran organizations and advocates, county, state and federal veteran agencies, religious institutions and interested citizens are currently working on organizing and publicizing a more collaborative and effective system of care for our veteran population; and WHEREAS a very effective way to coordinate those efforts lies with a county-wide advisory council of appointed representatives to give a broad range of perspectives and the opportunity for all our communities to have a voice in how we serve our veterans. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes a Veterans' Services Advisory Council for Oakland County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Veterans' Services Advisory Council for Oakland County may conduct public forums, study ways to support veteran access to services, publicize services and events for veterans, and shall report their findings and recommendations, for county policy and future efforts, to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on or before the last scheduled Board of Commissioners' meeting of 2012. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Veterans' Services Advisory Council for Oakland County shall meet monthly, with additional meetings to be determined as need arises by the Council in its work, to conduct the business of the Council. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the Veterans' Services Advisory Council for Oakland County shall consist of 25 members, each serving a term ending December 31, 2012. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 25 representatives will each be appointed by their respective Oakland County Commissioner for that term. Each appointed person must reside in the district that their County Commissioner represents and serves at the pleasure of the appointing County Commissioner. Each appointee shall be an honorably discharged veteran (documentation required), or civilian directly involved with veteran services. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Executive may appoint an ex-officio member to the Veterans' Services Advisory Council for a term ending December 31, 2012. The ex-officio member shall not have voting rights on the commission. This ex-officio member appointed by the County Executive should be a veteran, if possible. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that two (2) Oakland County Commissioners may serve as ex-officio members, one (1) from each party caucus, to be recommended by the General Government Committee to the full Board of Commissioners for appointment for a term ending December 31, 2012. These ex officio members shall not have voting rights on the commission. These ex-officio members should be veterans, if possible. BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the head of Oakland County Veteran Services, or its representative, shall also be appointed as an ex-officio member of the Veterans' Advisory Council to better coordinate both the functions and duties of the council with said office. This representative shall have no voting powers. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Veterans' Services Advisory Council of Oakland County is subject to federal, state and county laws, rules and regulations on lobbying, open meetings, use of public monies for political purposes, standard of conduct and ethics. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Veterans' Services Advisory Council of Oakland County serve as volunteers and shall not be compensated and they will receive no funding from the County of Oakland. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Veterans' Services Advisory Council of Oakland County may accept funds, including gifts, donations, grants or any federal, state or local funds for purposes relating to its work. The acceptance of any state, federal and/or local funds by the Veterans' Services Advisory Council commits no Oakland County funds and places no obligation upon Oakland County to continue the purposes for which the funds are made available. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the purpose of the Veterans' Services Advisory Council of Oakland County shall be to survey the needs of veterans and the families of those deployed in Oakland County, develop a system of care, develop a public education campaign and report to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners the results of their work. To this end the Veterans' Services Advisory Council shall: 1. Enact bylaws for its own governance, under rules set forth by the Michigan Open Meetings Act and all other federal, state and county laws. 2. Hold public meetings, fact-finding hearings and public events and disseminate information to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, the County Executive, public agencies and the public. 3. Use voluntary services, donations, gifts or grants of private individuals, agencies and organizations, which may be offered and needed from time to time. 4. Collaborate with and obtain public information from county departments and other governmental, human services, veteran and other private organizations. 5. Provide a report to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and County Executive on or before the last Board of Commissioners' meeting of the 2012 calendar year. Commissioner Gary Me&illivray / District #24 „ Cm i missioner Jim Nash , istrict #15 I g AA, IN)T . . Cornirw,sioner Janet Jack:86'n District #21 Commissioner District # I V COmmissiouer, District Commissioner District U 2L Commissioner ri „.4 District issi District ft Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution, Commissiuner District # , Commissioner District # Commissioner District Commissioner Commissioner District# District 14 Commissioner Commissioner District # District 4 Commissioner Commissioner District # District Commissioner Commissioner District 4 District Commissioner Commissioner District # District tt Commissioner Commissioner District # District ## Resolution #11229 September 22, 2011 The Chairperscn referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.