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Home My WebLink About2025-05-12 25-157 Ordinance25-157 05/12/2025 CITY COUNCIL ACTION Council Meeting Date: May 12, 2025 Item No: 25-157 Responsible Dept: City Manager's Office Action Requested: Ordinance Title, Ordinance Map/Lot: N/A Amending Chapter 23, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Article VI, by Clarifying Language and Adding Sections to Address Cause for Removal Summary This Ordinance would amend Chapter 23 Boards, Committees, and Commissions, Article VI Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights by updating language in Ordnance, most notably by adding language for notice and cause for removal. This committee has struggled in the past with some members failing to attend meetings, thereby hindering the ability of the Committee to conduct its business. The language amendment proposes a process to remove individuals from the committee for unexcused absences when four or more meetings are missed in a year or three consecutive meetings are missed. This would ensure citizens appointed to the committee have expectations of attendance and create a mechanism for removal, when warranted. Additionally, it would create a position for a Bangor City Councilor, appointed by the Council Chair annually, to participate as a nonvoting member. Should this be approved, the City Council may want to consider similar language related to attendance and removal considerations for other boards, committees, and commissions. This was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights at their May 6, 2025 meeting. Committee Action Committee: Government Operations Committee Action: Staff Comments & Approvals Meeting Date: May 19, 2025 For: Against: City Manager City Solicitor Finance Director Introduced for: First Reading and Referral 25-157 05/12/2025 CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE Date: May 12, 2025 Assigned to Councilor: Tremble ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 23, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Article VI, by Clarifying Language and Adding Sections to Address Cause for Removal WHEREAS, at present, there is no mechanism to remove individuals from Boards, Committees, and Commissions for lack of attendance; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR AS FOLLOWS, THAT Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Bangor is amended as follows: § 23 - 38 Establishment; membership. C. There shall also be four nonvoting members of the Committee. These nonvoting members shall include: al The City Manager, or designee, as an ex officio member. (2) The Superintendent of Schools, or designee, as an ex officio member. (3) A student residing in Bangor, currently enrolled in a secondary or post -secondary education attending- (4) A Bangor City Councilor, designated by the Council Chair annually, to act as a liaison between the Council and the committee. , Eastern Maine Geffimunity the University ef Mairfe- § 23 — 47 Terms of office. A. The term of each regular member shall be for three years or until their successor has been appointed and has qualified.; § 23 — 42 Officers. The Committee shall annually elect a Chair, aftd a Vice Chair, and a Secretary from among its members. Additions are underlined, deletions struel( threugh. 25-157 05/12/2025 § 23 — 43 Meetings; annual report; quorum; cause for removal. A. The Committee shall meet at least quaFtedy six times annuallybut more frequent meetings may occur. B. Prior to Peeember 31 February 1 of each calendar year, the Committee may prepare and submit to the City Council an annual report outlining its activities during the preceding tvielve ^ entl perfed calendar year. C. A quorum shall consist of five of the nine regular Committee members. D. Attendance. To maintain good standing, regular members of the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity. Inclusion, and Human Rights are expected to actively participate in the Committee's work through consistent attendance. Recognizing the importance of continuity, members shall adhere to the following attendance guidelines within their three-year term: 1. Annual Attendance: Members shall not be absent from more than four (4) regularly scheduled meetings within any twelve (12) month period unless excused under subsection 3. Absences. 2. Three -Year Attendance: Over their three (3) year term, members shall attend at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the regularly scheduled meetings, and shall not be absent from more than three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings within any twelve (12) month period unless excused under subsection 3. Absences. 2 Ahcanrac Notice of Absence: All absences will be excused provided that the Committee Chair and the City Manager or designee receive notification of the absence before the scheduled meeting. (ii) Unexcused Absences: Absences without prior notification to both the Committee Chair and the City Manager or designee will be considered unexcused. 4. Record Keepine: The Committee Secretary shall maintain a record of all absences. E. Notice & Cause for Removal. 1. Violation Warnine Notice: If a member is absent from three (3) reeularly scheduled. or two (2 consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, within any twelve (12) month period, unless excused, the Secretary shall then alert the City Clerk who shall provide written notification to the member, outlining the attendance policy and the potential consequence of further absences. 2. Hearing Notification: In the event a member fails to attend meetings as established in section 23-44, subsection A, the Committee Secretary shall notify the City Clerk of meeting dates missed. The City Clerk shall notify the member via certified mail of their perceived violation, and hearing date no sooner than fourteen days. 3. Hearing & Decision: The Personnel Committee shall hold a hearing and determine if a) an attendance violation has occurred and b) whether or not to remove the member. Decisions to remove members for cause shall require an Order on the following Council agenda. IN CITY COUNCIL MAY 12, 2025 COrd 25-157 First Reading and Referral to Government Operations Committee Meeting of May 19, 2025 ��.�` � M,�� w�� s� CITY CLERK IN CITY COUNCIL MAY 28, 2025 COrd 25-157 Suzette Furrow spoke against the ordinance and felt that attendance requirements and a Councilor being a member of the committee should be two separate ordinances. Hilari Simmons felt the ordinance to address attendance is appropriate. She questioned why a Councilor needed to be included. Motion made and seconded for Passage Vote: 6— 1 Councilors Voting Yes: Beck, Deane, Fish, Fournier, Tremble, Pelletier Councilors Voting No: Mallar Passed ��.�` � M,�� w�� s� CITY CLERK