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Home My WebLink AboutORDINANCES-1976-006-O-76• 1-8-75, 2-5-76, 3-2-76, 4-P-7A, 4-19-76, 6-0-76 AN ORDINANCE Establishing the Commission on Aging BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: SECTION 1: That the Code of .the City of Evanston, 1957, as amended, be further amended by. adding to Chapter Two thereto Article XVII, Sections 2-215 through 2-222, to read as follows: "Section 2-215. Rationale. It is hereby found and declared by the City Council of the City of Evanston that in order to insure that the aging population will continue to be regarded as productive, responsible, contributing members of . society; and to guarantee the retention of all rights, privileges, protections; and to assist senior citizens in the maintenance of their dignity, self-respect, and independence; and to facilitate the under- standing between generations; and to provide the opportunity for senior citizens to express their desires and advance their causes, and in rec- ognition of the need of a voice to speak for that portion of the aging population unable to advocate on their own behalf, it is necessary to provide an organizational structure which can accomplish such ends. Section 2-216. Establishment. There is hereby created an Evanston Commission on Aging. Section 2-217. Appointments and Qualifications. The Commission shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. At least 1/3 of the Commission shall be age 60 or over. No person shall be eligible for appointment to the Commission unless such person is a resident of the City of Evanston. No persons shall be eligible for appointment to the Commission if said person is a paid staff member of any Evanston agency serving the elderly. Subject to the foregoing limitations, the appointed Commissioners shall possess as practically feasible, quali- ties of leadership, desire and interest to work with and for senior 6-0-76 -2- citizens, compassion, knowledge of and experience with senior citizens and the ability to offer solutions to the difficulties encountered in the aging process. The Commission shall include representation of various socio-economic groups. It shall be the duty of the Human Services Committee of the City Council to submit to the Mayor, at least 60 days prior to the expiration of terms, the names of at least two (2) qualified persons for each expected vacancy. Section 2-128. Terms of Office. All appointees to the Commission on Aging shall serve terms of three years or until their successors are appointed and confirmed . provided, however, that initially, five members shall be appointed for terms of one year; five members shall be appointed for terms of two years; • and five members shall be appointed for terms of three years. Members of the Commission shall not serve for more than two full terms, and vacancies-, shall be filled for the remaining portion of a vacant term by the Mayor after prior consultation with the Human Services Committee of the Evansto-i City Council and with the advice and consent of the City Council. Section 2-219. Administration. The Commission on Aging shall have a Director and other suitable staff appointed by the City Manager in consultation with the Commission on Aging. The Commission shall maintain an office properly equipped to discharge its function. The Commission shall present to the City Council an annual report of its objectives and accomplishments. The Commission shall adopt rules for meetings, the transaction of its business, and keep a record of its transactions, findings, and determinations. Section 2-220. Powers and Duties. • In addition to providing professional services to carry out their powers And duties, the Commission is encouraged, where appropriate, to utilize and involve the families, friends and neighbors of the people being served. 6-0-76 -3- The Commission on Aging shall be vested with the following powers and duties: A. Information and Referral 1. To develop a resource file of services available to senior . citizens. 2. To answer all inquiries from, or in behalf of senior citizens.- 3. To make referrals and to follow up on referrals. 4. To publicize senior citizens programs or specialized ser- vices available to senior citizens. B. Advocacy ,1. To provide advacacy and ombudsman services to aging citizen!, particularly the isolated, the ill, or the troubled, where needed or when requested. . 2. To advocate services for needs and rights of the aging • population. 3. To promote active participation of seniors in programs addressing the needs and rights of the aging population. 4. To consider various funded programs for local aging . citizens' needs. 5. To consider financial problems of the aging population in relationship to the dignity, self-respect and independ- ence of that group. C. Study, Evaluation, Planning, and Recommendation 1. To study and evaluate the needs of all senior citizens, including the isolated elderly. 2. To analyze existing services in relationship to these needs. 3. To recommend to service providers additions, changes, or deletions in services. 4. To develop a professional advisory group to advise the Commission and its staff regarding programming, planning, staff qualifications, performance, and research related to the elderly. • D. Coordination and Consultation 1. To coordinate services for senior citizens provided by federal, state, regional, local agencies, and, in addition, to cooperate with City Departments. 2. To provide consultation and assistance to community groups developing or delivering services for senior citizens. :i l . 6-0-76 -4- 3. To develop various committees. One committee shall be con- cerned with long-term care facilities which may include, but not be limited to, residents, owners, managers, administra- tors of long-term care facilities, representatives of resi- dents of such facilities, representatives of major service providers, community groups, and City departments. E. Education 1. To promote community 'education and disseminate information regarding the problems, needs, and status of senior citizens. 2. To educate the community about the various phases of the aging process. Section 2-221. Funding Provisions. The City Council shall determine the annual level of funding of the Commission on Aging. None of the above sections without prior approval by the City Council shall include the power to obligate the • City for compensation to any person, organization or agency. Section 2-222. Investigations and Hearings. For the purpose of carrying out the duties and functions herein - before enumerated, the Commission may conduct investigations and public hearings. When, in the course of such hearings and investigations, it shall become necessary to obtain testimony from parties who have declinec or refused to appear, the Commission may request the City Council to require the attendance of such person and the production of such documents as the Commission shall have determined to be useful or necessary to any matter then under investigation by issuing subpoena therefor. Such subpoena may be served by any person lawfully authorized to serve subpoena under the laws of the State of Illinois.. The subpoena shall designate the time and place of the required attendance, the nature of documents to be produced, if any, and shall be accompanied by the • appropriate fee and mileage as may from time to time be established for witnesses appearing in the various Circuit Courts of the State. oil 11111111111=111111111111 -Now 6-0-76 -5- In the event that a subpoena issued by the Council shall be disobeyed, the Commission may apply to the Circuit Court of Cook County for an order requiring either the attendance of the witness or the pro- duction of documents or both. The Chairman of the Commission is author- ized to administer oaths and provide for the transcription of testimony. taken at such hearings. SECTION 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 3: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law. Introduced: Avt%u 6 1976 Adopted: _j41PR%t. I(* , 1976 Approved A ?Rix %(P 1976 4, .�' Mayor G ATTESY tip.•,: '..' ti..(,V. �.,W City Clerk Approved as to form:.- Corporation/Counsel 0