Mission Statement
- To actively promote the total integration and participation of persons with disabilities into all areas of economic, political, and community life.
- To aid the city in its stated goal of utilizing all available resources and coordinating efforts toward removing barriers to full integration and participation of persons with disabilities.
By-Laws
(as last amended 5/17/2011)
Article I
Name and Location
Section A
The name of the Commission is: “Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns.” (referred to henceforth as “the Commission”)
Section B
The authority for the Commission shall be located in the office of the Mayor of the City of Dearborn, per City Ordinance no. 00-827.
Article II
Purpose
Section A
It will be the goal of the Commission to:
1. Actively promote the total integration and participation of persons with disabilities into all areas of economic, political, and community life.
2. To aid the City in its stated goal of utilizing all available resources and coordinating efforts toward removing barriers to full integration and participation of persons with disabilities.
3. To serve as a advocating/ coordinating body for the purpose of receiving input from citizens on the needs and concerns of the disabled community, to formulate and recommend solutions to these identified needs and concerns, and to convey such recommendations to appropriate citizens, businesses and governmental bodies.
4. To work with the City to identify and eliminate conditions, policies, or practices that may operate to discriminate against, exclude, or hinder the full integration and participation of persons with disabilities.
5. To work with the City to create an environment to establish policies and practices, and develop or adapt programs which will facilitate the full integration and participation of persons with disabilities into all areas of economic, political, and community life.
6. To render advice, monitor, and evaluate all city policies, practices, and procedures which immediately or remotely impact upon persons with disabilities.
7. To assist the city in its efforts to comply with codes, ordinances, and statutes that affect disabled persons in Dearborn.
8. To formulate and maintain working committees when appropriate to oversee areas of concern such as, but not limited to, transportation, architectural, communications, employment and education. These committees may appoint one of their members to act as a liaison to their respective City Commissions and departments. In addition, the Commission may designate one of its members to act as a liaison representative to any other board commission or committee, of the City.
9. To coordinate training and public education progress, hold hearings and workshops, and conduct investigations about the integration of persons with disabilities.
Article III
Membership
Section A
1. The Commission membership shall have a majority of persons with disabilities and will include advocating family members. The Commission membership shall be representatives of different disability groups, including physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and/or chronic illness, and shall be representative of gender, age and racial groups in the community. All members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Dearborn.
2. The commission shall have nine members, and two alternates. The nine members shall be appointed by the mayor for a term of three years. The alternates shall be appointed for one year and have no vote unless serving to replace an absent member. The first appointments to the commission shall be three commissioners each for one-year, two-year and three-year terms. Subsequent appointments shall be for three years.
3. Upon recommendation of a majority of the commission, the appointment of any member shall terminate upon such member’s unexcused absence from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings.
4. A member of the City government may serve as a commissioner but may not serve as Chair or Vice-Chair of the commission while employed by the City.
Section B
1. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation or gratuity of any kind.
2. A Commissioner who would receive direct compensation, or whose company, or organization would benefit financially from an action taken by the Commission, must declare a conflict of interest and refrain from voting. (An alternate may vote in their place)
Article IV
Accommodations
Section A
The City shall provide appropriate accommodations for the known physical, sensory, mental, intellectual disabilities (and/or chronic illness) of Commission members and other participants in Commission activities, including, but not limited to: Assistance with transportation, reading, writing, communicating and aids such as tape-recorded, Braille, large print materials and signing.
Article V
Officers
Section A
The Commission shall every year elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among its members.
Section B
An officer or employee of the City appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Commission shall serve as an administrative liaison to the Commission.
Section C
1. The Chairperson in consultation with the Vice-Chairperson shall appoint one member of the Commission to serve on the Executive Council.
2. The Executive Council shall consist of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, the member of the Commission appointed, and the liaison to the City (Dearborn City ord. #00-827, 5C). The Executive Council will function as a facilitating committee to assist the Chairperson as necessary. The Executive Council is authorized to conduct essential Commission business between regularly scheduled meetings. The Executive Council shall also have the power to act on behalf of the Commission in an emergency situation where it is necessary to act within a 48-hour period and it is not possible to convene a meeting of the Commission. This Executive Council shall review the By-laws of the Commission no less than once per year.
Section D
1. The Commission’s Chairperson, elected by a majority of the Commission, shall be responsible for leading and directing Commissioner activities, including designating committees as needed, naming committee chairpersons, etc., as well as other duties prescribed in these by-laws.
2. The Commission Chairperson will preside at all meetings of the Commission and Executive Council. The Commission Chairperson may delegate the duties of the chair, with regard to the operation of the meeting, to the Vice-Chairperson. If neither executive officer can be present for an announced meeting, at which a quorum is present, the Commissioner named as member of the Executive Council, may preside.
3. The Commission Chairperson will delegate such duties and responsibilities to the Vice-Chairperson, as the Chairperson deems necessary, to carry out the functions of the Commission.
4. The Commission Vice-Chairperson will, in the absence of the Commission Chairperson, automatically assume the duties of the Commission Chairperson. In instances when both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are absent, the additional Commissioner acting as Executive Council member will preside over the meeting of the Commission. In the case of vacancy in the office of the Commission Chairperson, the Commission Vice-Chairperson will automatically assume the duties of the Commission Chairperson until the Commission elects a new Commission Chairperson.
Article VI
Meetings & Procedures
Section A
The Commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall hold one regular meeting at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, or by a majority of the members of the Commission, upon written notice received by each member at least 5 days prior to such meeting. Meeting notices of the Commission shall be posted in a conspicuous public place at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.
Section B
The Commission may make and alter rules and procedures governing its organization that are not inconsistent with this chapter, or any other City ordinance.
Section C
The Commission shall keep a record of its proceedings and transactions and shall submit an annual report to the Mayor, within sixty days of the end of the fiscal year, ending June 30th.
Article VII
Quorum
Section A
Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the concurring vote of at least five members shall be necessary to take action by such commission. Any Commission meeting at which a quorum is not present may be closed and canceled, without vote, by the acting Chairperson.
Article VIII
Working Committees
Section A
Working Committees will consist of a Committee Chairperson appointed from the
Commission by the Commission Chairperson and such other persons as may be deemed necessary and helpful by the Commission Chairperson. Non-Commissioners, serving as members of working committees, will serve in an advisory, non-voting capacity.
Each committee will be responsible for developing a charter to be approved by the Commission.
Section B
Chairpersons of Committees, members of Committees, and committee Resources serve on a voluntary basis, and shall accept no compensation or gratuity for such service.
Article IX
Ratification of the By-laws
Section A
The initial version of the By-laws will be ratified by a majority of the Commission.
Section B
Revisions of the By-laws must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Commission.
