In this subtitle, “veteran” means a person who:
served in the active military service of:the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force;
the Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, or Merchant Marines;
the Army, Air, or State National Guard; or
a reserve component of one of these services; and
was released from that service other than by dishonorable discharge.
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There is a Baltimore City Veterans Commission.
The Commission comprises 11 members, who shall be appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter</cite>.
The 11 members shall include:4 members recommended by the President of the City Council;
the Police Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee; and
the Fire Chief or the Chief’s designee.
Except as provided in this subsection. each appointed member must be a veteran.
Of the 4 members recommended by the City Council President, 1 shall be a member of the City Council, who need not be a veteran.
The Police Commissioner or designee and the Fire Chief or designee need not be veterans.
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Ord. 12-002
The Veterans Commission is dedicated to:
providing assistance to veterans who reside in the City, are employed by the City, or are retired City employees, and their families, when in need; and
working with the Mayor and City Council, veterans groups, and others on policies, programs, and concerns related to veterans and their families.
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Commission members serve for a term of 4 years, concurrent with the terms of the Mayor and the City Council.
At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
The members of the Commission:serve without compensation; but
are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
A member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term or to succeed a member who is holding over serves only for the remainder of that term.
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Ord. 16-503
The Mayor shall designate a member of the Commission to serve as its Chair.
Members of the Commission may select any other officers they consider necessary or appropriate.
The Chair may appoint committees to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions and duties.
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The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair as frequently as required to perform its duties.
A majority of the members of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
An affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.
The Commission may adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings and operations.
If any member is absent from regularly scheduled meetings more than 3 times in 1 year, not counting absences excused by the Chair:the member is considered to have resigned; and
the Chair shall request that member’s appointing authority to fill the resultant vacancy.
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The Commission may appoint a properly qualified person as its Executive Director.
The Executive Director is entitled to a salary, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
The Executive Director shall perform the duties that the Commission prescribes.
The Executive Director may employ a staff as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
Staff members shall be members of the classified service.
The Commission may engage the services of volunteer workers and consultants, without salary, as it considers necessary from time to time.
The Commission may expend funds as authorized in the Ordinance of Estimates or in any supplemental appropriations.
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The Commission shall assist veterans who reside in the City, are employed by the City, or are retired City employees, and their families, in matters relating to:educational training and retraining services and facilities;
health, medical, and rehabilitation services and facilities;
special rights and privileges provided by federal, state, and local laws and regulations;
employment and reemployment services; and
other matters of a related or similar nature.
The Commission shall serve as a resource for information relating to veterans’ issues.
The Commission shall undertake and support activities and programs to:increase community awareness of veterans’ rights;
honor and memorialize deceased veterans; and
honor those currently serving in the armed forces.
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At the request of the Commission, all City officials and agencies shall cooperate with the Commission and extend the services and facilities that the Commission requires.
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