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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution Amending the Kittitas County Veterans Advisory BoardBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF KITTITAS STATE OF WASHINGTON RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS RESOLUTTON No. 2026- D Al WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2022-187 established the Veterans Advisory Board to advise the county legislative authority on the needs of local indigent veterans; and WHEREAS, on September 11, 2025, the board approved bylaws and changing membership from 5 members,2 altemates, and one commissioner to 5-l members, 2 alternates, and one commissioner allowing the board to recruit up to 2 additional members if they see fit; and WHEREAS, the Kittitas County Public Health Department Human Services Division expanded the conflict-of-interest section and incorporated the update into the most recent bylaws by reference and attached hereto; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Board of County Commissioners, approves and adopts the Homelessness and Affordable Housing bylaws as presented. ADoPTED tnirffiLaay of fr hru^A,52026. of Board BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON ABSENT Cory Wright, Chair Vice Chair Commissioner c01 A coutt VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS Kittitas County Veterans Advisory Board hereby adopts the following rules for the transaction of its business. PURPOSE OF ADVISORY BOARD The Veterans Advisory Board was established pursuant to RCW 73.08.035 to advise the county legislative authority on the needs of local indigent veterans, the resources available to the local indigent veterans, and programs that could benefit the needs of local indigent veterans and their families. Duties The Board shall collaborate with the Kittitas County Public Health Department Veteran Services Program and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to: A. Provide recommendations to the BOCC on services needed for local indigent veterans as in accordance with RCW 73.08.010(L) B. Serve as a review board on the effectiveness of current services MEMBERSHIP Board Composition The board shall consist of five to seven board members, two alternates, and one county commissioner who serves as the board chairperson. All members must be veterans as stated in RCW 73.08.035. New applicants will be reviewed by the board and recommended to the BOCC. The members will be appointed by the BOCC. Terms of Office Board members will serve for a term of 2 years; there are no limits to the terms that may be served. Attendance/Absentee Policy Three unexcused meeting absences may cause that board member's name to be forwarded to the BOCC with a recommendation for removalfrom the board. Members are required to comply with the Kittitas County Boards, Committees, ond Commissions Handbook CLERK New Member Recruitment New applicants will be recruited as follows: A. The board is to establish a recruitment subcommittee. B. The subcommittee interviews the applicants. C. The subcommittee recommends to the board which applicants should proceed D. The board votes on the recommended applicant. E. The board will make recommendations of approved applicant(s)to AOCC. F. BOCC will send a letter to approved applicant upon selection. Member Removal A. lf a member needs to be removed from the board for reasons including but not limited to unexcused absences, the board will vote on this issue: lf a simple majority of the board members in attendance votes to remove a member, the recommendation of the board will be brought forth to the BOCC. B. The BOCC will review the recommendation of the board to remove a member and will vote to retain or terminate the member's appointment to the board. The clerk responsibilities are as follows: A. Publish public notices of all board meetings at least 24 hours before start time of the meeting. B. Attend all board meetings. C. Take meeting minutes for the board. D. Work with chairperson to finalize the agenda for each meeting. E. Send timely reminders and materials to board members for upcoming meetings. F. Maintain all records of the board. G. Ensure meeting notifications, agendas, and minutes are posted on the Kittitas County website. H. Maintain and update the county website Members are required to comply with the Kittitas County Boards, Committees, and Commissions Handbook l. Assist with recruitment of new members for vacancies on the board as needed OFFICERS The officers of the board shall be a chairperson appointed by the BOCC and a vice- chairperson, elected from among its designated members. Members are appointed by BOCC after applicants are reviewed by the existing board with recommendations forwarded to the BOCC. Chairperson The chairperson shall (1) preside at all meetings of the Board; (2)work with the clerk to create, prepare and review the agenda for such meetings: (3) set the time and location of the meetings. Vice-Chairperson The vice-chairperson shall preside and perform the duties of the chairperson during the absence of the chairperson. Election of Officers At the December meeting of each year, the board shall elect the vice-chairperson. Nominations may be made from the floor by any member. The chairperson shall serve as directed by the BOCC. ln the event of a vacancy in the office of the chairperson, the vice- chairperson shall direct the board. ln the event there is a vacancy in the office of the vice- chairperson, the board shall vote for a replacement at the next regular meeting. ln the event there is a simultaneous vacancy in the office of the chairperson and vice-chairperson, the board shall elect a vice-chairperson from its membership at its next meeting. The BOCC will assign a chairperson. MEETINGS The Board shall hold a quarterly meeting set by the chairman and posted for public notice. The meeting may be cancelled at the discretion of the Chairman. All meetings of the board shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act, RCW 42.30. The board may adopt such procedures as are necessary to ensure appropriate notice of all meetings. Members are required to comply with the Kittitas County Boords, Committees, ond Commissions Hondbook DECISION MAKING Quorum/Voting A quorum shall consist of a majority voting members. At meetings without a quorum, the chairperson is authorized to adjourn the meeting and establish a date for the next meeting out of the regular cadence if necessary. Conflicts of interest The board members shall comply with the Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, Chapter 42.23 RCW, in the performance of their duties. No employee, volunteers including appointees to a board, committee or commission and interns should have or appearto have personal interest or relationships that actually or potentially conflict with the best interests of the county. Conflict of interests includes the following definitions: A. Conflict of lnterest: A situation in which an individual's personal interests could compromise their judgement, decisions, or actions in the workplace. B. Apparent Conflict of lnterest: A situation in which a reasonable person would perceive that a decision-maker's judgement is likely to be compromised. C. Family Member: For the purposes of this policy, a family member is defined as an employee's spouse, domestic partner, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, and step- relatives. A person living with an employee or who shares a significant financial or personal connection with the employee may also be considered a family member for conflict-of-interest pu rposes. D. Personal Gain: A benefit, advantage, or increase in value that an individual receives. It can be in the form of financial, legal, social, or other intangible advantages. E. Vendor: A supplier of goods and/or services that does business or intends to do business with Kittitas County. No board member shall have a contract with the county to provide services or training and shall not be a board member, officer, or employee of an agency subcontracting with the county to provide such services. County employees are responsible for the enforcement and compliance with conflicts of interest. Actual or perceived conflicts will be reported to the board chair and the Human Members ore required to comply with the Kittitas County Boords, Committees, ond Commissions Handbook Resources Department. lf an investigation results in a finding and there is a violation of conflict of interest, the county will take prompt corrective action to ensure that such conduct ceases. Violations of conflict of interest may result in disciplinary action up to and including removalfrom the assigned Board, Commission, or Committee. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The board will seek the involvement of the general public, community organizations, and private sector interests in its planning and decision-making processes. Public comment period will be included in every agenda, and the public is encouraged to participate by commenting on agenda items and non-agenda items as directed by the chairperson. SUBCOMMITTEES Subcommittees may be established by the Board to assist in the performance of its function. Subcommittees may be composed of members of the Board and citizens with knowledge or talent to contribute to the work of the committee. AMENDMENTS The bylaws may be amended at a regular meeting provided that: a) Proposed amendments have been submitted in writingto the members of the board prior to the first reading; and b) A simple majority of the members of the board vote in favor of implementation of any amendment. Final approval of bylaw amendments is made by the BOCC by resolution at a monthly agenda session. Members are required to comply with the Kittitas County Boards, Committees, ond Commissions Hondbook DATED this bril day of 2026, eit Ellensburg, Washington. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON ABSENT cory V of Members are required to comply with the Kittitas County Boards, Committees, ond Commissions Handbook SEAL ^ C'ot 7 TY T,