Community Services Advisory Commission

Determines the social service needs of the citizens of Columbia and Boone County, prepares an plan outlining the needs and services essential in meeting those needs and recommends to the City Council and County Commission the appropriate providers of the approved services. The City Council makes seven appointments to this ten member commission. The City appointees must be qualified voters and residents of the City of Columbia. Members cannot serve on the board of directors or be employed by any agency which applies for funding through the commission or which receives funding upon recommendation of the commission. The length of terms is three years, with openings occurring in December.

Members & Terms:

Stacy Ford - Term Ending December 31, 2012
Richard Hessler - Term Ending December 31, 2012
Cathy Thorpe - Term Ending December 31, 2013
Amy Camp - Term Ending December 31, 2013
Merwyn Alexander - Term Ending December 31, 2011
Michael Fletcher - Term Ending December 31, 2011
Thomas Seagraves - Term Ending December 31, 2011
Shirley Patterson (County Appointee)
Eva Trumbower (County Appointee)
Vacant (County Appointee)

Establishing Legislation:

Sec. 2-266. Establishment of commission; powers and duties.

There is hereby established the Boone County Community Services Advisory Commission whose purpose is to advise the city council and county commission in all matters regarding the planning and contracting for human service programs to adequately meet the needs of the citizens of the City of Columbia and Boone County, especially the low-income. To meet this responsibility, the commission shall:

(1) Determine the social service needs of the citizens of Columbia and Boone County. This process would include the awareness of existing social services and of any proposed changes in programs and funding which would affect the community.

(2) Prepare each year, in conjunction with the office of community services, a comprehensive plan for Columbia and Boone County which outlines the needs and services essential to meet those needs. The commission shall encourage and seek public input in the discussion and decision-making process. The plan shall include the recommended amount of funds to be allocated for each service and shall be reviewed by and subject to approval of the city council and county commission.

(3) Recommend to the city council and county commission the appropriate providers of the approved services, including the quality, quantity and cost of each service. Recommendations shall be submitted to the city council and county commission as a part of the annual budget process. No requests for funding of human services shall be considered by the city council or county commission without accompanying written recommendations from the advisory commission.

(4) Review, as necessary, the provision of social services in the City of Columbia and Boone County and recommend measures for increasing effectiveness and efficiency whenever possible.

(5) Maintain liaison with and review the actions of state and federal government and other funding sources having an effect, on social services in Columbia and Boone County, and develop strategies for providing input into any decisions affecting the city or county.

(6) Exercise such other powers and duties as the city council and/or county commission may from time to time direct.

(7) The provisions of this section related to the powers and duties of the Boone County Community Services Advisory Commission do not apply to funding requests, activities or services administered by or under the supervision of any department of the City of Columbia or Boone County.

(Ord. No. 11027, § 2, 5-5-86)

Sec. 2-267. Members, terms.
The Boone County Community Services Advisory Commission shall be composed of ten (10) members. Three (3) members shall be appointed by the county commission and seven (7) members shall be appointed by the city council. The city manager shall designate the staff of the office of community services as consultant and adviser to the commission. Members appointed by the city council shall be qualified voters and residents of the City of Columbia, shall service without compensation, and shall not be paid officers or employees of the city. Selection of members will be made so as to encourage representation of social service professionals. Appointments shall be made to become effective January 1 of each year and the term of office shall be three (3) years. The first appointments made shall be for staggered terms as follows: Two (2) members for three (3) years, two (2) members for two (2) years and three (3) members will complete their present two-year terms; thereafter, appointments for all seven (7) member shall be for three (3) years. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be unexpired terms only.
(Ord. No. 11027, § 2, 5-5-86)

Sec. 2-268. Meetings; quorum; attendance.
Meetings shall be held in accordance with rules established by the commission. A simple majority of all members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The chair of the commission is authorized to excuse any member from attendance at a commission meeting; provided, that the member requested to be excused before the meeting. Any member who is absent from fifty (50) per cent of the regular commission meetings held in a calendar year shall automatically forfeit the office. Any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings shall automatically forfeit the office. It shall be the duty of the chair to promptly notify the city council of the vacancy.
(Ord. No. 10788, § 1(2.2520), 11-18-85; Ord. No. 17603, § 1, 3-3-03; Ord. No. 19997, § 1, 7-21-08; Ord. No. 20117, § 1, 11-17-08)

Sec. 2-269. Election of officers; terms.
The commission shall elect annually a chair, two (2) vice-chairs (one (1) each from the county and city appointees), and a secretary. Each officer shall hold office for a term of one (1) year and shall be eligible for re-election. When there is a vacancy of any elected office, the commission shall elect an officer to serve until the next regular annual election. Duties of the officers shall be outlined in the commission's rules of procedure.
(Ord. No. 11027, § 2, 5-5-86; Ord. No. 17658, § 1, 4-21-03)

Sec. 2-270. Conflicts of interest.
Commission members shall not serve on the board of directors or be employed by any agency which applies for funding through the commission or which receives funding upon recommendation of the commission. For purposes of this section, each academic and administrative unit of the University of Missouri shall be considered a separate agency and each school of the Columbia Public School District shall be considered a separate agency. Any commission member who violates this section shall automatically forfeit the office. It shall be the duty of the chair of the commission to promptly notify the city council of the vacancy.
(Ord. No. 11738, § 1, 1-4-88; Ord. No. 17658, § 1, 4-21-03; Ord. No. 19302, § 1, 11-20-06; Ord. No. 19720, § 1, 11-5-07)