§ 2-1441 — Administration

Sec. 2-1441. - Administration.

(a) Quorum. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. (b) Officers. The Board shall select from among its voting membership a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. (c) Meetings. The Board shall meet at least monthly and as often as it deems necessary in order to complete its duties. (d) Freedom of information. All meetings and records of the Board shall be subject to and meeting minutes shall be kept in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. (e) Staff and resources. (1) Pursuant to Section 4.02(f) of the City Charter, the Council shall appoint a full-time employee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and the costs of whom shall be paid from City funds appropriated for the Board, to assist the Board in performing its duties as set forth in this division. (2) An employee of the Department of Police assigned by the Chief of Police shall serve as a liaison between the Board and the Department of Police. (3) The City Attorney shall provide for legal counsel for the Board in accordance with Section 4.17 of the City Charter to represent the Board in all cases, hearings, controversies, or matters involving the interests of the Board, and the costs of any outside counsel shall be paid from City funds appropriated to the Board. (f) Policies and procedures. The employee appointed by the Council in accordance with Subsection (e)(1) of this section shall prepare recommended policies and procedures for the performance of the duties of the Board. The policies and procedures prepared in accordance with this subsection shall include, at a minimum, a protocol, which protocol shall be agreed to by the Chief of Police, concerning communication and the sharing of data between the Board and the Department of Police and the completion and submission of reports on matters being investigated by the Board. Such policies and procedures shall also include, at a minimum, standards concerning how and when hearings of the Board shall be held, the maintenance of minutes, confidentiality, and reporting requirements. The employee appointed by the Council in accordance with Subsection (e)(1) of this section shall submit to the Council the policies and procedures that the Board staff member recommends and that the City Attorney has approved as to form and legality. The Council must adopt a resolution establishing the Board's policies and procedures pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 9.1-601(D) before such policies and procedures may become effective. Any amendments to the Board's policies and procedures shall be recommended and established in the same manner. (g) Reporting. The Board shall submit to the Council and the Mayor a written annual report by no later than October 1 of each year. Such annual report shall exclude personal identifying information and other information prohibited or exempted from disclosure pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 16.1-301, or other applicable law. Any statement provided by a police officer pursuant to the United States Supreme Court decision in Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967) shall remain confidential, but the annual report may disclose whether the officer admitted or denied the allegations.

(Code 2020, § 2-1202.4; Ord. No. 2022-261, § 1, 10-10-2022)