Section 239-AA. Creation of councils on the disabled

1.  The  local
  legislative body of any county or  city  with  a  population  of  ninety
  thousand  or more, may by resolution, create one or more councils on the
  disabled.  Such  council  shall   develop   a   program   of   community
  participation  regarding  the  needs and problems of disabled persons in
  the community and  may  direct  its  efforts  toward  accomplishing  the
  following:
    a. Develop and implement community programs for the disabled.
    b. Conduct researches into the accessibility to the disabled of public
  places in the community.
    c. Advise and assist the local legislative body and local governmental
  boards  and  agencies,  including agencies dealing with planning, zoning
  and the planning of public buildings.
    d. Recruit, train and use  volunteers  from  the  community  to  serve
  without charge in its programs.
    e.  Create  a climate in which disabled persons seeking assistance can
  meet with responsible individuals or agencies in a  position  to  render
  assistance.
    f. Cooperate with other councils on the disabled, and with appropriate
  state  and  federal agencies in planning and implementing local programs
  for the benefit of the disabled.
    g. Carry out any other duties consistent with the objectives  of  this
  article,  assigned  to  it  by  resolution of the local legislative body
  creating the said council.
    2. When authorized by resolution of  the  local  legislative  body,  a
  council  may  accept  by  gift,  grant,  bequest, or otherwise, money or
  personal property in the name  of  the  municipality,  for  use  in  the
  furtherance  of the provisions of this act. A local legislative body may
  accept by gift, conditional or unconditional grant, devise or  otherwise
  real  property  in fee or any lesser interest, including conveyance with
  limitations or reversions, for the purposes of this act.
    In addition, upon the written recommendation of the council, the local
  legislative body may acquire by purchase in fee or any lesser  interest,
  through  negotiation or by eminent domain such real or personal property
  as may be needed to fulfill the purpose of this act.
    3. Such council shall consist of not less than  three  nor  more  than
  nine  members,  of  whom  at  least  one-third  of  the members shall be
  comprised of disabled individuals and, or the parent  or  parents  of  a
  disabled child or disabled children, who shall be appointed by the local
  legislative  body  and serve at the pleasure of such body for a term not
  exceeding two years.  Such local legislative body  may,  notwithstanding
  any  inconsistent  provision  of  law,  appoint up to two members to the
  council who are between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one.
    4.  The  presiding  officer  or  chairman  of  the  council  shall  be
  designated  by  the  local  legislative  body  from among the members so
  appointed  to  the  council.  The  local  legislative  body  shall  have
  authority  to  remove any member of said council so appointed for cause,
  after a public hearing, if requested. A vacancy shall be filled for  the
  unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
    The  local legislative body may provide for compensation to be paid to
  the members of the council and  may  provide  for  the  payment  of  the
  expenses of the members of the council actually and necessarily incurred
  in  the  performance  of  their  duties.  Such  council may appoint such
  employees as it may from time to time see fit, all within  appropriation
  made therefor.
    5.  Within  thirty  days  following  the  establishment  of a council,
  written notification thereof shall be sent by the local legislative body
  to the state advocate for the disabled.