"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 233, sponsored by Council Members Monserrate, Baez, Nelson, Sanders, Avella, Fidler, Gentile, Gennaro and the Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum.  This bill makes improvements to the Veterans Advisory Board.

"The Veterans' Advisory Board advises the Director of the Office of Veterans' Affairs on issues of concern to the City's veterans' community.  Originally, the Board consisted of five members, three of whom were appointed by the Mayor and two of whom were appointed by the Speaker of the City Council.  In 2002, Local Law 45 expanded the Board to nine members, and required that each member be a military veteran and that there be at least one representative from each of the City's five boroughs.

"This bill will require that the Mayor and the Council Speaker each consider service in conflicts when appointing new members.  It further  changes how members are appointed, re-appointed and removed from the board as well as how the officers of the board are chosen and how often the board will meet and its reporting requirements.

"By enhancing the Board's responsibilities, this bill will allow a greater voice for the nearly 400,000 veterans who reside in our City and will better ensure that their concerns will be heard and considered.

"I would like to thank Clarice Joynes, Director of the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs, her staff, and the City Council for their work on this bill."