The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Freddie O'Connell, Mayor
Executive Order 46
Subject: Ending the HIV Epidemic Advisory Council
I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby find, direct, and order the following:
I. HIV continues to be a major public health issue in Nashville. Therefore, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville has an interest in engaging with individuals impacted by HIV, connecting them with treatment resources, limiting new diagnoses, and ultimately eradicating HIV in the Nashville area.
II. HIV thrives in the face of stigma and discrimination. It is, therefore, important that we work together to break down social barriers and find equitable solutions. It is our obligation to reach those who are at risk, undiagnosed, or lacking care, because treatments are available today that create the opportunity for us to eradicate HIV in Nashville and change many lives for the better.
III. Ending the Epidemic is a Collective Impact initiative with community-wide strategies to drive down new transmissions to pre-epidemic levels and, at the same time, drastically improve health outcomes for people living with HIV to address in a systematic and collaborative manner.
IV. In order to continue to build and maintain momentum across all involved agencies for Ending the Epidemic and to ensure specific actions are taken, there is hereby created and established for the Metropolitan Government an Ending the Epidemic Advisory Council.
A. Responsibility and Authority
The Advisory Council shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and is charged with:
- Guiding the implementation of the Ending the Epidemic Plan for Nashville including prioritization of the recommendations.
- Ensuring that principles of health equity and social justice are incorporated in the process and that the goals, objectives, and action steps involve conscious efforts to reach communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV.
- Working to ensure that institutions that create, manage, and distribute resources that directly impacts the Nashville communities understand the responsibility of ensuring equitable resource allocation and that efforts and assets are directed towards populations that have historically been disproportionately impacted by HIV.
- Establishing strategic priorities and mobilizing collaborative and effective community initiatives to achieve the goals and objectives of the Ending the Epidemic plan.
B. Composition
The Advisory Council shall be composed of a minimum of thirteen (13) and a maximum of twenty-five (25) members appointed by the Mayor.
- Candidates to fill vacancies in the Advisory Council membership shall be nominated by the Advisory Council and recommended to the Mayor.
- Nominations must be based on a recruitment plan developed by the Advisory Council.
- Membership shall be diverse and appointed with the conscious intention to reflect the demographics of Nashville and include communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV.
- Other appointees to the Advisory Council shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of health care organizations, community organizations, and other interested community members.
- Co-Chairs, one governmental and one non-governmental, will be selected by the Advisory Council membership.
- The Advisory Council may elect such additional officers as it finds necessary and appropriate.
- A quorum for approving decisions made by the Advisory Council shall consist of a majority of the currently filled positions on the Advisory Council.
- Members of the Advisory Council shall serve without compensation.
C. Terms and Meetings
- Advisory Council members shall serve for a term of three (3) years, and shall continue to serve as members until such time as they are reappointed or their successors are appointed.
- However, of the initial membership of the Advisory Council, five (5) members will serve one (1) year, six (6) members will serve two (2) years, and the rest serve three (3) years so that the terms are staggered as to replace no more than one third (1/3) of the members each year. The Mayor will designate the term length for each initial Advisory Council member at the time of appointment.
- The Advisory Council shall conduct their meetings in accordance with their bylaws.
D. Staff
The Metropolitan Public Health Department shall provide staff support for the Advisory Council.
Ordered, Effective and Issued: January 17, 2024
Freddie O’Connell
Metropolitan County Mayor