To Promote A Finksburg Community, Whose Objective Is To Preserve The Fundamental Quality Of Life Where Farms, Families And Businesses May Coexist In A Manner Beneficial To All.
The name of this
organization shall be The Finksburg Planning And Citizens' Council, Inc. a
not-for-profit entity duly established under the laws of the State of
Maryland. It shall herein be referred
to as “The Council.”
The Advisory Board shall
be an honorary nonvoting board nominated annually by the Board. The Advisory
Board will provide advice and counsel to the Board and the membership as
needed.
The elected officers of
the Council shall be a President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers, together with the communications director
and the four directors, shall hold office for a term from the May meeting
after their election, until the following May.
President
The President shall be
the chief executive officer of the Council and the presiding officer at
meetings of the Council and Board of Directors. The President shall have the
authority with the consent of the Board to appoint the chair and members of all
standing committees and to create and appoint such special and ad hoc
committees as shall be deemed necessary.
The President may call special meetings of the general membership or of
the Board. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The
President may spend up to twenty-five dollars for reimbursable miscellaneous expenses monthly
without prior authorization of the Board.
Vice President
The Vice President
shall serve as the acting President during the absence, inability or disability
of the President, and shall succeed to that office in case of a vacancy. The Vice President shall perform such duties
as may be assigned by the President.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall
keep account of all monies or funds received by the Council and see that they
are deposited in such depositories or banks in Carroll County as may be designated
by the Board.
The Treasurer may not
incur any liability or expend any monies without the authorization of the Board
of or the President. A written
financial report will be presented to the Board.
Each check written on
behalf of the Board will require two signatures: President, Treasurer, or any
other person designated by the Board.
Secretary
The Secretary shall be
responsible for recording and preserving the minutes of the meetings of the
general membership and presenting the minutes at the next meeting for approval
by the general membership.
The membership. The Secretary shall be responsible for recording and preserving the minutes of the meetings of the Board and presenting the minutes at the next meeting for approval by the Board.
Communications Director
The Communications
Director shall be responsible for designing and implementing an information
campaign for Finksburg residents and state and local government. The
Communications Director shall coordinate all media relations.
1. All meetings shall be run in accordance with the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
2. Regular meetings of the general membership shall be held on the same day of each month as determined by the membership, or as may be otherwise provided by the Board or the membership. A quorum shall consist of eleven (11) regular members. The President or the Board may call special meetings with three day’s notice for any purpose except the removal or election of officers or the amendment of these By-laws. Notice shall be by personal notice, first-class mail or advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the Finksburg area.
3. A meeting of the Board shall be held at least once in the interim between meetings of the general membership, except as may be otherwise provided by the Board. A quorum of the Board shall consist of five (5) members of the Board, only four (4) of whom may be officers of the Council. Special meetings may be called by the President or any three (3) members of the Board; with at least 24 hours notice.
1. At the February meeting of the general membership, the President shall announce the appointment, with the consent of the Board of Directors, of a Nominating Committee consisting of at least three (3) members. This Committee will select at least one nominee for each Board office, communications director, and for the four (4) directorships. The Committee shall be responsible for obtaining each prospective nominee’s consent prior to the March meeting of the general membership. Nominees must be members in good standing. No person shall be eligible to be elected to more than two (2) consecutive terms in any one office except the communications director and at large directors.
2.
At
the March meeting, the Nominating Committee will report its slate of nominees.
The President will then open the floor to additional nominations for each
position. Nominations will then be closed, and a list of all nominees will be
included with the notice of the April meeting.
3. At the April meeting of the general membership, the President will conduct elections for each of the offices amongst those previously nominated. A majority of vote’s cast shall be required for election. If no candidate receives a majority, a second ballot shall be conducted between the two (2) candidates receiving the most votes on the previous ballot. All votes shall be conducted by secret ballot unless otherwise provided by the membership.
4. A person designated by the Board shall install the officers and directors-elect at the beginning of the May meeting of the general membership. Newly elected officers and directors shall assume their duties at this time.
1. Whenever six (6) members of the Board shall agree that an officer or director has been grossly negligent of their duties, or has failed to participate in the activities of the Council, they may recommend that the general membership declare that office vacant. If the general membership approves that recommendation by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting, the office shall be declared vacant. The Board shall then recommend a successor to be elected by the membership at the next monthly meeting, except that the Vice President shall assume the Presidency upon a vacancy in that office.
2. When any officer or director shall have been absent from three consecutive monthly meetings of the Board, without notification, that person shall be presumed to have resigned, and their resignation may be accepted by a majority of those voting at a monthly meeting. The Board shall then recommend a successor at the next monthly meeting, except that the Vice President shall assume the Presidency upon a vacancy in that office.
3. When any officer or director other than the President shall resign their office, the Board shall recommend a successor for election by the general membership at its next monthly meeting.
1.
Standing,
Ad-Hoc and Special Committees may be appointed by the
President and approved by a majority vote of the Board as needed.
2. There shall be five Standing Committees: Planning and Land-Use; Communications and Media Relations; Water, Sewer and Environmental Issues; Business Relations; and Crime and Traffic.
3. Recommendations and proposed actions by all committees shall be reviewed and approved by the Board before action is taken unless otherwise directed by the President or Board.
1.
These
By-laws shall be initially ratified upon receiving a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote from those present and voting at a meeting of the general
membership.
2. These By-laws may be amended or revised by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting at any monthly meeting of the general membership, provided that the Board shall have considered the proposed amendment, and notice shall have been given at the previous monthly meeting.
3. These By-laws shall be reviewed and reaffirmed by the Board and general membership every three (3) years.
Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. By-laws Adopted: 3/27/2008