Vashon-Maury Island Community Council Bylaws
As Amended April 16, 2001
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1: The name of this non-profit corporation is the Vashon-Maury
Island Community Council.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Section 1: This Council exists to enable the people of Vashon-Maury
Island to participate in Island governance.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: All Vashon-Maury Island residents are members of this
Council.
Section 2: Only those members 18 years of age and older may vote.
Section 3: The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council shall not
discriminate against individuals/groups on the basis of race, religion,
color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, income, or
political affiliation.
ARTICLE IV — ALL MEETINGS
Section 1: All meetings are open to all members and interested visitors.
Minutes shall be recorded at every general, committee, and executive
board meeting. The names of all board members in attendance shall be
entered into the minutes of every meeting. General meetings shall be
held at least monthly, time and place as designated and publicized by
the Board.
Section 2: The will of the residents of Vashon-Maury Island shall be
expressed by a vote of the membership at general meetings.
Section 3: The November general meeting is designated as the annual
meeting.
Section 4: The quorum requirement for general meetings is twenty five
(25) members.
Section 5: Motions presented at any general meeting shall be voted on
at the next general meeting except as follows:
a. The Board may by a two thirds (2/3) vote either refer the
motion to the appropriate committee or declare the motion to be
not of community interest and refer it to another venue, subject
to reversal by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a
general meeting.
b. Motions of an urgent nature (moot if delayed) may be voted on
at the same general meeting if authorized by a two thirds (2/3)

vote of the Board members present and by a two thirds (2/3) vote
of the Council members present.
Section 6: “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 10th Edition,
Henry Robert III,” shall be used as the authority in all matters of
parliamentary procedure, where applicable, and in which they are not
inconsistent with the bylaws or special rules of order of the Council.
ARTICLE V — THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL BOARD
Section 1: The Community Council Board shall consist of nine
members elected bi-annually at the November general election in even
numbered years, to take office December 1. Board members shall run
and serve in a non-partisan capacity.
Section 2: The Board shall meet at least monthly in open, scheduled,
public meetings; five members constitute a quorum.
Section 3:
a. The Board shall develop an annual budget for the coming
calendar year, subject to approval at the November general
meeting. The treasurer is authorized to disburse funds in
accordance with the budget and such policies as the Board may
develop.
b. For expenses not previously identified in the budget, the Board
may authorize disbursements in amounts up to $100;
disbursements of over $100 must be authorized by motion at a
general meeting.
Section 4: The primary duties of the Board are to:
a. Set agendas for the general meetings.
b. Implement decisions taken at the general meetings.
c. Serve as interface between the community and other
government entities.
d. Monitor and evaluate all committees.
e. Develop policies subject to approval at a general meeting.
Section 5: The Board, in its function as interface between the
community and other government entities, is to represent the will of the
membership as expressed in general meetings.
Section 6: Board members, as publicly elected officials of the Council,
are expected to maintain high ethical standards in conducting Council
affairs, including:
a. Avoiding conflict of interest, or the appearance of conflict of
interest, by abstaining from discussion or action in any matter
before the Council in which they, their family, or close associates
have a material interest.
b. Considering the interests of the community as a whole in
determining their action on any matter before the Council.
Section 7: Board members are subject to removal by regular motion at
one general meeting, to be voted on by the members present at the next
general meeting. Removal requires a two thirds (2/3) vote of the
members present, by written ballot.

Section 8: Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the Board, subject
to confirmation by the members present at the next general meeting.
ARTICLE VI — OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of the Council shall be a President, Vice-
President, Clerk, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2: The Board shall elect the officers of the Council from among
its members at the December Board meeting.
Section 3: The officers shall have and perform such duties as are
customarily performed by similar organizations, subject to directions
by the general membership, and such additional duties as the Board and
these bylaws shall assign.
President — The president shall preside at all meetings of the
Board and the Council. The president is an ex-officio member of
all committees.
Vice-President — The vice-president shall act in place of the
president or the clerk during either’s absence.
Clerk — The clerk shall be responsible for keeping minutes and
recording votes.
Secretary — The secretary is responsible for handling the mail
and correspondence of the Council and Board.
Treasurer — The treasurer shall have custody of all Council
funds, disburse funds as authorized in Article V, Section 3 of
these bylaws, maintain customary financial records, and prepare
such financial reports as the Board directs.
Section 4: Officers are subject to removal by regular motion at one
Board meeting, to be voted on by the Board members present at the
next Board meeting. Removal requires a two thirds (2/3) vote of the
Board members present, by written ballot.
Section 5: Officer vacancies shall be filled by the Board at its next
regular meeting.
ARTICLE VII — NOMINATIONS
Section 1: A nominating committee of three non-Board members shall
be elected at the August general meeting in even numbered years. The
nominating committee is to find members, other than themselves,
willing to run for Board positions in the November elections.
ARTICLE VIII — COMMITTEES
Section 1: Standing committees are Transportation, Public Safety,
Governance and Policy, Land Use and Natural Resources, Forest
Practices, Diversity, and Outreach. Interim committee chairs shall be
appointed by the president. Committees shall elect permanent chairs at
their first meeting, and annually thereafter, subject to ratification by the
Board.
Section 2: The Board or the membership shall create ad hoc
committees as necessary. Interim committee chairs shall be appointed
by the President. Committees shall elect permanent chairs at their first
meeting, and annually thereafter, subject to ratification by the Board.

Section 3: All ad hoc committees shall be reviewed annually on the
election of new officers. Committees may be asked to continue at the
discretion of the new officers or by vote of the membership.
Section 4: Committee chairs are subject to removal by regular motion
at one committee meeting, to be voted on by the committee members
present at the next committee meeting.
Removal requires a two thirds (2/3) vote of the committee members
present, by written ballot. Upon removal of a committee chair, the
committee shall elect a new chair, subject to ratification by the Board.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Any vote to amend these By-Laws shall be held at either the
April or October general meeting, subject to the provision outlined in
this article.
Section 2. Any proposed amendment to these By-Laws shall be
required to be signed by five Council members and be presented in
writing at a general meeting. The vote on the proposed by-law
amendment shall occur at the next regular general meeting no sooner
than three months from the submission of the proposed by-law
amendment to the council.
Section 3. The Rules and Governance committee shall study the
proposed by-law amendment and present a report to the Council
addressing the impact of the proposed by-law amendment, outlining
arguments in favor and opposed (if any) to the proposed by-law
amendment. The committee may provide majority and minority reports
to meet this requirement. The report or reports required shall be
submitted to the Council at the regularly scheduled general meeting
preceding the vote.
Section 4. Passage of the proposed by-law amendment shall require at
least a two-thirds vote of the members present at the general meeting at
which the vote is taken.