Vashon-Maury Island Community Historical Council Bylaws. For current bylaws, go to www.v-mcc.org 

Approved June 15, 2020

ARTICLE I – NAME

Section 1:  The name of this organization is the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

Section 1: This Community Council exists to enable the people of Vashon-Maury Island to address important Island issues.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: All Vashon-Maury Island residents are members of this Community Council.

Section 2: Only those members 16 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, gender identity, 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 Community Council, committee, and board meeting. The names of all board members in attendance shall be entered into the minutes of every meeting. Community Council 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 Community Council meetings.

Section 3: The November Community Council meeting is designated as the annual meeting.

Section 4: The quorum requirement for Community Council meetings is twenty-five (25) members.

Section 5: Proxy voting is not allowed. Members must be present or participate by telecommunication in order to vote.

Section 6: Motions presented at any Community Council meeting shall be voted on at the next Community Council 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 Community Council meeting.

b.     Motions of an urgent nature (moot if delayed) may be voted on at the same Community Council 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 Community Council members present.

Section 7: The Community Council shall be guided by “Democratic Rules of Order, 10th Edition” in all matters of parliamentary procedure, where applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws, policies and procedures of the Community Council.

ARTICLE V — THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL BOARD

Section 1:

a.  The Community Council Board shall consist of nine members. Seven are elected in even numbered years, and two more are to be chosen by the seven elected board members. Election results are announced at the November meeting, and board members take office December 1st.

b.  Board members shall not serve four or more consecutive 2-year terms.

c.  Each board member shall serve as a liaison to one or more sectors as identified in the Policies and Procedures.

Section 2: The Board shall meet at least monthly in open, scheduled, public meetings; six 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 Community Council 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 Community Council meeting.

Section 4: The primary duties of the Board are to:

a.  Set agendas for the Community Council meetings.

b. Implement decisions taken at the Community Council meetings.

c.  Facilitate communication between the community and government, corporate, and other entities.

d. Monitor and evaluate all committees.

e.  Develop policies and procedures subject to approval at a Community Council meeting.

f.  Engage in two-way communication with their specific constituency and other island residents in between Community Council meetings. 

g. Write the Policies and Procedures for the Community Council, subject to approval by the Council.

Section 5: Board members, as publicly elected officials of the Community 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 Community 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 Community Council.

Section 6: Board members are subject to removal by regular motion at one Community Council meeting, to be voted on by the members present at the next Community Council meeting. Removal requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, by written ballot.

Section 7: Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the Board, subject to confirmation by the members present at the next Community Council meeting.

ARTICLE VI — OFFICERS

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

Section 2: The Board shall elect the officers among themselves 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 Community Council membership, and such additional duties as the board, these bylaws, and policies and procedures shall assign.

President — The president shall preside at all meetings of the Board and the Community 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 correspondence of the Community Council and board.

Treasurer — The treasurer shall have custody of all Community 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 – COMMITTEES

Section 1: The purpose of a Committee is to advise the Community Council.  Designation of committees and committee procedures will be set forth in the Policies and Procedures. 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: All 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 3: Committee chairs are subject to removal by regular motion at one committee meeting, to be voted on by the committee members present or participating through telecommunications at the next committee meeting.  Removal requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the committee members present or participating by telecommunication. Upon removal of a committee chair, the committee shall elect a new chair, subject to ratification by the board.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Any vote to amend these By-Laws shall be held at either the April or October Community Council meeting, subject to the provisions outlined in this article.

Section 2: Any proposed amendment to these Bylaws shall be required to be signed by five Community Council members and be presented in writing at a Community Council meeting. The vote on the proposed bylaw amendment shall occur at the next Community Council meeting no sooner than three months from the submission of the proposed bylaw amendment to the Community Council.

Section 3: The Governance committee shall study the proposed bylaw amendment and present a report to the Community Council addressing the impact of the proposed bylaw amendment, outlining arguments in favor and opposed (if any) to the proposed bylaw amendment. The committee may provide majority and minority reports to meet this requirement. The report or reports required shall be submitted to the Community Council at the regularly scheduled Community Council meeting preceding the vote.

Section 4: Passage of the proposed bylaw amendment shall require at least a two-thirds vote of the members present at the Community Council meeting at which the vote is taken.

ARTICLE IX – DATE OF ADOPTION

The foregoing bylaws were read, approved, and duly adopted by the members of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council on the 15^th day of June, 2020.