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Mission | Letter to PV Residents | By Laws

By Laws

ARTICLE I - THE CORPORATION

The name of the corporation shall be Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition.
Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall consist of the membership, an Executive Board and an Advisory Board of Putnam Valley residents.
The geographic area that Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition will concern itself with shall be that area within the Town of Putnam Valley.
Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall not be affiliated with any political party.
Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall:
1. address the concerns of the community on a town-wide basis;
2. provide a non-partisan organization for citizens to air community concerns and through consensus seek to help implement constructive solutions;
3. ensure a safe and high-quality neighborhood environment through adherence to the principles of sound zoning and planning;
4. cooperate with government in helping to resolve community problems;
5. monitor the activities of elected and appointed government officials and agencies to ensure they are responsive to citizens' concerns whether these are individual, neighborhood, area or town-wide;
6. offer assistance and/or information to individual citizens and homeowner groups, and provide programs for members and the general public which feature speakers with the expertise to cover a wide range of topics.

ARTICLE II - THE MEMBERSHIP

Any adult residing within the Town of Putnam Valley shall be eligible for membership.
Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition Executive or Advisory Board members should not serve on, or must take a leave of absence from such boards, if elected, or appointed to, or are announced candidates for political or governmental positions such as town or county boards and/or departments. No member is precluded from voluntary participation with other Putnam Valley citizens on town advisory committees.

ARTICLE III - THE EXECUTIVE BOARD (Board of Directors)

Section A - Nomination & Election Procedures

The Executive Board shall consist of up to eleven (11) members elected by the membership.
Executive Board members are elected at the annual membership meeting scheduled in the fall of each year. Members must be notified at least one month prior to the annual meeting and be sent the names of nominees recommended by the current Executive Board. Included in the mailing shall be proxy cards, an informational newsletter, and a notice that members may nominate, prior to or at the annual meeting, candidates other than those submitted by the Executive Board. The final slate to be voted on may consist of members at large, and/or Executive Board members meriting reelection.
All voting shall be by secret ballot. After voting is completed, proxy cards received by or on the annual meeting date are immediately counted in public, along with the ballots cast by those in attendance. The three (3) candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected.
If an Executive Board member does not serve the full term, whatever the reason, the Executive Board shall choose a replacement to serve for the remainder of that term. For this reason, or if there are additional vacancies on the Executive Board, it is possible that more than three candidates for the Executive Board shall be chosen at the annual meeting. As in paragraph 3, above, the candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected.

Section B - Duties

The Executive Board shall have the power to manage and control the affairs and property of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition. It shall have full power to adopt rules and regulations governing the actions of the Board, but is not required to do so. All actions or decisions taken by the Executive Board must conform to ARTICLE IX which defines QUORUM.
The Executive Board shall meet regularly. The lack of quorum is not an impediment to holding a board meeting. If a quorum is not present, the Board may propose a decision or action which may later be ratified in conformity with ARTICLE IX-QUORUM.
The Executive Board shall elect the Officers of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition (see Article IV) to serve for one year. Executive Board members may also serve as Officers, and may remove Officers with or without cause. (see Article IX)
The Executive Board may appoint any qualified individual (see Article VI) to serve on the Advisory Board.
The Executive Board shall not contravene Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition by-laws.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

The officers of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, if any, including one or more vice presidents as the Executive Board may from time to time appoint. One person may hold more than one office in Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition, except the offices of President and Secretary. No instruments requiring more than one officer's signature may be signed by a person serving in more than one capacity.
The officers of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall be elected or reelected at the regularly scheduled Executive Board meeting held following the annual membership meeting.
In case of any vacancy in any office, a successor to fill the unexpired portion of the term may be elected by the remaining Executive Board members.
The President shall preside at all membership and Executive Board meetings. The President shall have overall supervision of the affairs of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition. The President shall keep the Executive Board fully informed and shall freely consult board members concerning the activities of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition. The President shall have the power to sign all contracts for Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition authorized by the Executive Board, unless the Executive Board shall require an additional signature. The President shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned by the Executive Board.
The Vice President(s) shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board. In the absence of the President, a Vice President, in the order designated by the Executive Board, or another member of the Executive Board, chosen by that Board, if necessary, shall perform the duties of the President.
The Secretary shall take minutes at all Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition membership and Executive Board meetings, distribute them accordingly, and shall keep a set of minutes for the record. The Secretary shall give and serve all notices of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition and perform all the duties customarily incident to this office, or assigned by and subject to the control of the Executive Board.
The Treasurer shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Coalition. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects of the Coalition in the name and to the credit of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition in such banks or depositories as the Executive Board may designate. The Treasurer, at regular monthly Executive Board meetings, shall render a statement of accounts, shall at all reasonable times exhibit Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition financial records and accounts to any Officer or Executive Board member requesting such, and shall perform all duties incident to the position of Treasurer subject to the control of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V - THE MEMBERSHIP

The membership shall meet annually.
The membership shall elect the Executive Board
Membership actions must be approved in conformity with the definition of QUORUM for the membership as stated in ARTICLE IX. Proxy votes may be taken in accordance with Section 609 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation law.
The membership cannot take an action prohibited to it, or in contradiction of these by-laws.

ARTICLE VI - THE ADVISORY BOARD

The Advisory Board shall consist of experts in particular areas, such as: law, government, engineering, public relations, architecture, traffic, taxes, planning, zoning, health and safety and the environment. These exerts shall be appointed by the Executive Board. Their terms shall be open-ended. They may be removed with or without cause.
The Advisory Board shall advise the membership and/or the Executive Board on matters of concern to Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition.

ARTICLE VII - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Any parliamentary question shall be resolved by Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VIII - BY-LAWS

These by-laws can be amended by a two-third (2/3) vote of a quorum of the membership or by a majority vote of a quorum of Executive Board members. Written notification by regular U.S. mail of proposed by-law changes, additions, etc. must be sent at least one (1) month in advance of the scheduled voting taking place at the Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition annual meeting.

ARTICLE IX - QUORUM

A quorum for an executive board meeting shall be a majority of the total Executive Board, not simply those present. All actions or decisions by the Executive Board must conform to this definition. Should an action or decision be deemed urgent and a quorum not be present, those in attendance shall have their names and votes recorded. Only when all remaining Executive Board members are contacted and their names and votes recorded can it be judged that a quorum exists - the majority of the total Executive Board.

ARTICLE X - MEETINGS

Section A

All meetings of the membership shall be open to the public. All meetings of the Executive Board shall be open to all members of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition and occasional guests whose concerns and information are germane to the work of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition.
An annual meeting shall be held in the fall of each year in order to fill vacancies in the Executive Board, provide a report to the members, and address other items of interest to members. Written notification of such to the membership by the Executive Board is mandatory at least one (1) month prior to the Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition annual meeting (see Section B - Duties of the Executive Board).

ARTICLE XI - SPECIAL MEETINGS

Special membership meetings may be held upon the call of the Executive Board. Written notification by regular U.S. mail of special meetings must be sent at least ten (10) days in advance.

ARTICLE XII - USE OF THE ORGANIZATION NAME

No member of Putnam Valley Residents' Coalition shall use the name of the organization or otherwise purport to act in or appear on its behalf, or confer its endorsement of any position, or person without the authorization of the Executive Board.

Adopted____________, 2002