Full Text
Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood Council Bylaws Membership: All residents of the Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood, as defined by the Community Forum, are members of the Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood Council and are eligible to vote at meetings on all issues that come before the Council. Businesses, churches, schools, neighborhood organizations and other entities within the district are eligible to designate one representative to attend meetings and to vote on issues that come before the Council. Decisions: Decisions shall be made by consensus (general agreement) or a 2/3 majority of those voting when consensus cannot be reached. Decisions made by a majority vote will be accompanied by a minority report, should the minority opinion choose to submit such report. Any Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood resident as defined above may vote at Council meetings. Leadership Team: The Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood Council Leadership Team shall be formed of at least five individuals. Any Council member may serve on the Leadership Team. The Leadership Team shall attempt to reflect the diversity of the neighborhood in age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The leadership team shall also attempt to include at least one homeowner, one renter, one landlord, one business owner, one school representative, one organizational representative and one school aged youth. Elections: Leadership Team members will be selected at an annual general election meeting to be held in October when possible and must be approved by a consensus of the Neighborhood Council or a 2/3 majority agreement. Leadership Team members will serve two-year terms, except for renters, who can serve one- year terms. However, in order to stagger terms at the first election, one-half of the initial Leadership team will be elected to only a one-year term. If a vacancy occurs on the Leadership Team due to resignation, moving out of district, or death---nominations will be taken from the Council for replacement candidates and the vacant position shall be filled by consensus or a 2/3 majority vote at the next regular meeting. Attendance at Leadership Team meetings is open to all Council Members. Notification of Elections: Notification of pending elections shall be given at least 30 days prior to the scheduled elections. Notification shall be carried out either by direct mail, distribution of flyers, postings in the district, newspaper notification, City web site, or a combination of the above. Notification shall include time and place for elections. Duties of Officers: The Leadership Team will designate team members as Co-chairpersons, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Community Forum Representative, none of which are mutually exclusive, for a term of one year. The Leadership Team shall divide the following duties among themselves: 1. Coordinate and preside at Neighborhood Council Meetings. 2. Report to the Community Forum. 3. Report to City Council. 4. Submit minority reports, when such are available. 5. Set up and maintain a communications system. 6. Record meetings and file minutes with the Missoula City Clerk. 7. Take attendance at Neighborhood Council Meetings. 8. The Leadership Team will meet at least four times per year. 9. Set meeting agendas and file minutes with the Missoula City Clerk. 10. Coordinate volunteers. 11. Account for and report expenses and income in accordance with City Fiscal Policy. 12. Edit and publish a newsletter. 13. Select members of a nominating committee to identify and recruit future Leadership Team candidates. Meetings: A regular meeting of the Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood Council shall be held at least once annually, in October when possible. Additional meetings may be called by a consensus (or by 2/3 majority vote) of the Leadership Team or by a petition of at least 20 residents outside of the Leadership Team. At least two days notice, with posted agenda, must be given for any full Neighborhood Council Meeting. Meetings shall be conducted in an open manner. When necessary, a three-minute per speaker rule limiting debate may be initiated to expedite Council proceedings. In the event of unruly or otherwise unproductive behavior, Roberts Rules of Orders shall be followed. Neighborhood Council meetings shall be open to the public and are subject to the provisions of the Montana Open Meeting and Public Participation laws. Meeting agendas and minutes will be filed with the City Clerk in a timely manner. Committees: Committees of the Neighborhood Council shall be formed by the Leadership Team as needed. These may take the form of permanent standing committees or ad-hoc committees focused on specific issues. Committee recommendations must be submitted to the Council for approval before action can be taken, unless committee has been authorized by the Council to take specific actions. Membership on committees shall be open to all members of the Neighborhood Council. Committee members must have attended a previous committee meeting that has discussed the issue in order to vote on committee recommendations on issues that require more that one meeting. Interested persons who live outside the Lewis & Clark Area neighborhood and are not members may attend and participate in committee discussions but may not vote. Expenditures: Expenditures of $100 or less shall be made with the approval of the Treasurer and at least one other member of the Leadership Team. Expenditures of more than $100 shall be made with the approval of the Treasurer and at least two other members of the Leadership Team. All expenditures of City funds must be done in accordance with City fiscal requirements. Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be presented for discussion at a regular meeting of the Neighborhood Council and must be available in written form at least 30 days prior to the Neighborhood Council meeting at which they are voted on. At least 2/3 vote is required to adopt any amendment to these bylaws. A quorum of 30 Lewis & Clark Area Neighborhood Council members is required to amend the by- laws.