|
|
|
|
TEXAS CHAPTER |
BYLAWS |
|
Web pages: 2012 OFFICERS Branches: Contact Us: FOR MEMBERSHIP & INFORMATION
|
AMERICAN
PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION
Bylaws
The Official Copy of the Bylaws of the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association is on file at the office of the Chapter’s Administrator and National APWA.
ARTICLE I – NAME AND BOUNDARIES
SECTION 1.
The name of the organization shall be the Texas Chapter, hereinafter
called the Chapter, of the American Public Works Association, hereinafter called
APWA. The territory included within
the boundaries of this Chapter shall be the border of the State of
ARTICLE II – PURPOSES
SECTION 1.
The purpose of this Chapter shall be the advancement of the theory and
practice of the design, construction, maintenance, administration and operation
of public works facilities and services; the dissemination of information and
experience upon and the promotion of improved practices in public works
administration; the encouragement of the adherence by public works officials to
a high professional standard; and the professional and social improvement of its
members, as set forth in the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public
Works Association.”
SECTION 2.
The Chapter shall engage in a program of activities designed to further the
purposes of APWA within its jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the
scheduling of meetings of its membership.
Such a program of activities shall be consistent with the purposes and adopted
goals and objectives of APWA and shall not
include items of a partisan or political nature.
SECTION 3.
The Chapter is not organized for profit, and earnings shall not directly
benefit any Chapter member or officer except as
SECTION 4.
In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Chapter, any
remaining assets shall be rendered to the American Public Works Association.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1.
Members of APWA residing in the Chapter territory specified in Article I,
Section 1, shall hold the same type of membership in the Chapter that they hold
in APWA. Members of APWA residing
outside the Chapter territory specified in Article I, Section 1, may elect to be
members of the Texas Chapter and shall hold the same type of membership in the
Chapter that they hold in APWA, providing that they are employed within the
limits of the Chapter territory.
ARTICLE IV – FISCAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE YEARS
SECTION 1.
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from January 1 through December
31.
SECTION 2.
The administrative year of the Chapter shall be from January 1 through
December 31.
ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Executive Committee, consisting of:
a.
The Officers of the Chapter.
b.
The Chapter Trustee.
c.
The Immediate Past President.
d.
The Chapter Delegate to the APWA House of Delegates and the Alternate Chapter
Delegate.
e.
The TML Representative.
f. The
appointed representative of each Chapter Branch.
Section 2.
Each Branch may appoint a voting delegate to the Executive Committee in the
event that the Branch President is unable to participate or in the event that
the Branch President is already a member of the Executive Committee. This
representative shall be an officer of the Branch. This designation must be
done in writing at the start of the calendar year. No member of the Executive
Committee is allowed to give his or her proxy to another person.
SECTION 3.
No person shall be nominated, elected, or allowed to serve on the
Executive Committee unless he or she holds current membership in APWA.
SECTION 4. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall have the power to elect a Chapter member to fill the unexpired term of office.
SECTION 5.
The Executive Committee shall manage all the affairs of the Chapter in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board of Directors of APWA
and the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association.”
SECTION 6.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to employ a Chapter Administrator
whose duties and
SECTION 7.
The Executive Committee shall not enter into any contract involving any
liability of APWA without approval and formal delegation of authority in each
instance by the Board of Directors of APWA.
SECTION 8.
Provided a quorum is present, an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the
Executive Committee members present at any regular or duly called meeting
shall be required to pass any motion consistent with this or any other
provision of the Chapter Bylaws unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.
SECTION 9.
The President may at any time direct the Secretary to submit any question
to the members of the Executive Committee by formal means such as a letter
ballot or by means of a telephone, video conference call or e-mail.
SECTION 10. Upon direction of the majority of the members of the Executive Committee present at any meeting, where less than all members of the Executive Committee are present, the Secretary shall submit any question to the members of the Executive Committee by formal means.
SECTION 11.
A simple majority of all votes shall decide the question, provided votes are
received from at least a majority of the total membership of the Executive
Committee. The Secretary shall
present the question(s) to the Executive Committee members a minimum of 15
days prior to voting.
SECTION 12.
The Secretary shall record, as a part of the minutes of the Executive
Committee meeting immediately following the voting, the means and results of
the voting and the names and votes of all Executive Committee members.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 1.
The Chapter shall have as officers, a
President, a President-elect, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the
Chapter Delegate to the APWA House of Delegates, the Alternate Chapter
Delegate to the APWA House of Delegates, the Immediate Past President, one
Chapter Trustee and one Texas Municipal League (TML) Representative.
SECTION 2.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Chapter and
shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year.
He/she shall preside at all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings and
shall chair the Executive Committee.
He/she shall issue the call for regular or special Executive Committee
meetings.
He/she shall appoint the Chairs of all Committees, standing and special,
and be an ex-officio member of each Committee.
He/she shall see that these Committees function and shall cooperate with
the Committee Chairs to that end.
He/she shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to
him/her by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 3.
The President-elect shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year
and shall act for the President in the President's absence or when the President
is unable to perform the duties of the office, as determined by the Executive
Committee.
SECTION 4.
The Vice President shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year
and shall be responsible for arranging a tentative program of activities for
the year following his/her incumbency and shall perform such other duties as
assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.
SECTION 5.
The Secretary shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and
shall keep all records and conduct all correspondence of the Chapter The
Secretary shall prepare a written record of the proceedings of the Executive
Committee and any formal proceedings of the Chapter.
The Secretary shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may be
required.
At the expiration of the term of office, the Secretary shall turn over to
the successor, all books, records, documents, or other property of the Chapter
in custody. The Executive Committee may assign various record keeping and
correspondence duties to the Chapter Administrator to assist the elected
Chapter Secretary during their term of office.
SECTION 6.
The Treasurer shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and
shall collect Chapter dues and receive all monies, depositing them in a bank
or in other safe and secure investments approved by the Executive Committee,
all of which shall be in the name of the Chapter.
All checks and vouchers must be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by
the President and/or President-elect. The Executive Committee may authorize
the Chapter Administrator to prepare and sign checks for the chapter in order
to make timely payments on bills or accounts being owed. The Treasurer shall
prepare and submit financial reports monthly to the Executive Committee and
shall prepare necessary documents to be reviewed by the Chapter Audit
Committee.
The Treasurer shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may be
required.
At the expiration of the term of office, the Treasurer shall turn over to the
successor all books, papers, and money belonging to the Chapter, taking a
receipt therefore. The Executive Committee may assign various fiscal duties to
the Chapter Administrator to assist the elected Chapter Treasurer during their
term of office.
SECTION 7.
The Chapter’s representative to the APWA House of Delegates, hereinafter
called the Chapter Delegate, shall be appointed annually by the Executive
Committee to serve for the current administrative year and shall represent the
Chapter to that body, attending regional and annual meetings of the House of
Delegates, bringing Chapter concerns to their attention, and informing the
Chapter of House of Delegates’ activities.
The Chapter Delegate shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may
be required. An Alternate Chapter
Delegate shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee to serve for
the current administrative year and shall act for and on behalf of the Chapter
Delegate in the event of the Chapter Delegate’s absence or inability to
perform the duties of this position as determined by the Executive Committee.
The President shall notify the APWA Executive Director and the APWA
Regional Director of the Chapter’s representatives on or before December 31st
of each year. The Executive
Committee may reappoint members serving as Chapter Delegate or Alternate
Delegate.
SECTION 8.
One member of the Chapter shall be elected to serve as Chapter Trustee
and shall be a member of the Executive Committee to provide direction to the
Chapter. The Trustee shall serve a
one-year term. The Trustee shall
attend all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings and shall be prepared to
present progress reports of any assignments.
SECTION 9.
One
Member of the Chapter shall be elected to be the Texas Municipal League
Representative. The Representative is required to be an employee of a
SECTION 10.
The most recent living Past President holding current membership in the
Chapter shall be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee with voting
privileges and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the President and the
Executive Committee. It shall be
the duty of the Past President to preside at meetings of the Chapter and
Executive Committee in the absence of the President, President-elect and Vice
President.
SECTION 11.
All Chapter officers, except as otherwise provided, shall serve for one
year or until their successors are elected and installed.
The terms of office shall begin as specified in Article XI, Section 3, of
these Bylaws.
SECTION 12.
In case of the disability or neglect in performance of duty by any
officer or Director of the Chapter, the Executive Committee shall have the
power by a two-thirds vote of its members to declare the office vacant and
shall fill the vacancy as provided in Article V, Section 3.
SECTION 13.
The President, President-elect, the Vice President, and the Trustee shall
not be eligible for reelection to the same office until at least one full year
has elapsed after the ends of their respective terms.
SECTION 14.
Former Officers may be elected by the Executive Committee in accord with
Article V, Section 3, to fulfill the unexpired terms of vacancies on the
Executive Committee. Former
Officers so selected shall hold office only for the unexpired term of the
office vacated.
Such tenure shall not preclude nomination for office at the next
election.
SECTION 15.
Duties for the specific positions are further enumerated in the Chapter
Manual. The Executive Committee may modify these duties and responsibilities
by majority vote at any Executive Committee meeting.
SECTION 16.
A member of the Board may be removed by a vote of the Board for reasons
of non-participation or gross misconduct. Grounds for removal for
non-participation shall include absence of a Director at two (50%) meetings
during each year term.
ARTICLE VII – AUDIT
COMMITTEE
SECTION 1.
The President shall annually appoint an Audit Committee consisting of at
least three Chapter members who shall examine the financial records and books
of the Chapter. The Treasurer
shall not be a member of the Audit Committee but shall cooperate fully with
the Audit Committee.
SECTION 2.
The duties of the Audit Committee shall be to examine the Chapter’s
financial records and books in order to meet the requirements of APWA.
The duties of the Audit Committee shall include but not be limited to the
following: examination of cancelled checks, accounting for numerical
sequencing, examining endorsements, reviewing banks statements, and
examination and reconciliation of documents supporting disbursements.
The Audit Committee shall conduct the annual audit of the year-end
financial documents using an approved
ARTICLE VI
SECTION 1.
The Annual Meeting of the Chapter shall be held in conjunction with the
Spring Meeting. Other General Membership Meetings
for the transaction of business of the Chapter may be called by the President
upon the President's own volition, upon request by the Executive Committee, or
upon the written request of 15 members in good standing of the Chapter.
The membership shall be notified at least two weeks in advance of
the date and place of the Annual Meeting and of any General Membership
Meetings.
SECTION 2.
The Executive Committee shall meet at least four (4) times during the
administrative year. Special
meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held on the call of the President
or on the request in writing of any three (3) members of the Executive
Committee. The four (4) meetings will be held at the Annual Short Course, the
Annual Spring Meeting, the Fall TML Meeting, and one additional meeting during
the year, to be determined by the President.
SECTION 3.
Meetings of the Executive Committee may be conducted in person, by means
of a telephone or video conference call, or in any
SECTION 4.
The Chapter Administrator shall formally notify each member of the
Executive Committee at least five days prior to the scheduled date of a
special meeting of the Executive Committee.
An agenda and copy of each report and resolution, or other notification or
action to be considered at such meeting, shall ac
ARTICLE IX – QUORUM
SECTION 1.
A simple majority of the following Officers shall constitute a quorum at
an Executive Committee meeting: President, President-elect, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee, Immediate Past President, Chapter Delegate to
the APWA House of Delegates, Alternate Chapter Delegate to the APWA House of
Delegates, and the TML Representative.
SECTION 2.
For meetings of the Chapter involving a formal business agenda, 25
members, of whom no more than one-half shall be members of the Executive
Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE X – DUES
SECTION 1.
Annual dues shall be that portion of the annual dues paid to APWA that is
assigned to the Chapter by the Board of Directors of APWA.
SECTION 2.
Additional
Chapter dues may be assessed and collected for the Texas Chapter by APWA.
Chapter dues will be reimbursed to Texas Chapter.
SECTION 3. Dues are payable to APWA annually in advance. Non-payment of dues for a period of 90 days shall be treated as equivalent to resignation. Such members shall not again be eligible for membership until all arrears have been paid up.
ARTICLE XI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1.
Prior to the Chapter’s Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint a
Nominating Committee of three members, one of whom shall be the most recent
available Past President having current membership in the Chapter and who
shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall report the names of its nominees for each
office standing election to the Executive Committee at its meeting during the
Annual Meeting. One or more nominations shall be made for each office.
No persons serving on the Nominating Committee shall be eligible for
nomination except by declaration.
The membership of the Chapter shall be informed of the Nominating Committee's
report at the Business Meeting during the Annual Meeting.
Other nominations may be made by declaration, following the Nominating
Committee's report, by any person holding membership in good standing in the
Chapter, provided such declaration is ac
SECTION 2.
Letter ballots, bearing the names of all nominees, the ballot position of
which shall be determined by lot for each office, and marked with proper
voting instructions, shall be distributed by the Secretary to all members no
later than September 15 each year.
The membership shall be given at least two weeks for the return of the letter
ballots. Election returns,
announced at the Fall meeting of the Executive Committee, shall be the result
of the letter ballot that shall be returned to the Nominating Committee, who
shall act as the Tellers Committee.
Election results shall be determined by a simple majority of eligible votes
received by October 1 of each year.
In the event of a tie, the earlier location on the ballot shall determine the
winner.
Provision for write-in shall be included on the ballot for each of the
Chapter’s offices.
SECTION 3.
Newly elected officers shall assume office for the administrative year on
January 1.
SECTION 4.
In the event of extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, the
Executive Committee shall have the power to declare the term of office of any
or all Chapter officers and Directors extended for one full term.
ARTICLE XII – BRANCHES
SECTION 1.
The Association shall encourage and recognize the establishment of
regional, state, provincial, county and local branches of its members, the
purposes of which shall be the furtherance of the objectives of the
Association in the region, state, province, county or locality.
Any group of ten or more members of APWA may petition the Texas Chapter
Executive Committee to form a branch within the Association’s jurisdiction.
Said Executive Committee may, by resolution, authorize the formation of such
branch. Jurisdictional areas of
such branch should conform to the nine regions established by the Association.
If requested by petition, the Executive Committee may revise the
jurisdictional boundaries.
SECTION 2.
Application for the establishment of a branch, together with a copy of
the proposed branch bylaws and a list of those who have agreed to be
SECTION 3.
All branches
shall be managed in conformity with the bylaws of the Association and the
rules established by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.
The officers and majority of each branch shall be members of the American
Public Works Association.
SECTION 5.
Branches of the Chapter are authorized to be established based on
geographical criteria. Any Branch establishment must be approved by APWA.
SECTION 6.
In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of a Branch, any remaining
assets shall be rendered to the Chapter.
SECTION 7.
Any
correspondence,
ARTICLE XIII—AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by initiatory petition
submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and signed by not less than 15
members or by resolution of the Executive Committee.
Proposed amendments shall be presented to the membership at a meeting of
the Chapter within one year after the date of their submission or by letter
ballot as may be determined by the Executive Committee.
Provided, however, that the Executive Committee may, within sixty days
after receipt of any amendment proposed by initiatory petition, return same to
the petitioners with a letter of explanation requesting that the proposed
amendment be modified before it is presented to the membership.
If the proposed amendment is resubmitted in writing and signed by not
less than eight members of the original petitioners it shall be presented to
the membership with or without the approval of the Executive Committee.
An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the qualified votes cast shall be
necessary for the adoption of a proposed amendment.
SECTION 2.
These Bylaws and such amendments as may be made from time to time shall
be
SECTION 3.
The Executive Committee shall direct a review of the Chapter’s Bylaws for
SECTION 4.
The Bylaws of each Branch shall be submitted to the Chapter for review and
approval. The Chapter will forward all Branch Bylaws to APWA for review and
approval.
Executive Chapter
APWA Board of
____________________ ___________________ ___________________
____________________
___________________
___________________
Send mail to
TWPA@comcast.net
with
questions or comments about this web site. |
