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Members Selectmen Bylaws of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association
An affiliate of the Massachusetts Municipal Association
ARTICLE I
NAME
The organization shall be called the Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The Association shall be non-partisan and shall provide members with professional support in performance of their responsibilities, encouraging best practices in municipal administration and promoting mutuality of interests. The Association shall not discriminate with regard to race, color, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex or age.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active members shall be those Selectmen in towns which are members in good standing of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 2. Dues for each town shall be set by and payable to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 3. Life Members shall be all past presidents of the Selectmen’s Association and shall be exempt from dues. Former members may elect to become Life Members with the payment of a single sum set by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 4. Honorary Members are those who are so elected at a meeting of the Association in recognition of outstanding contribution to municipal government, who shall be exempt from dues and have no voting privileges.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Secretary, whose terms shall be one year. They shall be sitting Selectmen representing member towns. The officers shall be elected by plurality vote at the Annual Meeting to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. Their terms of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected.
Section 2. The President shall set the agenda, make appointments, call and preside over all meetings of both the Association and its Executive Board.
Section 3. The First Vice President shall act in the absence of the President.
Section 4. The Second Vice President shall act in the absence of both the President and First Vice President.
Section 5. The Secretary shall serve on the Executive Board and as Clerk of the Association. The Secretary shall ensure that all records, minutes and archives are permanently maintained.
Section 6. The President, First Vice President and Second Vice President also serve on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 7. In the event that the President is unable or unwilling to serve a complete term, and the First Vice President and Second Vice President also decline, a President pro-tem shall be appointed by the Executive Board to serve until the next Annual Election.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of twenty-eight members to include the elected officers, five district representatives, fourteen county representatives and the five most recent past presidents of the Association. In the event that any one of the past presidents is unable or unwilling to serve, the next most recent shall be invited until there is a full complement of five. Membership on the Executive Board shall be limited to members of the Association.
a. For counties with an active County Selectmen’s Association, they shall choose the representative. For those that do not have an active Selectmen’s Association, any member of the Association may be nominated to represent that district in which the Selectman holds office. Nominations may be made by any member or group of members, including self-nomination, by responding to notification by a date certain.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall set policy, have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, and be empowered to make decisions for the Association. The membership shall receive timely notification of such action. Members of the Board are expected to participate in all meetings and electronic discussions.
Section 3. The President shall convene a minimum of four meetings each year, one of which shall be called within sixty days of Annual Meeting. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the President. Any member of the Executive Board may request additional meetings. Notice and agenda together with the minutes of the prior meeting shall be sent to members at a minimum of seven days prior to the meeting.
Section 4. A quorum shall be five members of the Executive Board, of which four must be serving as Officers or District Representatives, provided that they represent not less than three counties.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. In addition to Officers of the Association, there shall be geographic representation elected by District as follows:
District 1. Berkshire, Hamden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties
District 2. Essex and Middlesex Counties
District 3. Bristol, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties
District 4. Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket and Plymouth Counties
District 5. Worcester County
Section 2. Any member of the Association may be nominated to represent that district in which the Selectman holds office. Nominations may be made by any member or group of members, including self-nomination, by responding to notification by a date certain.
Section 3. District Representatives serve two-year terms and may be elected to succeed themselves.
Section 4. Vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Board to be effective until the next election, when those appointed may be candidates.
Section 5. District Representatives shall be active liaisons with the Boards within the counties they represent.
Section 6. The District Representatives also serve on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
ARTICLE VII
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1. A Nominating Committee appointed by the President shall be chaired by the immediate Past President. Requests for nominations for officers and district representatives will be made to the membership. The Nominating Committee shall present its recommendations to the Executive Board prior to Annual Meeting.
Section 2. Consistent with affiliate sequencing policy of the Municipal Association, the Nominating Committee shall also have responsibility for considering candidates from the Association for election as Vice President of the Municipal Association and a recommendation shall be presented with the report to Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
ANNUAL MEETING
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held during the Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, unless otherwise determined by the Executive Board. Members shall be provided written notice at least fourteen days prior to the meeting. The President shall set the agenda, make an annual report to the meeting and include reports from such committees as may be appropriate. Copies of the agenda shall be provided to members prior to the meeting.
Section 2. The Annual Election shall be held during the meeting.
Section 3. Fifty members at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided at least five counties are represented.
Section 4. Each member present shall have one vote on any matter before the body.
Section 5. A Special Meeting of the Association may be petitioned by a minimum of twenty-five members.
ARTICLE IX
VOTING AND CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Section 1. A simple majority of those members present and voting is necessary for the adoption for all motions not otherwise noted.
Section 2. Meetings shall be conducted in general conformance with Roberts Rules of Order. Parliamentary discretion shall be vested in the President or a specified designee.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the association by two-thirds vote, provided a notice of the substance and text of the proposed amendment has been mailed to each member at least 10 business days in advance of the meeting.
Approved January 8, 2005
Jeffery Hardin, Secretary
Members Selectmen Bylaws of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association
Bylaws of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association
An affiliate of the Massachusetts Municipal Association
ARTICLE I
NAME
The organization shall be called the Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The Association shall be non-partisan and shall provide members with professional support in performance of their responsibilities, encouraging best practices in municipal administration and promoting mutuality of interests. The Association shall not discriminate with regard to race, color, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex or age.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active members shall be those Selectmen in towns which are members in good standing of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 2. Dues for each town shall be set by and payable to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 3. Life Members shall be all past presidents of the Selectmen’s Association and shall be exempt from dues. Former members may elect to become Life Members with the payment of a single sum set by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 4. Honorary Members are those who are so elected at a meeting of the Association in recognition of outstanding contribution to municipal government, who shall be exempt from dues and have no voting privileges.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Secretary, whose terms shall be one year. They shall be sitting Selectmen representing member towns. The officers shall be elected by plurality vote at the Annual Meeting to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. Their terms of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected.
Section 2. The President shall set the agenda, make appointments, call and preside over all meetings of both the Association and its Executive Board.
Section 3. The First Vice President shall act in the absence of the President.
Section 4. The Second Vice President shall act in the absence of both the President and First Vice President.
Section 5. The Secretary shall serve on the Executive Board and as Clerk of the Association. The Secretary shall ensure that all records, minutes and archives are permanently maintained.
Section 6. The President, First Vice President and Second Vice President also serve on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Section 7. In the event that the President is unable or unwilling to serve a complete term, and the First Vice President and Second Vice President also decline, a President pro-tem shall be appointed by the Executive Board to serve until the next Annual Election.
ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of twenty-eight members to include the elected officers, five district representatives, fourteen county representatives and the five most recent past presidents of the Association. In the event that any one of the past presidents is unable or unwilling to serve, the next most recent shall be invited until there is a full complement of five. Membership on the Executive Board shall be limited to members of the Association.
a. For counties with an active County Selectmen’s Association, they shall choose the representative. For those that do not have an active Selectmen’s Association, any member of the Association may be nominated to represent that district in which the Selectman holds office. Nominations may be made by any member or group of members, including self-nomination, by responding to notification by a date certain.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall set policy, have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, and be empowered to make decisions for the Association. The membership shall receive timely notification of such action. Members of the Board are expected to participate in all meetings and electronic discussions.
Section 3. The President shall convene a minimum of four meetings each year, one of which shall be called within sixty days of Annual Meeting. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the President. Any member of the Executive Board may request additional meetings. Notice and agenda together with the minutes of the prior meeting shall be sent to members at a minimum of seven days prior to the meeting.
Section 4. A quorum shall be five members of the Executive Board, of which four must be serving as Officers or District Representatives, provided that they represent not less than three counties.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. In addition to Officers of the Association, there shall be geographic representation elected by District as follows:
District 1. Berkshire, Hamden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties
District 2. Essex and Middlesex Counties
District 3. Bristol, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties
District 4. Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket and Plymouth Counties
District 5. Worcester County
Section 2. Any member of the Association may be nominated to represent that district in which the Selectman holds office. Nominations may be made by any member or group of members, including self-nomination, by responding to notification by a date certain.
Section 3. District Representatives serve two-year terms and may be elected to succeed themselves.
Section 4. Vacancies shall be filled by the Executive Board to be effective until the next election, when those appointed may be candidates.
Section 5. District Representatives shall be active liaisons with the Boards within the counties they represent.
Section 6. The District Representatives also serve on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
ARTICLE VII
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1. A Nominating Committee appointed by the President shall be chaired by the immediate Past President. Requests for nominations for officers and district representatives will be made to the membership. The Nominating Committee shall present its recommendations to the Executive Board prior to Annual Meeting.
Section 2. Consistent with affiliate sequencing policy of the Municipal Association, the Nominating Committee shall also have responsibility for considering candidates from the Association for election as Vice President of the Municipal Association and a recommendation shall be presented with the report to Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
ANNUAL MEETING
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held during the Annual Meeting and Trade Show of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, unless otherwise determined by the Executive Board. Members shall be provided written notice at least fourteen days prior to the meeting. The President shall set the agenda, make an annual report to the meeting and include reports from such committees as may be appropriate. Copies of the agenda shall be provided to members prior to the meeting.
Section 2. The Annual Election shall be held during the meeting.
Section 3. Fifty members at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided at least five counties are represented.
Section 4. Each member present shall have one vote on any matter before the body.
Section 5. A Special Meeting of the Association may be petitioned by a minimum of twenty-five members.
ARTICLE IX
VOTING AND CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Section 1. A simple majority of those members present and voting is necessary for the adoption for all motions not otherwise noted.
Section 2. Meetings shall be conducted in general conformance with Roberts Rules of Order. Parliamentary discretion shall be vested in the President or a specified designee.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the association by two-thirds vote, provided a notice of the substance and text of the proposed amendment has been mailed to each member at least 10 business days in advance of the meeting.
Approved January 8, 2005
Jeffery Hardin, Secretary
