SIXTEEN ACRES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
BY-LAWS
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 ARTICLE I -- NAME AND PURPOSE

 Section 1:    The association shall be known by the name of SIXTEEN ACRES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. (herein-after the "Association") 

Section 2:     It shall have a corporate seal bearing the name of the Association, and such other device or inscription as the Board of Directors may determine. 

Section 3:     The purpose of the Association is to serve, in the best interests of the residents, as a liaison between the Community of Sixteen Acres and city government or other bodies. The Association will, through various committees, work with the Community to implement projects to maintain and improve conditions in Sixteen Acres.

 ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:     Any person who is interested in the betterment of the Sixteen Acres community and living within Sixteen Acres as defined in Article II, Section 3 is eligible for membership in the Association, after having paid membership dues for the current fiscal year. Membership dues are ten dollars ($10.00) per household ( maximum of 2 adults per membership) per fiscal year.

Section 2:      Any person outside the boundaries of Sixteen Acres or a business within the boundaries  (As defined in Article II, Section 3) is eligible for a non-voting membership (one membership per household or business) after having been approved by the standing board of directors and having paid dues for the current fiscal year. Membership dues are $ 10.00 per year.

Section 3:     For the purpose of the Association, Sixteen Acres shall be defined as within following boundaries:
                        East   -  Wilbraham Town Line.
                        North -  Railroad tracks from Wilbraham Town Line to Pasco Rd., south on Pasco Rd:
                                        to Boston Rd. then east to Parker St. . South on Parker St. to North Branch
                                        River, follow  North Branch River in a westerly direction to east side of Alden St.
                       West  - East of Bonnieview St. in an easterly direction following the lake to Plumtree                                          and Bradley Rd., Southerly on Bradley Rd. to Allen St.
                         South - Allen Street and Bicentennial Highway to Cooley Street, south on Cooley St. to the                                         E.  Longmeadow line then east to the Wilbraham Town Line.

ARTICLE III -- FISCAL YEAR

The Association shall be on a July 1st to June 30th fiscal year.

 ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1:      The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, an Assistant Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

 Section 2:     The President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership at the annual meeting of the Association.  The President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer so elected are also directors of the Association. The officers so elected shall hold office for one year respectively and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Section 3:      The officers of the Association must be current residents of Sixteen Acres and members in good standing as defined in Article II.  

Section 4:     All officers shall be familiar with the Association By-Laws and Roberts Rules of Order.

 ARTICLE V -- DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1:     PRESIDENT: The duties of the President are those ordinarily designated to this office, i.e., officiate at meetings in a professional manner and determine the Rules of Order be strictly enforced. The President is to determine that motions are properly stated, recorded, and voted upon. The President shall with the aid of the Vice- President  prepare an agenda in advance for each meeting. The President is an ex-officio   member of all committees. Upon completion of term of office, the President shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors for one year following his term.

Section 2:     The VICE-PRESIDENT shall assist the President in his/her duties and shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President. The Vice-President is also an ex-officio member of all committees. The Vice-President shall chair all Board of Directors meetings and shall supervise the standing committees. The Vice-President shall keep the President abreast of his/her actions.

Section 3:      The ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT shall assist the President and Vice-President in their duties. The Assistant Vice-President shall assume the duties of the Vice-President in the absence of the Vice-President. The Assistant Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President if the President and Vice-President are absent. The Assistant  Vice-President is also an ex-officio member of all committees.

 Section 4:     The SECRETARY shall be responsible for recording the proceedings of all membership meetings, the motions, by whom made and seconded, and the result of the vote. The Secretary with the aid of the membership committee shall be responsible for sending out notices including the agenda for all membership   meetings. A copy of all official communication from the Association shall be maintained by the Secretary. All hand or ballot votes shall be counted by the Secretary and reported to the membership. In the absence of the Secretary at a  meeting the President shall appoint a member to assume the duties of the Secretary for that meeting.

 Section 5:      The TREASURER shall receive and safely keep all moneys, notes, checks, and negotiable papers belonging to the Association including committees of the Association, in such manner and upon terms and conditions as the directors of Association shall deem proper. The Treasurer of the Association shall make all     payments and disbursements for the Association in the name of the Association.  The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate books of account which shall at all times show the condition of the finances of the Association and its business doings and transactions. The Treasurer shall prepare and present at each   monthly meeting a statement of the receipts and disbursements, which statement  shall set forth with reasonable detail, all assets and liabilities of the Association and shall show with reasonable accuracy its financial condition. The Treasurer may be required to give bond for the faithful performance of the Treasurers duties. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds of the Association to its credit in its corporate name with such banking corporations as the directors shall approve, to be drawn upon only by checks signed on behalf of the Association by the President or the Treasurer.

 Section 6:      The President, Secretary and Treasurer can each spend up to and including fifty dollars ($50.00) without prior Board of directors approval.

 Section 7:     ORDER OF PRIORITY - The order of responsibility for chairing meetings is as follows: if the President is unable to chair the meeting, the Vice-President shall chair. If the President and the Vice-President are unable to chair, the Assistant Vice- President shall assume this responsibility. If the Assistant Vice-President is unable to chair the Secretary shall chair the meeting. If none of the above can chair the meeting the  Treasurer shall take the job of chairing the meeting. If no Officer is present an official meeting may not take place, however, an unofficial meeting may  take place with an appointed overseer.

Section 8:      WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: All official communication from the Association shall require the approval of an Executive Officer in order of priority. A copy of all official communication shall be forwarded to the Secretary.

ARTICLE VI -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1:       The Board of Directors shall be elected annually and shall consist of five (5) to nine (9) members, in addition to the four officers of the Association. Directors shall be residents of Sixteen Acres and members in good standing. 

Section 2:       The affairs of the Association shall be managed and directed by the Board of Directors elected annually and shall have the following authority:
                          (a) so far as permitted by law, delegate and of its powers to any committee, officer, or agent.  
                          (b) such other powers as are vested in them by operation of our By-Laws.

Section 3:       At all meetings of the Board of Directors, two-third of the directors shall be present to constitute a quorum. In an emergency situation as declared by an officer of the Association, in order of priority as defined by Article 5 Section 7, when a  meeting of the Association cannot be called in a timely fashion, a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors and Officers may approve any action of the Association.

Section 4:      Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to the public. The Board of Directors may meet in executive session on the vote of two-thirds of the directors and officers present and voting.  

Section 5:      In the event of an emergency all board members must be contacted in person or by telephone, if necessary, for a two-thirds vote, as stated by Roberts Rules of Order.

 ARTICLE VII -- SUCCESSORS

 Section 1:        In case of death, resignation, disability, removal, locating residence outside of the Sixteen Acres area as defined in Article II, Section 3, or refusal to act of any office of the Association, a successor may be elected by a majority vote of the Directors and Officers present at a meeting duly called for that purpose subject to approval by the membership at the next scheduled meeting, or at a regular monthly meeting of the Association. In case of the death of one of the officers, the next lower officer shall assume the vacated spot, assume those duties along with their own until the Board of Directors can be convened and a replacement named. In the event of the Treasurer's death, the President shall assume those duties until a replacement is named.

 Section 2:       So far as permitted by law,  the Directors and Officers may at a meeting of the Board, duly called for that purpose, or at a regular monthly meeting of the Association, remove from office any Director originally elected by the membership. The removal from office requires a majority vote of all Directors and Officers. Such a vacancy shall be filled by ballot taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose, or at a regular meeting of the Association. The person to be removed shall be notified in writing at least seven (7) days prior to such meeting.  Any director or officer missing three (3) consecutive regular monthly membership and/or director meetings and/or not attending a minimum of eight (8) regular monthly membership meetings during their term of office is subject for removal as defined in Article 7, Section 2.

 ARTICLE VIII -- MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Section 1:        The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held on the third Tuesday of June at a place to be designated by the Board of Directors. The term of office for all Officers and Directors shall commence on July 1st.

Section 2:        Regular meetings of the Association shall be held on the third Tuesday of every month, or whenever directed by the presiding  officer or upon request in writing, submitted to the Secretary, by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3:       The Secretary shall give notice of the annual meeting to each member, officer and director at least seven (7) days prior to the annual meeting.

Section 4:       One-Half of the Directors and Officers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 5:       Regular monthly meetings of the Association shall be open to the public. The presiding officer may recognize any of the attendees. All members in good standing shall be allowed to vote, Each member must be present to vote. All votes of the Association are subject to reconsideration of support by two-thirds of the Board of Directors, such act on to be undertaken within ten (10) days of the meeting, and to be brought before the Association for reconsideration by the membership at the next scheduled meeting.

 ARTICLE IX -- NOMINATION

Section 1:       The President of the Association shall appoint a nominating committee chairman. The  nomination committee chairman shall appoint a committee to consist of a minimum of three (3) with a maximum number of five (5) members who shall be responsible for securing nominees for Officers and for the Board of Directors and set up the ballot and procedure for voting. A member of the nominating committee is not disqualified for nomination. It shall be the duty of the nominating committee to verify the candidates desire for office. The nominating committee shall be formed at the February monthly meeting.

Section 2:       Nothing herein contained shall restrict the right of members of Sixteen Acres Civic Association, Inc., to offer nominations for Officers and for the Board of Directors from the floor at a meeting designated for nominations. 

 Section 3:        Nominations will be closed after the meeting designated for this purpose has been adjourned.

 ARTICLE X - ELECTIONS

Section 1:        The Officers and Board of Directors will be elected at the annual meeting of the Association in June.

Section 2:        All elections shall be under the direction of the nominating committee.

 ARTICLE XI - COMMITTEES

Section 1: General: 
                         (a)      The President, Vice President and/or Assistant Vice President are ex-officio members of all committees except the nominating committee.
                         (b)      Robert's Rules of Order is to be used as a guide when questions of procedure arise regarding the conduct of all meetings.
                         (c)       The Vice President shall appoint the chairman of each standing committee who shall be a  director of the Association. Standing committees shall consist of Beautification, Land Use, Membership, and those deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

Section 2:      Special or temporary (ad hoc) committees may be appointed by the President with an assigned Director of the Board.

 ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS

 Section 1:     The By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Association after review by a By-Law committee appointed for that purpose, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall  be given in writing to members, ten (10) days prior to such meeting.   All amendments shall be adopted by affirmative vote of two-thirds, and not less than fifteen, of the members present.  

Section 2:       A By-Law committee shall be formed to review the by-laws at least every five (5) years. 

 Section 3:      The By-Law committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) Directors and two (2) members at large.

 ARTICLE XII -- ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1:      The order of business at regular monthly meetings of the Association shall be as follows:

                        1.   Opening
                        2.   Guest Speaker(s)
                   3.   Minutes of the previous meeting - Secretary
                        4.   Treasurer's report
                        5.   Report of Committees
                        6.   Unfinished Business
                        7.   New business
                        8.   Adjournment

Section 2:   All business not otherwise provided for shall be transacted according to Robert's Rule of Order.

Adopted May 1976. Revised  4/82; 12/84; 4/87; 10/88; 10/89 and 7/96.

                                                                             SIXTEEN ACRES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
                                                                             340 Cooley Street  *  PO Box 264
                                                                             Springfield MA 01128  *  Phone:  782-0339
                                                                             E-mail:  sixteenacres_ca@yahoo.com

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