September 25, 2004 |
Proposed Changes to the Residents Association Constitution |
| The Residents Association Common Council voted 15-4 on September 1 to send proposed constitutional revisions to a Town Meeting for approval. An Informational Meeting about the proposed changes is scheduled for Thursday, October 7, at 7:30, in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. The Town Meeting to vote on the proposed changes will take place Tuesday, October 12, at 7:30 (quorum call at 8:30), also in the Chapel. The Main Street WIRE publishes this document, describing the differences between the current Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) constitution and the proposed revised constitution, at the request of the RIRA Common Council. Its contents are supplied by the Constitution Committee, which takes responsibility for its accuracy and completeness. Full copies of the current Constitution and the proposed revised Constitution are available at the Island Library, or call one of the following to ask for a copy: Margie Smith, 212-813-1515; Sherie Helstien, 212-935-7534; Vicki Feinmel, 212-223-1108. . Creates a voting district for Southtown - number of representatives is proportional to units built. . Offloads Council's internal operating rules to Bylaws - where representatives can create and modify rules without the need for at-large Town Meetings. . Permits only representatives that are elected to RIRA to vote in the RIRA Common Council. . Permits representatives who move from one district on the Island to another to retain their committee positions. . Clarifies the rules for filling vacancies. . Reduces allowable campaign spending for district seats; sharpens the methods for defining such spending. . Removes the language on Building Committees - which was considered by the Council to be unenforceable or irrelevant. Retains the mandate that RIRA communicate and, when appropriate, cooperate with Building Committees. . Removes the requirement that "All Members and Alternates of the Common Council (other than the President, who is always the RIRA nominee ...)" be nominees to serve on the RIOC Board. The Council found this stipulation to be unenforceable, offered the potential for conflict of interest, and many felt it was not necessarily desirable. The Council always has the right to suggest a representative to RIOC, should it choose to. . Numerous refinements and/or clarifications of the notice and waiting periods for Town Meetings, removal of the requirement for a Town Meeting in December (this has not been observed in at least six years), minor changes in Amendments to the Constitution, Fiscal Year, etc. DefinitionsAs used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings: 1. Common Council - Deliberative body of RIRA. The Common Council meets regularly to discuss and vote on issues of relevance to the community. 2. Council Officers- the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Chairs. 3. District Representative - Council Members elected to represent local residential districts, or those duly appointed to replace them in an unfilled District seat. 4. Alternates - Candidates who run for District Representative positions who do not receive sufficient votes for elective office. 5. Majority vote - a vote in which the number of Aye votes cast exceeds the number of Nay votes cast on a matter properly presented at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present. Abstentions shall not be counted as a vote cast either for or against any motion. 6. Two-Thirds vote - a vote in which at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor of a matter properly presented at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present. Abstentions shall not be counted as a vote cast either for or against any motion.
Section 1. Membership. All individuals who live in residential housing on Roosevelt Island are members of RIRA.
Residents employed by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (hereinafter referred to as 'RIOC'), the New York State Urban Development Corporation or its subsidiaries, the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal or its subsidiaries, the New York State Mortgage Loan Enforcement Corporation or any agents for Island management or services are members of RIRA but may not serve in any elected position in RIRA.
Section 2. Membership. (a) There shall be 28 Common Council Members elected by District. There shall be eight Council Districts consisting of: 546 Main Street in Eastwood; the rest of Eastwood; Rivercross; Island House; Westview; 2 River Road; 4 River Road; and the rest of Manhattan Park (10. 20, 30, and 40 River Road combined). There shall be two Council Members elected from the 546 Main Street District in Eastwood; seven Council Members elected from the rest of Eastwood; three Council Members elected from each of Rivercross, Island House and Westview; one Council member elected from 2 River Road; one from 4 River Road; and eight from the remainder of Manhattan Park (10 River Road, 20 River Road, 30 River Road and 40 River Road combined). In addition, there shall be five Council Members who shall be appointed by the Roosevelt Island Council of Organizations (hereinafter referred to as "RICO") and shall be governed by the same rules that apply to elected Council members. (b) The President, the First Vice President and the Treasurer (if the Treasurer is not an elected Council Member) shall be voting members of the Common Council. (c) All members of the RIOC Board of Directors and members of Community Board 8 and School Board 2 who are residents of Roosevelt Island shall be entitled to vote at meetings of the Common Council. (d) Each Council Member shall also serve as the president or chairperson of a community service organization recognized by RICO, or as a member or officer of at least one RIRA committee or as an officer of RIRA. (e) Alternates who have been elected to the Common Council shall attend all Common Council meetings and, in the event a regular Council member is absent, the first alternate for that seat may vote. If the first alternate is not available. then the second alternate may vote, and so on.
The Common Council shall be comprised of RIRA members of legal voting age who are either elected in RIRA elections, or who are filling a vacancy, each as specified herein. (a) The following table details the Districts and number of Council Members: District Number of Council Members 546 Main Street in Eastwood 2 The rest of Eastwood 7 2 River Road 1 4 River Road 1 10, 20, 30, and 40 River Road combined 8 Westview 3 Island House 3 Rivercross 3 Southtown Buildings - Number of the existing units divided by 130 and then rounded to the nearest seat (b) The President and Vice President shall be selected by an Island-wide election and shall be voting Members of the Common Council. (c) Candidates who run for District Representative positions who do not receive sufficient votes for elective office shall be designated as Alternates. Alternates shall attend all Common Council meetings and, in the event a regular Council Member is absent, the first alternate for that District may vote. If the first alternate is not available, then the second alternate may vote, and so on. (d) Each Council Member shall also serve as member or chair of at least one RIRA committee or as an officer of RIRA. Each Alternate shall serve as member of at least one RIRA committee.
For all meetings of the Common Council, the quorum shall be 15 or one-half plus one of the current membership, whichever is smaller.
For all meetings of the Common Council, the quorum shall be the presence of at least one-half plus one of the current Membership.
The Common Council shall meet at least once each month on a regularly scheduled basis. Special meetings of the Council shall be called by the President or upon the petition of five Council Members. All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. and the first fifteen minutes of each meeting shall be open for public question and comment. However, the Council may be called into executive session by a two-thirds vote of the Council Members present and voting; no votes may be taken while in executive session. During the months of July and August, all matters before the Council that require a vote may be acted upon by a majority of the Council through a ballot by mail. However, no matter may be decided in this manner if five Members of the Council register their objection to the President or Secretary, in which case a meeting of the Council shall be called.
The Common Council shall meet at least once each month on a regularly scheduled basis at least during the months from September through June. Additional meetings of the Council may only be called by the President or upon the petition of five Council Members. All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public and the first fifteen minutes of each meeting shall be open for public question and comment. However, the Council may be called into executive session by a Two-Thirds vote of the Council Members. Executive sessions are not open to the public and no votes may be taken at any executive session. When the Common Council is not is session, matters that require a vote may be raised by the President or at the request of at least five Members of the Council. Such matters shall be communicated to Members in a manner prescribed by Common Council bylaws.
Except as elsewhere provided, all meetings of the Common Council shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order (newly revised edition).
Except as elsewhere provided herein, all meetings of the Common Council shall be governed by the then-current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
In the event of the resignation, expulsion or death of any elected Council member, the position shall be filled by the highest ranking Alternate, if there is one (see Section 8 of Article VIII), or by a majority vote of the remaining Council Members from the District represented or the other PICO Council Members or if there are none by the President, in either case subject to the advice and consent of the Council. Vacancies in the position of Alternate shall be filed promptly by the Building Committee or Board of Directors for that District.
In the event of the resignation, a move from the voting District, expulsion or death of any elected Council Member, the position shall be filled in the following order: a) by the highest ranking Alternate, if there is one b) by a majority recommendation by the current Council Members from that voting District c) If no recommendation has been made pursuant to (b), in the Council meeting following the creation of the vacancy, then by written recommendation by the Building Committee or Board of Directors for that District d) If no recommendation has been made pursuant to (c) within two Council meetings following the creation of the vacancy, then by a recommendation of the RIRA President.
If a district has no alternate, one may be appointed pursuant to b), c) and d) above.
Relocation. A Council Member representing a District who moves from one District to another shall retain his/her voting rights as an "at-large representative" for the remainder of the term subject to the rules of other voting members. The District vacancy shall be filled according to Section 6. In the event that "at-large representatives" are absent from a Meeting, there shall be no voting replacement. In the event of resignation, expulsion or death of such representatives, there shall be no replacement.
Expulsion for Malfeasance or Misfeasance. Any Council Member or Alternate may be expelled for misconduct after a written presentation of a Bill of Particulars, signed by no less than three RIRA members, is presented to a regular meeting of the Common Council. The Council, meeting in open session, shall determine by a majority vote whether probable cause exists; if it so determines, the charges will then be presented to the person or persons charged. The charged person shall have an opportunity to present a defense at the next regular meeting of the Council. Upon review, if two-thirds of the Council Members present and voting concur, the person shall be removed. The removed Member or Alternate shall have a right of appeal to a Town Meeting, which shall be scheduled and held within two weeks, where the matter shall be decided by a majority vote of the RIRA members present and voting.
Expulsion for Misconduct. Any Council Member or Alternate may be expelled for misconduct after a written presentation of a Bill of Particulars, signed by no less than three RIRA members, is presented to a regular meeting of the Common Council. The Council shall determine by a Majority vote of the Council Members whether probable cause exists. If it so determines, the charges will then be presented to the person or persons charged. The charged person shall have an opportunity to present a defense at the next regular meeting of the Council. Upon review, if a Two-Thirds vote of the Council Members concur, the person shall be removed.
RIOC Nominations. All Members and Alternates of the Common Council (other than the President, who is always the RIRA nominee to serve as the duly elected representative of RIRA on the RIOC Board of Directors) shall be recommended to occupy the seats on the RIOC Board of Directors that are reserved for residents (1) selected and approved by the Governor of the State of New York in consultation with RIRA and (2) selected by the Governor of the State of New York on the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of New York.
President The President shall be the chief executive officer and principal spokesperson of RIRA, a voting member of the Common Council, presiding officer of all meetings of the Council and of the Town Meeting and an ex officio member of all committees.
[The President shall also be the nominee of RIRA to serve as the duly elected representative of RIRA on the RIOC Board of Directors. The President shall also supervise any employee of RIRA and any employee of RIOC assigned to resident members of the RIOC Board of Directors.]
The Common Council shall elect a Treasurer. Candidates for the office of Treasurer may be nominated by any Member of the Council. The Treasurer must be a) a Member of the Council who is an accountant; or if there is none willing to serve, b) a non-member who is an accountant; or if there is none willing to serve, c) a member of the Council. If the Treasurer is not already a member of the Council upon taking office. the Treasurer shall automatically become a voting Member of the Council and shall so serve throughout his or her term of office as Treasurer. It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer: to receive and disburse all monies of RIRA; to maintain financial records for RIRA, including those required by law; to present a financial report to each meeting of the Common Council; {REMOVED: and the Town Meeting;} to co-sign with the President all checks except as provided in Article V, Section 14 and Article VI, Section 5; to receive financial reports from all RIRA committees.
[and to prepare an annual budget and recommend contributions for RIRA subject to the approval of the Common Council; and to provide to the Auditor such financial reports and information as the Auditor may request.]
*** All the sections regarding other Vice Presidents were merged with their corresponding Committee sections and moved to the Bylaws ***
Except as otherwise provided, the Common Council shall annually appoint the members of all committees and shall fill vacancies or appoint additional members.
Determination of Committees. The Common Council shall determine and set forth in the Bylaws the committees they deem necessary to perform their responsibilities. Committee Chairs shall be approved by Majority vote of the Council Members. At minimum, there shall be a Nominations Committee and an Election committee. Selection of Members. Council Members shall serve on least one Committee. Any RIRA member who is not a Member of the Common Council may serve on any committee. Committee members are automatically expelled from the Committee if they fail to attend three consecutive sessions. Committee member may be removed from a Committee by majority vote of that committee. As Common Council Members are subject to the requirements of Article III, Section 2(d), which requires them to be a member of at least one Committee, any such expelled Council Member must select another Committee in order to continue to comply with such Section.
ARTICLE VI. BUILDING COMMITTEES Section 1. Committees. There shall be committees to represent residents of rental housing on Roosevelt Island on all matters relating to leases, rents and habitability: the Eastwood Building Committee, the Westview/Island House Building Committee and Task Force. and such building committees as the residents of Manhattan Park may decide to form. Section 2. Membership Eligibility. Membership on a building committee shall be open to any member of RIRA who resides in the relevant buildings. Section 3. Membership Election. No later than 30 days after the regular RIRA election, the chairpersons of each building committee (or if there is none. the President of RIRA) shall call and conduct a meeting open to all residents of the relevant buildings for the purpose of electing a chairperson and members of the committee. Section 4. Bylaws. All building committees shall have bylaws. Section 5. Fiscal Responsibility. All building committees shall be responsible for their own fiscal affairs, subject to the supervision of the Treasurer and the Auditor as provided in Article V, Section 14. Section 6. Relationship with the Common Council. The building committees shall coordinate their activities through the Vice President - Housing, who shall also serve as their Liaison to the Common Council.
Authority. All votes of the Town Meeting shall be binding upon RIRA, the Common Council and all RIRA committees, except the building committees.
At the Common Council meeting next following a Town Meeting at which a quorum was present and action taken, the Common Council shall resolve to enforce and/or implement such action to the fullest extent legally permissible, and shall determine the most practicable method by which such action shall be enforced and/or implemented.
A Town Meeting shall be called into session by a majority vote of the members of the Common Council present and voting or by a petition to the Common Council of 100 members of RIRA. The Common Council's call for a Town Meeting, or the petition, must state the agenda for the Town Meeting.
A Town Meeting shall be called into session if (a) a majority vote of the members of the Common Council present and voting at a Council meeting at which a quorum is present call for a meeting, or (b) 100 members of RIRA of legal voting age petition to the Common Council for such a meeting. The petition may be given to any Common Council member, whose responsibility shall be to direct it to the Common Council Secretary for action. The Common Council's call for a Town Meeting, or the petition, must specifically state the date, time and place of, the agenda for, and action requested to be taken at, the Town Meeting.
Annual Town Meeting. There shall also be an Annual Town Meeting during the second full week of December each year, the date and time to be established by the Common Council. At a minimum, the agenda for the Annual Town Meeting shall include an annual report to the membership of RIRA by the President, an annual report by the Treasurer. an annual report by the Auditor, and, on even numbered years, the official announcement by the Election Committee of the results of the regular RIRA election and the induction into office of newly elected members of the Council and their alternates, the President, and the First Vice President. Additional items shall be placed on the agenda only in accordance with section 2 of Article.
All Town Meetings shall be called with at least 30 days notice to RIRA members unless the Common Council shall declare that an emergency exists. Minimum notice of all Town Meetings shall consist of the publication of the meeting date and the agenda, including motions, on lobby bulletin boards in all residential buildings and on Roosevelt Island kiosks.
All Town Meetings shall be called with at least 15 days public notice unless the Common Council shall declare by resolution at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present that an emergency exists, in which case such shorter notice as determined by the Common Council shall be deemed sufficient; provided that public notice of Town Meetings called for purposes of amendment to the Constitution shall be as set forth in Article X and may not be so shortened. Notice of all Town Meetings shall be deemed sufficient if it consists of the publication of the meeting date, place and time, and the agenda, including proposed motions, on lobby bulletin boards in all residential buildings where permitted and on at least five Roosevelt Island kiosks.
Waiver of Notice. Attendance of a person at a Town Meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such Meeting, except when such member of RIRA attends a Meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the Meeting, to the transaction of any business because he/she believes that the Meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
The quorum for the conduct of business at any Town Meeting shall be 100 voting members of RIRA. If a Town Meeting is called for the purpose of voting to create or modify a policy or to conduct any other substantive business and a quorum is not present, the Common Council shall be empowered to establish such policies and conduct other substantive business as would otherwise have been conducted at such Town Meeting.
The quorum for the conduct of any business at any Town Meeting shall be 100 members of RIRA who are of legal voting age. Town Meetings may not be adjourned for the cause of an insufficient quorum until at least 15 minutes have elapsed from the time of the Quorum Call on the published agenda. When a quorum is present at a Town Meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any such RIRA members. If a Town Meeting is called for the purpose of voting to create or modify a policy or to conduct any other substantive business and a quorum is not present, the Common Council shall be thereafter empowered to establish such policy and conduct other such business as would otherwise have been conducted at such Town Meeting, but only in accordance with the provisions set forth herein and in the RIRA Bylaws.
Substantive motions published on the agenda shall require a simple majority vote of all RIRA Members present who are 18 years or older for passage; substantive motions not included on the published agenda shall require a two-thirds vote for passage. Any ruling by the Chair on whether an amendment to a published motion changes the motion sufficiently to require a two-thirds vote may only be successfully challenged by a two-thirds vote.
Voting. Each member of RIRA of legal voting age present at a Town Meeting shall have the right to cast one vote in person. Abstentions shall not be counted as a "vote cast", either for or against any motion. All actions of a Majority vote of RIRA at a Town Meeting shall be the action of RIRA. No action may be taken at any Town Meeting on any motion which was not specified in the published agenda.
Except as provided above, the Town Meeting shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order (newly revised edition).
Except as provided above, the conduct of, and procedures at, each Town Meeting shall be governed by the then-current edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 1. Regular Elections. In each even-numbered year, there shall be an election of Members of the Common Council and their Alternates, and of the President and the First Vice President to two-year terms. This election shall occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, i.e., on the regular election day for Federal, State and City offices. If possible, the RIRA election shall be held in space adjacent to the space used for Federal, State and City elections on Roosevelt Island.
In each even-numbered year, there shall be an election of Members of the Common Council, and of the President and the Vice President to two-year terms. This election shall occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, i.e., on the regular election day for Federal and State offices. If possible, the RIRA election shall be held in space adjacent to the space used for Federal and State elections on Roosevelt Island.
Nominations for President, First Vice President and for Common Council membership shall be made during the month of October. Tbe Nominations Committee shall be responsible for publicizing this fact by posting timely notices in all buildings and elsewhere in the community. The notices shall indicate where, including in the Public Safety Office, nominations may be deposited. Any eligible member of RIRA 18 years of age or older may be nominated for a Council seat, or for President or First Vice President, by the submission of a signed statement indicating name, address and willingness to serve if elected. It shall be the responsibility of the Nominations Committee to solicit the candidacy of at least one nominee for each Council seat and for the offices of President and First Vice President.
Nominations for President, Vice President and for Common Council Membership shall be made during the month of October. The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for publicizing this fact by posting timely notices on lobby bulletin boards in all residential buildings where permitted and on at least five Roosevelt Island kiosks. The notices shall indicate where nominations may be deposited. Any Roosevelt Island Resident 18 years of age or older may nominate himself/herself for a Council seat, or for President or Vice President by the submission of a signed statement indicating name, address and willingness to serve if elected. It shall be the responsibility of the Nominations Committee to solicit the candidacy of at least one nominee for each Council seat and for the offices of President and Vice President.
Only members of RIRA shall be eligible for nomination and election to office. A person may be a candidate for a Council seat and also for the office of President or First Vice President at the same time; if a person is elected to both the Council and an officership, the Council seat shall be filled by the runner-up, or, if there is none, by the provisions of Article III, Section 7- There shall be no limit on the number of successive terms any Council Member or officer may serve. Only a resident of a District may be nominated and serve as Council Member from such District. To be eligible for election as President or First Vice President, a person must have been a resident of Roosevelt Island for at least one year at the time of his or her election. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to certify the qualifications of all candidates for the Common Council and for the offices of President and First Vice President.
A person may be a candidate for a District Council seat and also for the office of President or Vice President at the same time; if a person is elected to both the District and an Island-wide position of President or Vice President, the District Council seat shall be filled by the runner-up in that District. There shall be no limit on the number of successive terms any Council Member or officer may serve. Only a resident of a District may be nominated and serve as Council Member from such District. To be eligible for election as President or Vice President, a person must have been a resident of Roosevelt Island for at least one year at the time of his or her election. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to certify the qualifications of all candidates for the Common Council and for the offices of President and Vice President.
There shall be a Candidates Night not more than two weeks prior to the election. Each candidate for President. for First Vice President and for the Common Council shall have the opportunity to make a brief statement and to answer questions from the floor during the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to notify all candidates of the meeting at least one week in advance, to publicize Candidates Night by posting notices in all the buildings and elsewhere in the community at least one week in advance, and to conduct the Candidates Night meeting in an impartial manner.
There shall be a Candidates Night not more than two weeks prior to the election. Each candidate for President, Vice President and the Common Council shall have the opportunity to make a brief statement and to answer questions from the floor during the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to notify all candidates of the meeting at least one week in advance, to publicize Candidates Night by posting notices on lobby bulletin boards in all residential buildings where permitted and on at least five Roosevelt Island kiosks at least one week in advance, and to conduct the Candidates Night meeting in an impartial manner.
There shall be a limitation on campaign spending of $250 per candidate or per slate. While the polls are open, no person shall do any electioneering within the polling place, or in any public street within a 100-foot radial measured from the entrance to such polling place, or within such distance in any place in a public manner; and no political banner, button, poster or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place or within such 100-foot radial.
There shall be a limit to the market value of each candidate's campaign materials. The Council shall specify in the Bylaws the dollar amounts of such limits. Slates may combine their spending limits but the total expenditure for candidates in a slate shall not exceed their combined spending limit. Candidates shall not accept campaign efforts of supporters if such efforts will exceed campaign limits. "Market value" shall be defined as the lowest price available for printing and materials at local retail stores even if the materials were donated or obtained free. Creative labor provided by others to the candidate shall be valued at the reasonable rate normally received by the donor for such labor. The Council may amend the Bylaws to revise the dollar amounts of the limits to the value of campaign materials. Any such revision shall take effect upon the approval of the amendment to the Bylaws. The Council may amend the Bylaws to further revise campaign restrictions. However, if such revision is approved within six months of an upcoming election. It shall not take effect until after that election has taken place. While the polls are open, no person shall do any electioneering within the polling place, or in any public street within a 100-foot radial measured from the entrance to such polling place, or within such distance in any place in a public manner; and no political banner, button, poster or placard shall be allowed in or upon the polling place or within such 100-foot radial.
All RIRA members 18 years and older shall be eligible to vote for President and for First Vice President. Only the resident RIRA members of a District of the Common Council 18 years and older shall be eligible to vote for Council Members from such District. Voters must sign in on a log-in sheet showing building and apartment number. Each will receive one ballot for the appropriate election district. If the identity or address of any prospective voter is challenged, that person may be required to produce valid identification, showing address. All ballots shall be secret. Each district shall have a separate ballot box. Ballots shall be safeguarded before, during and after the election until 7 days after the annual Town Meeting, at which time they shall be destroyed. Absentee ballots shall be made available by the Election Committee no later than one week prior to the election. The absentee ballot will be placed in a sealed envelope which is then placed in another sealed envelope, which is signed and shows name and full address, including apartment number. After verifying that the person did not vote on election day, the outer envelope will be opened and the inner envelope placed with all other absentee ballots to be opened at the close of polls and counted along with all the regular ballots. It shall be the responsibility of the Election Committee to post the results of the election within 24 hours following the closing of the polls; to make a report to the Common Council on how the election procedure could be improved. {REMOVED: and to report officially the results of the election to the Annual Town Meeting.} If there are more candidates running for Common Council seats in a given election district than there are positions available, those who do not win those seats will be designated as alternates in descending order of the popular votes they received.
The term of office of the President, the First Vice President and the Common Council members and their alternates shall begin at the Town Meeting during the second full week in December in even-numbered years.
The term of all Common Council members shall begin at the first monthly meeting after the elections, on a date determined by the outgoing Common Council.
For the purpose of voluntary contributions and all other financial business, the close of the RIRA Year shall be 11:59 p.m. of the first Monday of November each year.
RIRA Fiscal Year. For the purpose of voluntary contributions and all other financial business, the close of the RIRA Year shall be 12:01 a.m. of December 1 of each year.
Fiscal Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the President and the Treasurer to co-sign all checks issued by RIRA. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping and disbursement of all monies raised by or allocated to committees. Committees may not incur debts in the name of RIRA or disburse monies on behalf of RIRA without prior authorization of the Common Council. It shall be the responsibility of all committees to submit financial reports and records to the Treasurer on demand.
RIRA BYLAWS Establishment of Bylaws. The Common Council shall establish such Bylaws, not in conflict with the Constitution, as may be necessary and proper for the governance of RIRA. In the event of conflict between any Bylaw and the Constitution, the provisions of the Constitution shall control. Adoption, Amendment or Repeal of Bylaws. Any Bylaw may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of at least two-thirds of the votes cast of the members of the Common Council at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present. No adoption, amendment or repeal of any Bylaw shall be voted on by the Common Council at the same meeting at which it is proposed. Each such adoption, amendment or repeal of a Bylaw shall be made available to RIRA in the method determined by the Common Council.
Heading Changed to: AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION Section 1. Introduction. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in writing at any time by a Member of the Common Council or by petition of 125 RIRA members to the Council.
Amendments to this Constitution shall be proposed in writing at any time by a member of the Common Council or by petition to the Council of 100 RIRA members of legal voting age.
No amendment may be voted on by the Common Council at the same meeting at which it is proposed. In the case of an amendment proposed by a Council Member, the Council shall vote on the amendment at its next regular meeting. If two-thirds of the Council Members present and voting approve the proposed amendment, the Council shall call a Town Meeting at which time the amendment shall be considered. Enactment of an amendment at such Town Meeting shall require a majority vote of a quorum of RIRA members present and voting. In the case of an amendment proposed to the Council by a petition of RIRA members, the Council shall call a Town Meeting within 30 days at which the amendment shall be considered. Enactment of such amendment shall require a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the RIRA members present and voting. In either case. the Common Council shall make available to the members of RIRA a copy of any proposed amendment at least 20 days prior to the Town Meeting at which it will be considered. In the case of any amendment brought to the Town Meeting on which a vote cannot be taken due to the absence of a quorum. the Common Council shall vote on such amendment at its next meeting. Any amendment so brought to the Council shall require a two-thirds vote of a quorum of Council Members present and voting for ratification.
No amendment to the Constitution shall be voted on by the Common Council at the same meeting at which it is proposed. In the case of an amendment proposed by a Council Member, the Council shall vote on the amendment at its next regular meeting. If at least Two-Thirds of the Council Members approve the proposed amendment, the Council shall call a Town Meeting, at which time the amendment shall be considered and acted upon. Enactment of an amendment at such Town Meeting shall require a Majority vote of members of RIRA at a Town Meeting called for such purpose. In the case of an amendment proposed to the Council by a petition of RIRA members, the Council shall call a Town Meeting to be scheduled with at most 30 days notice, at which the amendment shall be considered and acted upon. Enactment of such amendment shall require at least a Two-Thirds vote of members of RIRA at a Town Meeting called for such purpose. In either case, the Common Council shall make available to the members of RIRA a copy of any proposed amendment at least 15 days prior to the Town Meeting at which it will be considered, in the manner set forth in ARTICLE VI, Section 3. In the case of any amendment brought to the Town Meeting on which a vote cannot be taken due to the absence of a quorum. the Common Council shall vote on such amendment at its next meeting. Any amendment so brought to the Council shall require a two-thirds vote of a quorum of Council Members present and voting for ratification.
Continuity. In recognition of the growth of Roosevelt Island and the need for its elected representative body to operate more efficiently and respond to the needs of its residents more effectively, the Constitution may be modified in accordance with the procedures herein. Be it known that this Constitution shall in no way be construed to define a reorganization or dissolution of the existing RIRA, but rather, is intended to enable and further more efficient and responsive management. |