St. Mark’s Area Civic Association By-laws

 Article I-Name

The name of this organization is the St. Mark’s Area Civic Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association. 

Article II-Objectives

The objectives of the Association are:

• To foster pride in the neighborhood.
• To work for improvement in the quality of life in our neighborhood.
• To contribute to its public safety.
• To improve the land, property, sidewalks and streets within the Association.
• To alert pubic officials to the needs of the neighborhood, and to cooperate with them in securing adequate public services for the neighborhood.

Article III-Boundaries

The Association will include the area bounded as follows:

Starting at the junction of Adams Street and Ashmont Street, along Ashmont Street to Talbot Avenue, along Talbot Avenue to Welles Avenue, along Welles Avenue to Wainwright Street, along Wainwright Street to Centre Street, along Centre Street to Allston Street, along Allston Street to Melville Avenue, along Melville Avenue to Dorchester Avenue to Parkman Street, along Parkman Street to Adams Street, and along Adams Street to Ashmont Street.

Article IV-Membership

• Any person sixteen (16) years of age or older residing or doing business within the boundaries of the Association as defined in Article III is eligible for membership in the Association.
• Any eligible individual or business may become a member in good standing by paying annual dues for the period from April 1 to March 31. Each individual or business is entitled to one vote.
• Membership dues are $10 per year for an individual, and $15 per year for a business.
• Members are eligible to vote after thirty (30) days of becoming members in good standing.

Article V-Officers

• The officers will be a President, two (2) Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Recording Secretary.
• All officers must be members in good standing of the Association.

Article VI-Duties of the Officers

• The president will preside at all meetings. He/she may authorize payments up to $100 on behalf of the Association. Any expenditure over that amount must have Executive Board approval.
• The two vice presidents will assist the president in all proceedings, and, in the absence of the president, will assume the chair and perform all of the duties of the president.
• The treasurer will receive all money paid to the association and give receipt for it. The treasurer will deposit all money received into a bank and make payments on behalf of the Association. Any expenditure in excess of $100 must have Executive Board approval. The treasurer will, when requested by the Executive Board, turn over all pay vouchers to them for verification. He/she will keep a correct account of all income received and expenses paid according to present day bookkeeping standards. At the close of his/her term of office, the treasurer will transfer all money, vouchers and papers belonging to the Association to his/her successor in office.
• The recording secretary will keep minutes of all proceedings of the Association. He/she will also be responsible for all correspondence of the Association. At the close of the recording secretary’s term of office, he/she will transfer all books, records and papers belonging to the Association to his/her successor in office.

Article VII-Rules

All meetings will be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article VIII-Nominations

• A member as defined in Article III may nominate another member at the March nomination meeting.
• Nominated members may be present to accept, or may accept the nomination in writing, if not present.

Article IX-Elections

• Nominations for the officers will be in March.
• Election of officers will be held in April.
• Open positions may be filled as necessary during the year whether by appointment, election or ratification of the membership.

Article X-Executive Board

• The Executive Board shall consist of the president, two (2) vice presidents, the treasurer, a recording secretary and a minimum of five (5) directors who will be appointed by the elected officers.
• The Executive Board will have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its meetings, will set the schedule and location of its meetings and will perform such other duties as are specified in the by-laws.
• The Executive Board will appoint the chairperson for all committees.
• All directors must be members in good standing.

Article XI-Meetings

• The regular meetings of the Association are to be held on the last Tuesday of the month.
• The Executive Board may call special membership meetings.
• Any revisions to the by-laws will require a written notice postmarked to the Association no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Association’s next meeting. By-laws changes require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at the meeting.
• The Executive Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month unless scheduled otherwise. The president may call any meeting of the Executive Board. A quorum of four (4) members is needed to meet.
• The Association’s annual meeting will be held each year on the last Tuesday in April.

Article XII-Committees

• The Executive Board will appoint chairpersons for all committees. The president will be an ex-officio member of all committees. Each chairperson will appoint no more than four (4) members to the committee. The Executive Board will approve the functions of all committees.
• The Audit Committee will consist of an appointed chairperson and four (4) volunteer members approved by the chairperson.
• The Election Committee will consist of an appointed chairperson and four (4) volunteer members approved by the chairperson.
•  The Public Safety Committee will consist of an appointed chairperson and four (4) volunteer members approved by the chairperson.
• The Public Development Committee will consist of an appointed chairperson and four (4) volunteer members approved by the chairperson.
• The Activities Committee will consist of an appointed chairperson and four (4) volunteer members approved by the chairperson.

Article XIII-Contracts

No officer or member of the Association will enter into any contracts or endorsements without previous authorization from the Executive Board. No officer or member will act as a representative on behalf of the Association without the authorization of the Executive Board granted at a meeting called for that purpose. (See Article XI-Meetings.)