| WHATCOM
COUNTY HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS
As amended 1/26/2006
ARTICLE
ONE
NAME
AND ESTABLISHMENT
1.1
NAME
Name
of this organization shall be the Whatcom County Housing Advisory
Committee (WCHAC) , hereafter referred to
as the Committee.
1.2
ESTABLISHED
Whatcom
County Housing Advisory Committee is established by the Whatcom
County governing authority per Interlocal Cooperation Agreement
Between Whatcom County and the Cities of Whatcom County, Section
D, County Code and in accordance with Substitute House Bill
2060, 2001 Session, RCW 36.22.178, RCW 39.34.030 (4) (a) and
ESSHB 2163, 2005 Session amending RCW 36.22.178. 36.18010.43.18B.005
and 43.185B.009 adding a new section to Chapter 36.22 RCW:
adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW.
ARTICLE
TWO
PURPOSE
AND ROLES
2.1
PURPOSE
The
Whatcom County Housing Advisory Committee shall serve in an
advisory capacity to the Whatcom County Executive on all issues
related to evaluating proposed uses of SHB2060 and ESSHB 2163
funds and is charged with making recommendations to regarding
the use of these funds. The Purpose and Role of the WCHAC
are further defined in the Whatcom County Housing Advisory
Committee Charter.
2.2
COMMITTEE ROLE
The
role of the Committee shall be to establish priorities for
the distribution of SHB 2060 and ESSHB 2163 funds. The Committee
shall also review applications and make recommendations regarding
the use of these funds to the Whatcom County Executive and
Council. The Committee may seek outside technical assistance
or input from others during the review process.
2.3
STAFF ROLE
Whatcom
County Health Department staff, hereafter referred to as Staff,
act as a resource for the Committee and support its members
in the performance of their duties. County Staff will keep
and distribute Committee meeting minutes.
ARTICLE
THREE
MEMBERSHIP
3.1
MEMBERS
The
Committee is to consist of no fewer than 9 members and no
more than 15 members who shall be appointed by the County
Executive and will not be compensated for their participation.
In the event that the membership falls to nine (9) members,
nominations will be sought to increase the membership.
Committee
membership is open to Whatcom County residents and shall be
representative of the community.
3.2
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
All
Committee members shall avoid conflict of interest with the
activities of the Committee. If a Committee member finds him
or herself with a potential conflict of interest, he or she
will acknowledge their conflict of interest in such a manner
as to allow it to be noted in the minutes. Any member with
a conflict of interest will withdraw from direct action on
the issue.
3.3
TERM OF OFFICE
The
term of office for Committee members shall be 2 consecutive
years. A member may serve 2 full terms; a member serving a
partial term shall not have that term considered as a full
term. A member shall serve until a replacement has been appointed
and is ready to serve.
3.4
TERMINATION
Membership
on the Committee shall be terminated if a member is absent
from three (3) consecutive meetings without excuse. At the
discretion of the Committee, the member may be reinstated
or the position declared vacant and a successor recommended
to the County Executive. Members may be recommended for removal
from the Committee upon agreement of two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the remaining Committee members. The County Executive shall
be advised of the recommendation.
3.5
VACANCIES
The
County Executive will fill vacancies as required.
3.6
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A
leave of absence due to extraordinary circumstances may be
granted in writing by the Chairperson upon petition by a member.
If granted, the member's term will continue to run but the
member relinquishes all privileges and is relieved of all
obligations during the leave. The member's position will remain
vacant during the period of the leave. Such vacancies shall
reduce the current membership of the Committee for purposes
of a quorum establishment.
3.7
REIMBURSEMENT
Members
shall not be compensated for their duties as members of the
WCHAC , but may be reimbursed for Whatcom County approved
training and related travel costs (for example: registration
fees, overnight accommodations, meals, mileage) as per Whatcom
County “Employee Travel Policy” No. 2.2121.
ARTICLE
FOUR
MEETINGS
4.1
MEETINGS
The
regular meetings of the Committee shall be conducted as required.
All Committee members shall be notified of the meeting ahead
of time and advised of the agenda. Election of officers shall
be held at the last scheduled meeting of the year.
All
Committee meetings shall be open to the public.
A
Consensus Model, as defined in Charter Document, will be used
for decision-making. The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure
by Alice Sturgis, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary
procedure when Committee is unable to reach consensus.
4.2
AGENDA
Staff,
in conjunction with the Chair, shall prepare an agenda for
each meeting.
Any
Committee member, community agency or citizen may request
to be placed on the agenda notifying the Staff liaison 10
business days prior to the meeting. Staff in conjunction with
the chair will approve requests.
4.3
MINUTES
Minutes
are kept and distributed to the official mailing list for
those meetings in which formal Committee action may be taken.
Reports and recommendations to the full Committee will act
as the record of sub-committee meetings.
ARTICLE
FIVE
OPERATING
PROCEDURES
5.1
QUORUM
A
majority of all the current membership of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum. A quorum shall be required to take action
and approve all formal Committee recommendations.
The
formulation and adoption of recommendations, positions, and
other activities shall be how the Committee works in an advisory
capacity to the County Executive and the Whatcom County Council.
5.2
VOTING
Each
member of the Committee shall possess one vote in matters
coming before the Committee. All voting at meetings of the
Committee shall be by each member in person; voting by proxy
shall not be allowed. A vote by a majority of the quorum present
shall carry.
ARTICLE
SIX
OFFICERS
6.1
OFFICERS
The
officers shall consist of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
6.2
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The
officers of the Committee shall be nominated and elected by
a majority vote of the membership present at the last scheduled
Committee meeting of the year and shall serve for a term of
1 calendar year.
6.3
VACANCIES IN COMMITTEE OFFICES
In
case the position of Committee Chairperson becomes vacant,
the Vice-Chairperson shall automatically become Chairperson
and a new Vice-Chairperson shall be elected. A general election
shall be held within 2 months to fill the Vice-Chairperson's
position.
ARTICLE
SEVEN
RESPONSIBILITY
AND AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS
7.1
CHAIRPERSON
The
Chairperson of the Committee shall provide general leadership
to the Committee in all areas of its involvement. He/she shall
preside over all meetings of the Committee and shall have
the authority to sign official correspondence on behalf of
the Committee. He/she may call special meetings of the Committee.
At his/her discretion he/she may assign duties to the Vice-Chairperson
and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
7.2
VICE-CHAIRPERSON
In
the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall
assume all responsibility and authority as set forth in Article
Seven, Section 1. He/she shall perform such other duties as
assigned by the Chairperson.
ARTICLE
EIGHT
SUB-COMMITTEES
8.1
SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
The
WCHAC shall recruit the members as needed for their sub-committees
from the membership and/or from the community. Sub-committee
chairs must be WCHAC members and are elected by WCHAC.
ARTICLE
NINE
AMENDMENTS
These
bylaws may be adopted and amended by a two-thirds majority
vote of the WCHAC membership at a regular Committee meeting.
The Committee members shall receive at least 30 days prior
notice of proposed by-law amendments.
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