Page 9 - Work Force October 2020

Proposed amendments to
CSEA’s Constitution and By-Laws
The Committee has, amongst its functions, the
duty to review proposals and make recommendations to the Delegates regarding amendments to the CSEA Constitution and By-Laws. Committee recommendations are presented to the Delegates, together with the reasons for the recommendations. As of this writing, the Committee has met four times. This report addresses proposals submitted for the 2020 Delegates Meeting. (New language is underlined; deleted language is [lined out and in brackets].)
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BEING PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE AS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTION. PRESENTATION TO THE DELEGATES AT THIS MEETING CONSTITUTES A FIRST READING OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
Proposal 1
The following Constitution proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President:
ARTICLE IV – Organization of the Association
Section 1. DIVISIONS. Text Remains the Same.
Section 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The power and authority to transact all business of the Association shall, subject to the power and authority of the Delegates at meetings of the Association, be vested in a Board of Directors which shall consist of the following:
(a) Voting Members—The voting members of
the Board of Directors shall be the Officers of the Association, members of the Executive Committee of the State Division, members of the Executive Committee of the Local Government Division, and the duly elected Board Representatives of the Private Sector Division.
(b) Non-Voting Members—The non-voting members of the Board of Directors shall be the Chairpersons
of all Standing Committees as established in Article
VI, Section I of the By-Laws and the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Retirees Division Executive Committee.
Non-Voting Members of the Board of Directors shall not introduce, second, or debate any action before the Board except matters affecting the non-voting member’s own Committee, provided however that the Chairperson of the Retiree Executive Committee, or in his or her absence, the Vice Chairperson, shall have one vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors on matters concerning the Retirees.
The Board of Directors shall establish and appoint committees to be known as Board Committees. The Board Committees shall consist of only voting members of the Board of Directors and each committee shall elect its own Chairperson.
Section 3. Text Remains the Same.
Section 4. DIRECTORS’ COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors shall elect from its membership a Directors’ Committee, to consist of not less than ten (10) and
not more than twenty-two (22) members. Such committee shall include the officers of the Association, the Chairperson of the State Executive Committee,
the Chairperson of the Local Government Executive
October 2020
Committee, and the Chairperson of the Private Sector Executive Committee, [and the Chairperson of the Retiree Executive Committee,] and as many other members as the Board deems necessary, not to exceed twenty-two (22). Such Directors’ Committee shall be vested with the power and authority of the Board of Directors when the Board is not in session.
Rest of Article Remains the Same.
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“The Chairperson of the Retiree Executive Committee is a non-voting member of the Board of Directors, only able to vote on matters that affect retirees. Since the chair is a non-voting member of the Director’s Committee (a.k.a. the “Mini Board”) as well, inclusion is not warranted. It is highly unlikely that
the Director’s Committee would ever be convened on matters that affect the Retiree Division. But even if that were so, the Retiree Executive Committee Chairperson would be advised and consulted in advance.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reasons set forth by the proposer.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE.
Proposal 2
The following Constitution proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President; Denise Berkley, Executive Vice President; Richard Bebo, Statewide Secretary and Nicole Meeks, Statewide Treasurer:
ARTICLE XIII – Amendments
This Constitution may be amended as follows:
(a) A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegate meeting at which it is to be presented, and
(b) A copy of [A majority of the delegates present and voting at the meeting must approve] the proposed amendment [or a substantially similar amendment and order that it be] shall be published in the official newspaper of CSEA at least ten (10) days prior to the delegate [next] meeting at which it is to be presented [of the Association], and
(c) The proposed amendment, as published, or a substantially similar amendment is approved by a two- thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at the delegate [next] meeting at which it is presented [of the Association].
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“This proposal addresses the current requirement of two readings which in effect causes up to a four-year wait for an amendment to the CSEA Constitution to
be official. By changing the Article to one reading on proper notice, but still requiring a 2/3 vote, it allows a more efficient process while protecting the integrity of
the constitution.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reasons set forth by the proposers.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE THE DELEGATES, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, I MOVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE.
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BEING PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES BY THE COMMITTEE AS COMBINED PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE STATEWIDE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. PRESENTATION TO THE DELEGATES AT THIS MEETING CONSTITUTES A FIRST READING OF THE CONSTITUTION PORTIONS OF THESE AMENDMENTS, WHICH IF PASSED, WILL REQUIRE A SECOND READING. THE BY-LAWS PORTIONS, IF PASSED
AT THIS MEETING, WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
Proposal 3
The following Constitution and By-Laws proposal was submitted by Mary E. Sullivan, Statewide President:
CONSTITUTION ARTICLE XlII - Amendments
This Constitution may be amended as foIlows:
(a) A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegate meeting at which it is to be presented, and
(b) A majority of the delegates present and voting at the meeting must approve the proposed amendment or a substantially similar amendment and order that it be published in the official newspaper of CSEA at least ten (10) days prior to the next meeting of the Association, and
(c) The proposed amendment, as published, is approved by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at the next meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE Vll
BY-LAWS
These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote at any meeting of the Delegates of the Association provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Association by June [May] 15 of the year of the delegates meeting at which it is presented and a copy of the proposed amendment is published in the official newspaper not less than ten (10) days before the meeting at which the proposed amendment is voted upon.
EXPLANATION: This proposal was submitted with the following justification:
“These amendments permit more time to submit proposals while allowing sufficient time for the Constitution and By-Laws Committee to do their work and meet publishing deadlines.”
The Committee supports this proposal for the reason stated by the proposer.
Continued on page 10.
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