COA By-Laws

Valley County Council on Aging

By-Laws

Revised November 2023

Article I - Name and Purpose: The organization will be known as the Valley County Council on Aging. The purpose of the Valley County Council on Aging is to determine the needs of senior citizens and to develop long- and short-range plans that will meet these needs. This council shall also implement, supervise, and evaluate programs concerned with senior citizens, under the authorization of the Valley County Commission. Council members will help in distributing information about senior citizen programs to their respective communities.

Article II - Membership: Membership on the Valley County Council on Aging will be open to all organizations, agencies, and individuals in Valley County concerned with the problems of aging and who are willing to work on finding solutions to those problems. Membership will be representative of the entire county. Members of the Council will be appointed in July by the Board of County Commissioners from recommendations by the different organizations, agencies, and communities. However, if no recommendations are made, the Commissioners may make appointments without recommendation. Vacancies that occur on the Council will be filled by appointment by the County Commissioners. The Council shall consist of seven members. At least one-half of the Council membership must be 55 years of age or older. A quorum will consist of a majority of appointed members. Nonvoting members will include the County Council on Aging Coordinator, County Commissioners, and County Health Department staff. The Area I Agency on Aging Program Specialist will be an advisory member. The term of the members appointed to the Council shall be three years. Terms shall be staggered so that no more than one-third of the membership is appointed each year. Members may be asked to resign from the Council for cause, including repeated unexcused absenteeism.

Article III - Meetings: The Council will meet bimonthly, on the third Wednesday of the odd months (January, March, May, July, September, November). A budget preparation meeting will be held in conjunction with the May meeting to provide the County Commission with budget recommendations for the following fiscal year. There will be fewer than four meetings each calendar year. The Council on Aging Coordinator will issue notices of all meetings and maintain records of all Council activities.

Special meetings may be called at any time by the President. Members will be notified of the date of the meeting at least one week in advance. Members may designate an existing member as a proxy to represent them at the Council meetings if the member is unable to attend.

Article IV - Committees: Committees will be established by the Council to work on such projects as are determined necessary.

Article V - Officers: Officers of the Council will be President, Vice-President, and Secretary. Officers will assume their duties at the September meeting and will serve for one year or until their successors are elected and take office. The President will preside at the meetings of the Council and will be the representative of the Council whenever necessary. The Vice-President will preside in the absence of the President, and if the Office of the President becomes vacant, shall assume the office of the President for the remainder of the term. The Secretary will attend and keep the minutes of the Council meetings.

Article VI - Election of Officers: The election of Officers will be held at the regular meeting of the Council during the month of July. Candidates for President, Vice-President, and Secretary will be nominated by the Council members present at the meeting. The nomination will be seconded, and if more than one candidate is nominated for a position, the election will be made by written ballots. Newly elected officers will assume their duties at the September Meeting.

Article VII - Dissolution: After written notice, the Council may be voluntarily dissolved by vote of the membership at a meeting called expressly for that purpose. Upon dissolution, all funds, property, books, and records shall be transferred into the custody of the Valley County Commission.

Article VIII - Changes to Bylaws: These bylaws may be amended or revised by a majority vote of the appointed Council members.

By_______________________________________________ Date____________________

President, Valley County Council on Aging

By_______________________________________________ Date____________________

Chair, Valley County Commission