[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Directors 1-10-1996, as amended through 3-5-2018. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
The name of this organization shall be the "Lymes' Senior
Center."
The mission of this organization shall be:
A.
To provide a municipal facility for senior citizen programs.
B.
To provide a nutrition site for senior citizens.
C.
To offer recreational activities for senior citizens.
D.
To offer social activities for senior citizens.
E.
To offer education activities for senior citizens.
F.
To offer area resources to aid and assist senior citizens.
G.
To offer facilities for use to area organizations and groups for
events and meetings as deemed appropriate with the mission of the
Center.
All individuals 55 years and older shall be eligible.
The fiscal year of the organization shall be from July 1 of
each year through June 30.
A.
Number. The management of this organization shall be vested in a
Board of Directors consisting of 12 residents of the Towns of Lyme
and Old Lyme. Seventy-five percent of the membership of the Board
shall be Old Lyme residents, and 25% shall be residents from Lyme
in accordance with the Towns' "Senior Center Agreement" dated
November 2, 1994. In addition, if the office of Chairperson is held
by a resident from one Town, the office of the Vice Chairperson shall
be held by a resident of the other Town. If no one is available to
fill either position from the designated Towns, the First Selectmen
of Old Lyme and Lyme may approve an alternate Chairperson and/or Vice
Chairperson with the recommendation of the Board.
B.
Selection.
(1)
A list of proposed candidates to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors
will be presented by the Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors
at the May meeting.
(2)
The list of proposed candidates will be submitted to the respective
Towns' Boards of Selectpersons. The Boards of Selectpersons from
the Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme will appoint Directors.
(3)
Directors from the Town of Old Lyme will be appointed for a term
of three years; Directors from the Town of Lyme will be appointed
for a term of one year. The term of appointment will begin on July
1.
(4)
Any Board member who accumulates three unexcused absences from Board
meetings in a fiscal year shall be referred to the Board of Selectmen
from his/her respective Town.
C.
Duties. Duties of the Board of Directors shall be:
(1)
To establish policies and procedures for the management of the Lymes'
Senior Center.
(2)
To assist in preparation of the annual budget with the Director,
which the Director shall present to the Boards of Selectmen of the
Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme.
(3)
To review all authorized expenditures from the Senior Center account.
(4)
To engage such staff as required in order to fulfill the mission
of the Lymes' Senior Center, with advice and consent of the Boards
of Selectmen and Finance of both Towns.
A.
Officers. The Officers of the Lymes' Senior Center Board of
Directors shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary
and a Treasurer.
B.
Election.
(1)
The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers at the
June meeting.
(2)
Each officer shall be elected for a term of one year or until a successor
shall have been elected. Terms shall commence on July 1.
(3)
An officer may serve two successive terms in the same office, but
thereafter shall not be eligible to serve in the office until one
year shall have elapsed, with the exception of the Treasurer's
position.
(4)
Any office made vacant through resignation, or otherwise, shall be
filled by the Board of Directors at the meeting next following the
creation of such vacancy from a list of proposed candidates by the
Nominating Committee.
C.
Duties. Each of the officers shall perform the duties pertaining
to such office as outlined in the Modern Edition of Robert's
Rules of Order, and such other duties as the Board of Directors may
prescribe.
A.
Members shall be individuals who are age 55 and older who reside
in the Towns of Lyme or Old Lyme.
B.
Individuals shall qualify for full membership with a donation of
an annual fee. The Board of Directors will establish this fee.
C.
Individuals who are age 55 and older who reside in towns other than
Lyme and Old Lyme shall qualify for membership with a donation of
an annual fee. The Board of Directors will establish this fee.
A.
The Board
of Directors shall typically meet every month, but at least 10 times
annually.
B.
Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the
Chairperson or upon the request of three members of the Board.
C.
At any
meeting of the Board of Directors, a quorum shall consist of a majority
of seven Directors, provided at least one officer is present and counted
as one of the quorum.
D.
All meetings
and procedures shall be in accordance with the Modern Version of Robert's
Rules of Order.
E.
The meeting
agendas shall be sent to the Town Clerks of the Towns of Lyme and
Old Lyme at least 24 hours prior to the next monthly meeting.
F.
The minutes
of every meeting shall be sent to all members of the Board of Directors,
and to the First Selectmen and the Town Clerks of the Towns of Lyme
and Old Lyme, within 48 hours after a regular meeting if votes are
taken, and seven calendar days if votes are not taken.
A.
Committees.
(1)
Nominating Committee. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting
of three members of the Board of Directors. The members of this Committee
shall be selected by the Chairperson.
(2)
Finance Committee. There shall be a Finance Committee consisting
of the Treasurer and two members of the Board of Directors. The members
of this Committee shall be selected by the Chairperson.
B.
Duties of the Committees.
(1)
The Nominating Committee shall:
(a)
Prepare a list of proposed Directors to be presented to the
Board of Directors at the May meeting.
(b)
Prepare a slate of officers to be presented to the Board of
Directors at the June meeting.
(c)
Propose new members to the Board of Directors when vacancies
occur.
(d)
Maintain an ongoing file of Directors and replacements.
(2)
The Finance Committee shall:
(a)
Prepare a budget, with the help of the Director, for the coming
fiscal year for presentation to the Board of Directors. The Director
will then present the budget to the First Selectmen of the Towns of
Lyme and Old Lyme.
(b)
Monitor monthly financial reports.
(c)
Recommend an increase or decrease in expenditures and appropriate
changes in financial policy.
(d)
Advise the Board on the investment of funds.
(e)
Conduct an annual audit of the financial records.
(3)
Standing committees. Duties and responsibilities of the standing
committees are established by the Board of Directors and are subject
to revision by the Board.
C.
Additional committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power
to establish additional standing and ad hoc committees as they deem
appropriate and necessary for the operation of the Lymes' Senior
Center, advising the Boards of Selectmen of each Town as to the creation
and purpose of these committees.
The bylaws of the Lymes' Senior Center may be amended by
the Directors of the Board at any regular meeting or at a special
meeting, provided notice of the proposed amendment shall have been
given in writing not less than 10 days prior to the meeting. Voting
shall be 30 days later. Once the bylaws have been amended and approved
by vote of the Board of Directors, the document shall be sent to the
Boards of Selectmen of the Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme for review and
approval. The final document shall be signed, and dated, by the Chairperson
of the Board of Directors and the First Selectmen from the Towns of
Lyme and Old Lyme.
A.
The members of the Board of Directors shall not be liable to the
senior citizens or the Towns for any mistake of judgment, negligence
or otherwise, except for their own individual willful misconduct or
bad faith.
B.
The Towns shall indemnify and hold harmless to the extent permitted
by law each of the members of the Board of Directors against all liability
arising out of their conduct on behalf of the Lymes' Senior Center
unless such conduct shall have been in bad faith. It is intended that
the members of the Board of Directors have no personal liability with
respect to any contract made by them on behalf of the Lymes'
Senior Center.
