Updated: Friday, January 17, 2003 10:48 AM

The name of the Association shall be THE BRANCH POND ASSOCIATION.

The objective of the Association shall be to enhance the quality of water and the livability of the environment surrounding the lake. To assist the several Road Associations in efforts to obtain reasonable services from the City of Ellsworth.

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERS.

Membership is open to any family or individual who subscribes to the goals and endeavors of the BPA and is willing to conform to these by-laws. A family is defined as two adults residing together in one household regardless of the location of the household. An individual is defined as an unmarried adult.

Voting and general participation in the BPA as a member is dependent upon those conditions and in being in good standing with respect to payment of the authorized dues and assessments.

Each family is entitled to two (2) votes and each individual is entitled to one (1) vote.

ARTICLE 4 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The governing body of the Association shall be an Executive Committee whose members are approved by a majority of members attending the Annual Membership Meeting.

The Executive Committee shall have full authority and responsibility for the administration of the affairs of the Association subject to the guidance of the general membership as directed at the regular Annual Membership meeting or in a specially called Membership meeting. The term of office of members of the Executive Committee shall be for three (3) years with terms of various members being staggered so as to allow for the election of new members in approximately equal numbers each year.

Members of the Executive Committee must be members of the Branch Pond Association. They should be representative of the various geographical areas surrounding the lake, there being two (2) such members for each geographical area. For this purpose as of July 2000, the geographical areas are as follows:

• Branch View South

• Branch View North

• Bor Way

• Cove Way

• Hanson’s Landing Road & North Side of McGown’s Cove

• Lower Lake Area

• Phillips Beach Way

• Sargent’s Drive

• Walls Farm Way

• Wilson Way

Subdivisions of these areas and any new additions to accommodate future changes may be authorized by the General Membership at a regular Annual Meeting.

In addition to the representatives of the geographical areas, Chairpersons of the standing committees may also be members of the Executive Committee at the discretion of the President.

ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS.

Officers of the Association shall be elected by the Executive Committee, and shall be comprised of the following:

PRESIDENT:

The President is expected to take the lead in directing the affairs of the Association under the direction of the Executive Committee. He/She serves as the official spokesperson of the Association when communicating with the media, political bodies or the public. He/She appoints standing committees and any special committees. He/She conducts meetings of the Executive Committee and of the regular Annual Membership or any special Membership Meetings.

This office will serve for a term of one (1) year but may be elected for subsequent years not to exceed three (3) years.

VICE PRESIDENT:

The Vice President assumes full responsibility for performance of the duties of the President in his/her absence. He/she may be assigned specific duties by the President or the Executive Committee as needed.

This office serves for a term of one (1) year but may be elected for subsequent term not to exceed three (3) consecutive years.

SECRETARY:

The Secretary maintains an accurate, up to date record of all official association activities including the annual or special meetings of the membership, correspondence to/from other organizations or bodies, and reports of committees engaged in special tasks. Prepares and disseminates all notices of meetings.

This office serves for a term of one (1) year and may be elected for subsequent years with no maximum term.

TREASURER:

The Treasurer is responsible for the receipts, proper control and disbursement of all Association funds and will submits a detailed report of all income, expenditures, assets and liabilities at the annual meeting. He/she will maintain an up to date set of financial records in standard form as a basis for reports, financial audit and data needed in managing the Association’s affairs. The Treasurer will be responsible for maintaining the official role of dues paying members at any point in time.

Authority for payment of Association obligations for routine matters such as postage, stationary, etc. in amounts up to $200.00 is granted to the Treasurer without the need for further approval, provided that proper receipts are obtained.

For payments of expenditures between $200 and $500.00 the Treasurer requires prior approval from the President.

For payments exceeding $500.00 prior approval of the Executive Committee is required.

This office will serve for a period of one(1) year and may be elected to subsequent terms with no maximum term.

Back to top

ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS:

A regular meeting of the membership shall be held during the month of July or August at a time and place selected by the President. Each member shall receive a notice of the Annual Meeting at least one month in advance including a statement of the anticipated agenda. The President chairs the meeting. Conduct of the meeting is to be governed by the provisions of Roberts Rules of Order. Where conflict arises on questions of procedure, the President has recourse to the Executive Committee for assistance in decision making.

A quorum will consist of 20% of the members officially on the roll as of when the meeting was opened.

The normal order of business will include: Call to order and statement of eligibility of membership, reading and approval of the minutes of the previous Annual Meeting and any relevant special meetings, the Treasurer’s report, including any authorized audits. Additionally, reports from the standing committees will be presented as well as Old Business. New Business, and approval of new members of the Executive Committee.

Special membership meetings may be called by the President for a specific purpose with prompt notice given to all members in advance stating the purpose of such meeting.

STANDING COMMITTEES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

MEMBERSHIP: The purpose of the Membership Committee is to actively seek out and encourage membership by residents of the lake area. Persons outside of the lake area should also be sought for membership.

PUBLICITY: This committee will publish and distribute a newsletter to each member. As the Association's official organ, it is assigned high priority among the annual expenses. At a minimum it is to be published once each year and distributed to all members at least one (1) month prior to the Annual Meeting. Whenever possible, contributions of items for publication from members and member Road Associations will be used as a matter of policy.

In addition, the committee will have the responsibility of contacting various outside sources of publicity, such as the media, public officials, other concerned citizens, other Lake Associations, etc. to keep them informed of the BPA's activities and concerns.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: This committee will monitor the operations of official and voluntary bodies at federal, state, county and city levels such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State land use laws, the Ellsworth Zoning laws and the Congress of Lake Associations (COLA). It will keep the membership informed through the newsletter and by special communications and will submit proposals for action as necessary to the Executive Committee.

REGATTA: This committee will set up and operate the sail boat regattas through out the summer months.

ROADS: This committee will monitor changes in the level of services provided by the City of Ellsworth and will represent the Association in meetings with the City's Road Committee as needed.

WATER LEVEL/QUALITY: This committee will monitor the lake water level and work with the city's water superintendent to assure realistic levels for recreational purposes.

Chairpersons of standing committees shall be appointed by the President on a year to year basis with the consent of the majority of the members of the Executive Committee present at the time of the appointment. They may concurrently be members of the Executive Committee by virtue of their being representatives of certain geographical areas.

Other committees may be appointed by the President for special purposes such as,

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: whose purpose is to assure nominations for election to the Executive Committee.

AUDITING COMMITTEE: which will consist of three persons of whom only one (1) may be a member of the Executive Committee. The duty of this committee is to review and audit the records of the Treasurer and to affirm to the President the adequacy and accuracy of the financial records prior to the annual meeting.

ARTICLE 8 - AMENDMENTS:

Amendments to these by-laws may be made by approval of 2/3rds of those attending the Annual or special membership meeting. Suggestions for amendments should be submitted to the Executive Committee for consideration. Given approval by the Executive Committee, the suggested amendment will be placed on the agenda for the next regular or special membership meeting.

Back to top    Home