WORCESTER COUNTY ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION – BYLAWS
ARTICLE I – NAME
The Name of this organization shall be the Worcester County Assessors Association.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The purposes of this Association are: To foster a closer relationship among the assessors of Worcester County and their assistants, to assist in creating efficient and uniform administration of local tax laws; to afford opportunity for discussion of subjects pertaining to local taxation; to provide methods for encouraging the development of desirable tax laws; and to discourage the adoption of harmful measures, relating to local taxation or to the duties of local taxing officials.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – Regular membership
All persons elected or appointed and engaged in assessment administration within Worcester County (to include Assessors, Assistant Assessors and Clerks) shall be eligible for regular membership upon payment of annual dues.
Section 2 – Associate Membership
- Any person employed by a municipality not entitled to regular membership shall be eligible for associate membership.
- Any person employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the United States Government and whose work is concerned with tax assessment laws shall be eligible for associate membership
- Any person who has retired or otherwise terminated his official position or employment in or with a municipality or other government agency and who has been a regular member or associate member, and who is not employed in a manner related to assessment administration as a consultant, appraiser or other capacity with real estate taxes which would otherwise qualify him/her for membership, shall be eligible for associate membership.
Section 3 – Honorary Membership
Any person so recommended by the Executive Board and approved by the voting body at an Annual Meeting shall become an Honorary Member for life without payment of dues
Section 4 – Dues
The annual dues shall be payable on or before January 1, of each year. The treasurer shall notify members three months in arrears, and those whose dues are not paid within six months shall be automatically dropped from voting membership.
The dues schedule shall be approved at the Annual Meeting upon the recommendation of the Executive Board. Any change in dues shall take effect for the next Fiscal Year.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
The Officers of this Association shall be: a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by ratifying the slate of officers, provided to the membership by the Nominating Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Association. An additional vote will be taken at the Annual Meeting to elect any independent nominations received from the membership pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of these bylaws. Officers shall hold office for one (1) year or until his successor is elected. The office of the Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one (1) person.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1 – The President:
The President, or in his/her absence the Vice-president, shall preside at all meeting of the Association and of the Executive Board. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons and may appoint all committees, if so desired, except as otherwise provided by these by-laws and shall perform such other duties as may be required by custom or for the welfare of the Association.
Section 2 – The Secretary:
The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board. He/she shall keep a roll of the membership and give notice of all meetings of the Association or of the Executive Board. He/she shall discharge such other duties as pertain to his/her office or as may be assigned to him/her by the Association, the President or the Executive Board.
Section 3 –The Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds of the Association and keep an account of the same. The Treasurer shall be required to be bonded, in such amount as the Executive Board may determine. He shall keep all funds of the Association in a depository approved by the Executive Board and shall keep the funds deposited in the name of the Association. He shall make an annual statement and report to the Association or, when required, to the Executive Board and shall perform such other duties, as pertain to his office.
ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE BOARD
There shall be an Executive Board consisting of the Officers, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, the immediate past President and at least (5) and no more than eleven (11) additional members.
The additional members shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Association and shall hold office for one (1) year or until their successors have been elected. The Executive Board shall have general charge and control of its affairs, funds, and property, but shall not have the power to amend these bylaws. Meetings of the Executive Board may be called at any time by the President or by any five of its members with a five day previous notice. A quorum shall consist of seven members. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to generally assist the officers between meetings in carrying on the functions of the Association. The Executive Board shall also have the power to fill all vacancies in office until the next Annual Meeting.
Any member of this Board who misses two consecutive meetings without just cause shall automatically cease to serve on this board and shall be so notified by the Secretary of the Association in writing, after conferring with the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES
Section 1 – Education Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual Meeting, shall appoint a chairman to the Education Committee. The committee shall consist of a minimum of five members. Said committee will be responsible for setting up and conducting educational programs for the benefit of this Association. At least two members of this Committee shall be members of the Executive Board.
Section 2- Legislative Representative:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual Meeting, shall appoint a Legislative Representative(s). The Representative(s) shall keep informed of all legislative matters affecting the members of this Association. The Representative(s) shall consult with and advise the Executive Board on any position to be taken in such matters. The Representative(s) may work with the Legislative Agent of the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers of any other individual or Association on any and all pending legislation.
They shall represent this Association before the legislative bodies of the commonwealth whenever requested to do so by the President or the Executive Board.
Section 3 – Nominating Committee:
The President, sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting, shall appoint a chairman to the Nominating Committee. The committee shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be an Executive Board member. The purpose of the Committee shall be to present a slate of officers and members of the Executive Board as called for in these bylaws to the general body at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of election for the ensuing year. Independent nominations may be made in writing by ten members in good standing to the Nominating Committee. They must be received at lest twenty (20) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee will include with their ballot the independent nominating ballot(s).
Section 4 – Audit/Budget Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual meeting may appoint an Audit/Budget Committee composed of the Treasurer and four other members, two of whom should be regular members of the Association and two from the Executive Board. The purpose of the Committee shall be to audit the books of the Treasurer and to prepare a budget for the next fiscal year to be presented, in writing, for approval, at the Annual Meeting with the recommendation of the Executive Board. The Audit-Budget Committee can from time to time submit supplements to the budget for approval by the Executive Board during the year.
Section 5 – By-Law Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual Meeting, shall appoint a chairman. The committee will consist of a minimum of three members, one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Board, to receive process and review any proposed amendments to the bylaws of this Association. Said Committee shall be responsible for notifying each member of the Association of any proposed amendments to the bylaws at least twenty days (20) prior to the Annual Meeting or any other meeting of the Association duly called.
Section 6 – Scholarship Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual Meeting shall appoint a chairman to the Scholarship Committee. The committee will consist of a minimum of three (3) members, one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Board. The purpose of the Committee shall be to review applications and award scholarships in the Fiscal Year (November 1st – October 31st ).
Section 7 – Awards Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board within sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting shall appoint a chairman to the Awards Committee. The Committee shall be composed of three members, one of whom shall be a member of the Executive Board. The purpose of this committee shall be to make awards to be presented at the Annual Meeting to persons performing outstanding service to the assessing profession.
Section 8 – Site Committee:
The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, within sixty (60) days after the Annual Meeting shall appoint a Site Committee chairman. The Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer and two other members. At least one member shall be a member of the Executive Board. Said Committee shall be responsible for selecting the sites for Membership Meetings. This includes the first membership meeting in the next calendar year and all Executive Board meetings. The number of meetings to be called is at the discretion of the current Executive Board.
Section 9 – Further Provisions:
All committees shall serve from time of appointment until the Annual Meeting, unless sooner discharged. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint any other committee necessary for the good of the Association.
ARTICLE VII – THE YEAR
Section 1 – The Year:
The Association year shall be from November first through October thirty-first.
Section 2 – Annual Meeting:
The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held between the first day in November and the thirty-first day in December on such day and at such time and place as the Executive Board may previously fix. Other meetings, formal and informal, may be arranged by the President, the Executive Board or by the Association. At all business meetings, twenty (25) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3 – Regular Meetings:
Regular meetings may be scheduled by the President and/or the Executive Board.
Section 4 – Quorum:
At all regular meetings twenty-five (25) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5 – Notice of Meetings:
Notice of meetings shall be sent by mail not less than fifteen (15) days prior to a meeting. Notice shall state the purpose for which the meeting is called.
Section 6 – Voting:
Voting shall be by Association Members present and in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII – OTHER PROVISIONS:
Section 1 – Amendments:
These by-laws may be amended, altered or repeated by unanimous consent or by two-thirds vote of those present at the Annual Meeting or at any other meeting, duly called, by a two-thirds vote providing that notice of the proposed amendment, alteration or repeal, shall have been sent to each member at least twenty (20) days prior to such meeting.
Section 2- Rules of Order:
Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not especially covered by these by-laws or by specific rules of procedure adopted by the Association.
Revised in 2012 by the following Committee: Jennifer Sclar, Grafton
Reedy Nealer, N. Brookfield
Priscilla Johnson, N. Brookfield
Wil Cournoyer, Southbridge
Revised in 2011 by the following Committee: Jennifer Sclar, Grafton
Reedy Nealer, N. Brookfield
Wil Cournoyer, Southbridge
Priscilla Johnson, N. Brookfield
Revised in 2008 by the following Committee: Priscilla A. Johnson, No. Brookfield
Joyce McGuinness, Rutland
Linda LeBlanc, East Brookfield
Revised in 2005 by the following Committee: Priscilla A. Johnson, No. Brookfield
Diane Hakala, Auburn
Linda LeBlanc, East Brookfield
Revised in 2002
Revised in 1997
Revised in 1984
Amended March 1986
Amended October 1987
Amended September 1989