BYLAWS
As They Pertain To The Laurel B. Johnson Community Center

This document is written to be taken personally, be inclusive, and to promote stewardship of our organization in perpetuity. It provides for the public's ability to achieve representation and promote accountability of the Commissioners to the community. It fosters commitment, responsibility, and understanding among the various levels of participation by setting standards that anticipate many circumstances, and guide or direct appropriate responses.

ARTICLE I PURPOSE	ARTICLE II COMMISSIONERS	ARTICLE III MEETINGS
ARTICLE IV VOTING	ARTICLE V COMMITTEES	ARTICLE VI FIDUCIARY
ARTICLE VIII AUTHORITY	ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS	ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE

1. The name of our organization shall be Jefferson County Parks
and Recreation District #1.

2. Our organization is a Special District and a Junior Tax District, distinct from, but located within, Jefferson County. The District owns the Community Center facility, the land upon which it is built, and all other resources located on the Center's grounds. This helps to define our relationship to the County, and their lack of responsibility to us, for the purposes of demonstrating our independence should it become necessary in the future, such as when applying for funds, grants, and/or loans.

3. The property to be managed by our organization, on behalf of the residents and landowners of our District, shall be known as The Laurel B. Johnson Community Center, located at 923 Hazel Point Road, Quilcene, Washington 98376. This honors the donor and his family, and promotes inclusion of our members who live outside of Coyle, but within our District, and further makes clear distinction between the private and public entities that meet at our Center.

4. The purpose of our non-profit organization shall be to provide an inclusive and accessible environment, conducive to meeting the social, recreational, inspirational, economic development, safety and security needs of our community on the Toandos Peninsula, while retaining the rural atmosphere and protecting our natural environment, in a meaningful way. This is our organization's Mission Statement, and will be beneficial in directing our thought processes as we consider many different issues.

5. Our Board of Commissioners shall be responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, improvement and protection of our District's property and all assets thereof, in a manner representative of, and consistent with, achieving the identified and prioritized needs and desires of our community. This is our Board's Mission Statement 6. The membership of our organization shall be the Toandos Peninsula community, and comprised of the residents and landowners whose properties lie within the boundaries of our District.

Back to Top

ARTICLE II

COMMISSIONERS

1. Any elected, re-elected, or appointed Commissioner must be a resident of property within the boundaries of our District, who is also registered to vote in our District.

2. There shall be five (5) Commissioner positions.

3. The term of office shall be four (4) years, with each position staggered, and the term of any vacancy filled by appointment to be limited to the term of the successor.

4. Three (3) Commissioners shall constitute a quorum. While a quorum shall be required to conduct the business of our Board, lack of quorum shall not impede the public's opportunity to provide input to our Board during time allotted to a scheduled Meeting. This allows the Board to continue discussion and fact finding, and honors those community members who choose to attend and participate.

5. Three consecutive unexcused absences, or a total of six unexcused absences within a year, by any Commissioner, from Regular and/or Special Meetings, shall result in automatic vacation of the position, and shall lead to the nomination, election and appointment of a replacement by the remainder of the Board, at their earliest opportunity.

Nominations may be allowed in anticipation of a vacancy in order to best maintain the representation of, and service to, our community, by our Board. This addresses the "refusal to resign" issue, and underscores the responsibility of all Commissioners to participate in a committed manner, in order to stay abreast of all developments and assume all responsibilities that the office entails.

6. Resignations shall be presented in writing to the Secretary, with any District assets, including but not limited to: A. Any keys to the facility B. Any supplies, equipment, or tools C. All relevant documents that demonstrate the activities of the Board

7. Any Vacancy shall be filled by election from eligible candidates, by our Board, and shall result in the subsequent appointment of a new Commissioner.

8. Our Commissioners shall elect their Chairperson each year at the Annual Meeting.

9. Our Commissioners shall have the authority to hire and fix the compensation of any persons whom they in their discretion may determine to be necessary for the conduct of the business and fulfillment of responsibilities to our organization, including but not limited to, a building manager, a recording secretary/treasurer, janitorial and grounds maintenance personnel, and other special service providers.

Back to Top

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS

1. All meetings of our organization shall be open to the public, and attendance by our community members shall be encouraged. How else can we be true representatives of our community, and how can they be expected to present, or determine who best represents, their interests. How else can the Board be kept accountable?

2. There shall be regularly scheduled and announced meetings, with the date, time and place determined by, and at the convenience of, our Commissioners, as agreed upon at our Annual Meeting. For example, as is requested by The Leader, each winter.

3. For the purposes of a Regular Meeting, the following format shall apply:

a. Call to Order

b. Silent Roll Call

c. Reading of the Minutes of the last Regular Meeting d. Distribution of the Minutes of the last Special Meeting, with a reading at the request of a majority of the Board, and/or a report regarding any Emergency Meeting

e. Committee Reports

f. Commissioners' Reports

g. Old and unfinished Business

h. New Business

i. Public Input (as time allows)

j. Adjournment

4. The Board shall remain available to hear 5 minute public comments from members of our community. This allows for public comment on concerns not otherwise open to their participation, yet limits the time required from the Board. For further discussion, a Special Meeting may be called.

5. Special Meetings may be called anytime they may be required, by the Chair, a majority of the Board in attendance, or upon the request of 25% of those community members present at any Regular Meeting. This ensures that issues may be addressed in an assembly of the public, and in a timely manner. The scheduling of a Special Mtg. would be dependent upon the distribution and posting of an agenda the Friday before the mtg (As described 2 paragraphs below.)

Should the Board disagree with the purposes, there is a tacit means by which to not give official validation to the proceedings, by less than a quorum's participation. Though these absences would accrue, even should the entire Board eventually be unseated, they might not be representing the community, or could be failing to build consensus. If there is, in reality, a dissonant faction, the resulting elections that would become required could allow for the Board to be re-elected, should the Board and/or community so desire. This scenario is highly unlikely, but needs to be anticipated.

6. The Annual Meeting will be concurrent with our Regular Meeting scheduled for May of each year. This allows for the participation of more of the part-time residents and non-resident members who begin to gather, and occurs at a time traditionally less busy than the end or beginning of the year. It further doesn't conflict with holidays, tax time, beginning of the school year, or the predominant vacation schedules of our residents.

7. An agenda for each Regular, Special, and Annual Meeting will be distributed to our Commissioners, and a copy will be posted at the meeting place by 5pm at least 3 days preceding the meeting. Anticipated opportunities, and requests, for public input on agenda items will be noted by inclusion of the symbol *** (3 asterisks). This provides all parties with notice of what to be prepared to address and/or present. The public knows what role they can anticipate and what issues will be discussed and/or decided upon. This helps the Board to invite comment, and to eliminate comment, though still offers the vehicle of written submission of comments to the Board.

8. Emergency Meetings may be called by the Chair, or a majority of the Commissioners, to address circumstances including, but not limited to:

A. Any detriment to the security of our community or our facility

B. Any significant impediment to the structural integrity of our facility

C. Replacement of the dishwasher, stove or refrigerator

D. Repairs to the electrical service to prevent harm to our facility

E. Repairs to the water, septic, and heating systems These mtgs. are not subject to the same rules, and allow more latitude for immediate resolution of specific problems.

Back to Top

ARTICLE IV

VOTING

1. Unless otherwise required by a majority, all voting shall be by voice, with exceptions for the election of officers and Commissioners to fill vacancies, when ballots shall be provided. This allows the community to know how each Commissioner is participating and representing the constituency, except in their choice of other Board members, which should remain private, and on those occasions that a majority deems a written ballot preferable.

2. Voting by proxy shall be allowed, in the case of excused absences.

ARTICLE V

COMMITTEES

1. Committees may be formed to assist in the accomplishment of the goals of our organization.

2. A Committee may be comprised of only one person.

Back to Top

ARTICLE VI

FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY

1. Our Board shall practice due diligence to protect the financial integrity of our organization and our District's assets, which are recognized as being comprised of the facility, land, water resource, and all out-buildings, supplies, equipment and appurtenances thereof.

2. In recognition of these responsibilities, and the implications of previous decisions and actions by prior Boards, the appointment of an Historian shall be allowed, to upon request advise our Board on all matters before it. The Historian will become familiar with all documents of public record pertaining to our District, our facility and our organization, in order to provide context and perspective to the Board's deliberations.

To facilitate this endeavor, the Historian shall maintain an index of all documents, and ensure that the documents are maintained in a secure, efficient and accessible manner. This volunteer position, without term limits, shall encourage consistency, and fidelity with historical precepts that may pre-date the knowledge or memory of any later Board. It will help to prevent lapses and erroneous assumptions from affecting the Board's intentions and abilities. This person could be a current or retired Commissioner or a member of the public.

3. Our Board shall perform our District's business and operate our facility in a financially responsible manner, ensuring that, except in the event of an emergency situation, sufficient funds remain in the treasury to ensure on-time and full payments of all normal operating expenses, as identified in the approved Budget at each Annual Meeting. Normal operating expenses shall include, but not be limited to:

A. Utility services

B. Fuel for the heating system and generator

C. Salaries and fee payments for any scheduled service providers and employees of the District

D. Facility liability and professional liability insurance policies

E. Licenses and permits

F. Scheduled replacement of facility supplies and equipment This would allow for expenditures, but not those in excess of commitments to Budget items.

4. Emergency expenditures, to address immediate repair needs of our facility, shall be preceded by an Emergency Meeting, and the manner of payment to expeditiously effect those repairs and the manner that any funds shall be reimbursed, may be determined at that time at the discretion of our Board, whose decisions will be made public and reported at the next Regular Meeting. This unties the hands of the Board to creatively address resolution of the critical situation, yet provides for accountability.

5. A Reserve Fund is encouraged, to accrue sufficient means to acquire items and services identified as necessary and desirable, as well as to address unanticipated but necessary expenses, on behalf of our community. This fund could be designated for "roofing" but in times of need be re-appointed to fix a "cracked chimney", etc. Or the fund might have been begun to build a fountain, then used to address the previously unanticipated need for a new propane tank.

6. The Board shall support and encourage activities by members of our community to raise funds for the purpose of supporting our organization's goals. Without specifically saying so, this allows committees to hold fundraisers on behalf of their specific causes that support the organization's goals.

7. No dues shall be collected in addition to the taxes that may be levied upon properties on behalf of our District and collected on its behalf by the County. Public events participation is "free." The P&R property tax levy amounts are plenty of "dues" for basic access to the organization and Center, and the activities thereof.

8. Memberships, which may accord various benefits to the holders, may be sold to provide a predictable funding base for our organization, above and beyond providing for the normal budgeted operating expenses of our District. This allows a negotiable means of potentially raising funds fast for the organization, as different levels of memberships could be formed to contractually bestow various benefits to their holders.

9. All agreements and relationships that shall be entered into with our organization shall include a written contract which states all terms that describe any and all obligations, or lack thereof, pertaining to any goods or services which will be provided by any entity, for the benefit of our organization. This shall include volunteer activities, donations and contributions. These documents may be simple acknowledgements of receipts of goods and services that were not solicited with expectations.

Should any dispute arise regarding compensation, the terms agreed to in any relevant documents shall prevail, unless special dispensation is agreed upon by a majority of our Board. Our Board shall be responsible for approving all pertinent document forms for these purposes. This makes all hiring, volunteer and purchase activities clearer, all requirements such as provision of receipts easily stipulated, labor costs well understood, reimbursement standards consistent, etc. A committee can draft the documents, but the Board must approve and enforce them. This ensures that all contributors' and donors' gifts are acknowledged in some manner.

Back to Top

ARTICLE VIII

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
& GOVERNING STANDARDS

1. The rules contained in the current Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall guide our meeting procedures in all cases to which they are applicable. Guide not govern, as this is a community organization, not a professional or corporate entity, and thus must be capable of choosing spontaneity and accessibility when called for, especially at Special Mtgs. where the public's involvement may sometimes be key to the success of the endeavor.

2. All RCWs pertinent to Parks and Recreation Districts shall apply to and direct the activities of our organization. These provide further procedural standards and methods of operation, to the benefit of the Board.

3. Our Commissioners are subject to the Open Meetings Act; they and any committee members, or staff of our organization are subject to the Public Records Acts. All correspondence on P&R issues with any member of the Board is subject to review. This a reality that we must operate under, and be very familiar with.

4. Our Commissioners are further subject to the Appearance of Fairness and Conflict of Interest Doctrines. This a reality that we must operate under, and be very familiar with.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

1. The Bylaws may be amended by agreement of a majority of the Board.

2. Notice will be given at one Regular meeting, and published in all announcements pertaining to the next (second) Regular Meeting. The draft version of the Amended Bylaws shall be read at the Regular Meeting following the announcements, at which time they may be accepted, or further revised and adopted with the approval of a quorum of the Commissioners; or further revisions may be addressed in a Special Meeting, with notice and announcements repeated, for adoption at the next (third) Regular Meeting.

This allows amendments to be accomplished in one or two months, and builds in the opportunity to address revisions at a more opportune time, but earlier than if delayed for the next month's Reg. Mtg.

Back to Top

ARTICLE X

DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of our organization, the assets of our District shall be liquidated and the Commissioners shall determine the manner of their distribution to other non-profit community organizations located in South East Jefferson County, whose endeavors are in accord with the stated objectives of this organization. This distribution shall be executed in accordance with all governing regulations. This ensures that in the event that the organization is ended, that the assets go to another local community service-oriented group of the Board's choosing.