American Gothic House

By-Laws

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BY-LAWS OF
AMERICAN GOTHIC HOUSE CENTERBOARD
Approved 10/3/2007

Article I:           Enabling Legislation.

    1. Chapter 28E.6 allows for the establishment of a Joint Board whose purpose, powers and duties are outlined in a Joint 28E agreement between the City of Eldon and Wapello County confirmed in December, 2005.

Article II:          Meetings

    1. The American Gothic House Center Board, hereafter referred to as the Board, shall hold regular quarterly meetings on the first Wednesday of March, June, September and December, with special meetings as called for by the Chair or a majority vote of the Board.  Meetings will be held at the American Gothic House Center beginning at 6:00 PM or at a location and time designated by the Chair or a majority vote of the Board when such location change is deemed necessary.
    2. Notice of the meeting shall be posted at the Wapello County Court House, Eldon City Hall and the American Gothic House Center not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.
    3. All meetings shall be open to the public except in those cases where a closed session may be called in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.
    4. The Board Chair or designee shall prepare an agenda and have it in the hands of the board members not later than five (5) days prior to the board meeting, for regular monthly meetings and as soon as possible for special board meetings.
    5. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
    6. Conduct of the meeting will follow Roberts Rules of Order.
    7. Accurate minutes shall be kept by the board’s secretary or designee.  The minutes shall be maintained on file in the   conservation board office and the American Gothic House Center for public viewing and e-mailed to the City of Eldon. 

Article III:         Board Members and Officers

    1. The Board shall consist of five (5) members with two year terms each. The membership will be as follows:  two (2) representatives designated by the City of Eldon, two (2) representatives designated by the Wapello County Conservation Board with the fifth member selected by the appointed representatives from the City and County.  Effective January 1, 2008, terms shall be staggered, and the City of Eldon and the Wapello County Conservation Board shall appoint their designee at their November meetings and the Board shall appoint their designee at their regular December meeting.
    2. There shall be elected from its members at the December meeting of each year, a chair, vice-chair and secretary.  These officers shall serve for a two year period and/or until their successors are elected and qualify.  In the event that the duly elected officers of the Board are absent at any regular meeting or special meeting the members present shall elect such officers pro tem as are necessary to conduct the business of the meeting and to sign documents when such documents are the result of any action of the Board at that particular meeting.
    3. Definitions
      1. Chair:  Shall be the principal official of the Board and shall supervise and control the business and affairs of the Board consistent with board policy.  Responsibilities include presiding at all meetings, seeing that the meetings are conducted in a businesslike manner, representing the Board along with the director and/or administrator at budget hearings, public meetings, public hearings, and/or other public events as deemed necessary and signing official documents, when authorized by the Board.
      2. Vice-Chair:  Shall serve in the absence of the chair, having all powers and duties of the Chair during their absence.
      3. Secretary:  Shall accurately record transactions of all meetings and provide meeting minutes.
    4. Board officers shall not be eligible to succeed themselves in their respective office for two successive terms.

Article IV:        Committees:

    1. The Chair may appoint committees and may appoint specific members to implement board policy with respect to specific issues. 

Article V:          Personnel Expenses – Reimbursement:

    1. Actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as board members shall be paid from the general budget of the American Gothic House Center.  Actual and necessary travel by personal vehicle shall be reimbursed at the current rate approved and adopted by the Wapello County Board of Supervisors.

Article VI:        Board Member Attendance and/or Removal:

    1. It is the responsibility and duty of each board member to attend all regular and special meetings whenever possible.  However, the Board recognizes that there may be times when this is not possible.
    2. The following policy shall cover board member attendance and/or removal from the Board.
      1. Board members shall attend all regular and special meetings whenever possible.
      2. Board members not able to attend such meetings shall notify the chair, vice-chair, or the director of their intended absence at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to said meeting.  The only exceptions shall be when said meeting is called at such time as to not allow notice or in the case of emergency.
      3. Board members who fail to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings without properly notifying the aforementioned persons may be removed from said Board and their unexpired term filled by the appropriate appointee authority.

Article VII:       By-Laws Review:

    1. These by-laws shall be reviewed by the Board each year at the regular September board meeting.  Approval of amendments, proposed revisions or corrections of the by-laws may be proposed at any regular meeting.  However, they must also again be considered at the next regular meeting before their adoption and addition hereto.  Adoption of any amendment or revision shall require the approval of at least three (3) of the board members.

The foregoing by-laws having been reviewed, amended, and corrected are hereby adopted by the Board.

Vote:               

Aye___            Nay___            Steve Siegel
Aye___            Nay___            Priscilla Coffman
Aye___            Nay___            Donna Jeffrey
Aye___            Nay___            Sam Rodgers
Aye___            Nay___            Kurt Baker

_______________________________           __________________
Donna Jeffrey                                                               Date
American Gothic House Center Board

_______________________________          __________________
Jeff Layton                                                                   Date
Wapello County Conservation Board

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