CONSTITUTION OF THE
LITTLE COMPTON TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I - Name
Section 1 - The Association will be known as, The Little Compton Taxpayers Association (LCTA).
ARTICLE II - Purpose
Section 1 - The purpose of the LCTA is to monitor, analyze, suggest, and take positions on any matters pertaining to taxes, public spending, and public policy affecting taxes and spending. The LCTA's motto is "We want to get what we pay for and pay for only what we need."
Section 2 - The LCTA is a non-partisan association and shall not align with any political parties, either directly or indirectly. The LCTA may identify individuals for elective office based only on their positions relative to Town spending and taxation. The LCTA may donate funds only to other taxpayer associations.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1 - Any taxpayer or resident (full time or part time) of the Town of Little Compton, Rhode Island shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2 - The qualification for voting membership shall be the payment of dues as established at the Annual Meeting and compliance with the regulations set forth herein.
Section 3 - Any member may resign from the LCTA by submitting a written resignation to the Secretary.
Section 4 - Contributions and donations to the LCTA may be made by anyone in any amount.
ARTICLE IV - Governance
Section 1 - The LCTA shall be governed by the Executive Board consisting of the, Chairman, 1st Vice-Chairman, 2nd Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2 - The LCTA shall have a Board of Directors that will consist of eleven (11) members; the five (5) members of the Executive Board and six (6) from the membership at large.
Section 3 - The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting of the LCTA.
Section 4 - The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the LCTA between meetings of the membership, shall fix the hour and place of meetings, shall make recommendations to the membership, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in this Constitution. The Executive Board shall be subject to this Constitution and to the orders of meetings of the membership, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions taken by the membership. Any public statement must first be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
Section 5 - If any member of the Board of Directors does not serve out his or her full term, the replacement shall be by the appointment of the remaining Board of Directors with a vote by simple majority.
Section 6 - No member of the Board of Directors shall draw a salary from the Town of Little Compton or any Department thereof. No member of the Board of Directors shall hold an elected or appointive office in the Town of Little Compton without the prior written approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors. Such exceptions shall be disclosed to the membership during the Annual Meeting.
Section 7 - The Board of Directors shall have the right to elect its own officers with appropriate titles of its own choosing.
Section 8 - The duties and the titles of the members of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors are to be as usually construed in general usage. The Executive Board shall have as its responsibility the operation of the LCTA. The Board of Directors shall act as oversight and as a policy making body for the Executive Board.
Section 9 - A Nominating Committee of five (5) members from the membership at large shall be appointed by the Executive Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. It shall be the duty of this Committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee shall report its nominations at the Annual Meeting where additional nominations may be made from the floor.
ARTICLE V - Removal of Directors and Executives
Section 1 - The removal of Directors and Executive Board members shall be by the vote of two thirds (2/3) of the Directors at two (2) consecutive meetings at least one (1) month apart. The notice to take such action will be in writing and be given to every member of the Board ten (10) days prior to the first meeting.
ARTICLE VI - Meetings
Section 1 - A regular meeting of the membership shall be held as close as possible to the Annual Financial Town Meeting for the purpose of establishing the LCTA's policy, strategy, and tactics.
Section 2 - There shall be an Annual Meeting of the LCTA held every year in the month of September. The Annual Meeting agenda will be set by the Executive Board with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors. The meeting agenda will contain at least the following items and reports to the membership at large.
• Financial Status
- To include receipts, expenditures and the present balance. The report
should contain
sufficient detail that the
financial status of the Association is clear to the membership.
• Membership Status - Status and demographic data on the membership.
• Open Discussion
- Any and all comments, reports, ideas, and suggestions from the membership
at large
without further qualification.
• Election of Directors and Officers
Section 3 - The Board of Directors shall meet at least once per quarter or at the behest of at least three (3) members of the Board of Directors.
Section 4 - Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board and shall be called upon written request of ten (10) members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three (3) days' notice shall be given.
Section 5 - Fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII - Committees
Section 1 - LCTA committees, standing or special, shall be appointed and abolished as the Executive Board shall, from time to time, deem necessary to carry on the work of the LCTA. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - Parliamentary Authority
Section 1 - The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LCTA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or with any special rules of order which the membership may adopt.
ARTICLE IX - Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1 - This Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the voting membership by a two-thirds (2/3) vote provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous membership meeting and that the proposed amendment petition is signed by at least fifteen (15) voting members.
Adopted August 6, 1991
Revised August 17, 2004