UAC Proposed By Law and Election Rule Changes – First Reading June 17, 2015

University Area Commission Motion To Change By Laws

 

First Reading of Proposed Changes As Described Below

June 17, 2015

 

Note: In the proposed changes, proposed removals are in strikethrough text, and proposed additions are in bold text.

 

Motion Made in Governance Committee 5/6/15 & 6/3/2015: Change Commission by laws and election rules related to the timing of the 2 days of elections. These changes are being proposed to ensure that University Area Commission elections are held within the same week. It was identified that, this year and next, the way the by laws and election rules are written there would be eleven days between the first and last days of elections. The proposed changes will prevent this from occurring this year and in the future. Please see meeting notes for individual motions. All motions to change the language were passed unanimously by the Governance Committee unless otherwise noted.

These changes will be taken with one vote by the Commission after the second reading.

 

Goals:

  1. Ensure the two days of UAC elections occur within in the same week.
  2. Ensure the language changes are clear to future Commissions when they read the by laws and election rules.

 

To change the following By Laws of the University Area Commission in accordance with Article VII which allows passage of these changes by a 2/3 majority of all Commission members at the meeting on July 15, 2015. This motion does not require a 2nd .

 

By Law Changes:

  • Article VI Section 1: (Motion passed in Committee on May 6, 2015)
    • Elections shall be held on the last Wednesday preceding in October and the first Saturday in November and again on the first Saturday in November of each year. All elections shall be secret ballot. Elections shall be determined by plurality vote.
  • Article VI Section 7: (Motion passed in Committee on June 3 , 2015)
    • At any time prior to the first day of the elections, any commissioner may dispute the residency of any candidate by so informing the board of elections. In such case, the Board shall contact the candidate to verify residency.

Election Rule Changes:

  • Election Rule 2.6: (Motion passed in Committee on June 3 , 2015)
    • Candidates may withdraw from the ballot no later than 4:30 pm on the Thursday prior to the first day of elections. Upon notice of a candidate’s death or disqualification, the Board shall remove the candidate’s name from the ballot.
  • Election Rule 7.1: (Motion passed in Committee on June 3 , 2015)
    • On the last Wednesday of October The polls shall be open from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on the Wednesday preceding the first Saturday in November. On the first Saturday in November the Polls shall be open from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

 

  • Election Rule 7.4.1 (Motion passed in Committee on June 3 , 2015)
    • All candidates and electors must provide identification and proof of residence in their district in which they intend to run or vote. Such identification may include, but is not limited to, a valid driver’s license, state-issued ID, or a university ID. Other identification may be accepted at the discretion of the majority vote of the board of elections, whose determination shall be final. Affidavits and other sworn statements, by themselves, shall never be sufficient. A statement of the identification provided by electors in instances in which the sufficiency is uncertain shall be written by the poll worker on the envelope in which the ballot is placed. The board shall determine the sufficiency of each identification before the envelope is opened. If it is the decision of the board that the identification is not sufficient, the envelope shall be retained unopened. Electors shall provide identification before they are permitted to vote. Successful candidates shall provide identification at the meeting of the commission in which the election results are reported and approved. Should it be determined by vote of the commission that the candidate has not established verification of residency, the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes in that district shall be declared the winner. At any time prior to the first day of the elections, any commissioner may dispute the residency of any candidate by so informing the board of elections. In such case, the board shall contact the candidate to verify residency.

Motion Made in Governance Committee 6/3/2015: Removal of the current standing rules on the University Area Commission by laws. These rules were put in place to provide clear guidance on how the Commission would handle moving the elections from June to November and not actually seating the newly elected Commissioners until January of the next calendar year. Since these rules were so narrowly defined they serve no purpose now or in the future to the UAC. The Governance Committee passed a motion out of Committee on 6/3/15 to remove the existing standing rules. Motion was passed unanimously. This change will be taken with one vote by the Commission after the second reading.

 

Goals:

  1. Remove out dated standing rules that are no longer applicable to the University Area Commission
  2. Ensure standing rules when used are kept current to support the business of the University Area Commission

 

To change the following By Laws of the University Area Commission in accordance with Article VII which allows passage of these changes by a 2/3 majority of all Commission members at the meeting on July 15, 2015. This motion does not require a 2nd .

 

By Law Changes:

 

  • Standing Rules
  1. In the year 2013 all elected, appointed and nominated Commissioners in good standing at the time of the June meeting will have their terms in office extended to the beginning of the January 2014 Commission meeting.
  2. In the year 2013 all terms of office as described in Article II section 2 of the University Area Commission By Laws are here by extended one time by 7 months.

 

Motion Made in Governance Committee 6/3/2015: The UAC By Laws define the activity of the Community Relations Committee as responding to all general electronic communication with the Commission. It was discussed and members felt this was an antiquated rule to ensure that at the time Commission adopted a more substantial on-line presence there should be someone responsible for monitoring and responding to this new form of communication. With this type of communication so ingrained today and easily shared to all Commission members this rule no longer has a place in the UAC by laws. The Governance Committee passed a motion out of Committee on 6/3/15 to remove Article V, Section 4, Paragraph e from the by laws. Motion was passed unanimously. This change will be taken with one vote by the Commission after the second reading.

 

Goals:

  1. Remove outdated rule for a specific type of communication to the Commission
  2. Ensure there is no conflict with duties of the Corresponding Secretary as defined in Article III, Section 4, Paragraph b.

 

To change the following By Laws of the University Area Commission in accordance with Article VII which allows passage of these changes by a 2/3 majority of all Commission members at the meeting on July 15, 2015. This motion does not require a 2nd .

 

By Law Changes:

  • Article V Section 4: Paragraph e: (Motion passed in Committee on June 3 , 2015)
    • Respond to the general electronic communication with the Commission.

 

 

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