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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240501 BylawsJEFFERSON COUNTY INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADVISORY BOARD BY-LAWS ARTICLE I: NAME The name of this organization is the Jefferson County Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board, hereafter referred to as the "Advisory Board." ARTICLE II: PURPOSE The County governing authority of any County may appoint an Advisory Board to plan services for persons with developmental disabilities, to provide directly or indirectly a continuum of care and services to persons who experience Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities within the county or counties served by the Board. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to advise the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners, and the Developmental Disabilities/ Behavioral Health, (DD/BH) Coordinator on policies, programs and resources needed to assure that citizens who experience Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities in Jefferson County, have the choice opportunity and support, to achieve inclusive and productive participation in community life. The Advisory Board is primarily responsible to provide advocacy and leadership in the development and implementation of locally relevant policies, plans and services. ARTICLE III: DUTIES In compliance with RCW 71A.14.020, it shall be the duty of the Advisory Board to: Conduct public hearings or community planning meetings to determine the needs and priorities of county citizens; With assistance from the Jefferson County DD/BH Coordinator, have input, and recommend for approval to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners all plans, budgets, and applications to Developmental Disabilities Administration, (DDA) and/or other State agencies on behalf of the Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Program. Assure the implementation of the Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Program’s Service Information Forms/County Performance Measures and/or the I/DD Community Plan; if so interested, evaluate the performance of the Provider Agencies with the DD/BH Coordinator every two years and then submit the results to Staff, who will compile and send to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, (DDA) authority when requested. Advise the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners and the DD/ BH Coordinator on matters relating to the programs and services provided. Carry out other duties that the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners may request or that DDA or the Developmental Disabilities Program may prescribe by rule. ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP Members of the Advisory Board shall be Jefferson County residents who are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, (BoCC). Vacancies will be advertised in the newspaper of record, encouraging qualified County residents to apply. Potential Board members will need to fill out an on-line application- Board and Commission Volunteer Application (control + click) and may also send a letter of interest to the BoCC, that states their qualifications and interest in serving on the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board shall be composed of not less than nine nor more than fifteen members, who shall be chosen for their demonstrated concern for people with developmental disabilities and related issues. No Board member may be a Jefferson County Provider of the Jefferson County Developmental Disability Program. Members shall not be compensated for the performance of their duties as members of the Advisory Board, but may be paid subsistence rates and mileage in the amounts prescribed by RCW 42.24.090. Members of the Advisory Board should represent the diversity of the Jefferson County community. The composition of the Advisory Board may include the following: employers of people who experience intellectual/developmental disabilities, self-advocates, law enforcement, church officials, behavioral health/mental health representatives, the transit organization, housing agencies, parents of children or adults with disabilities, school officials or teachers, citizens knowledgeable about intellectual/developmental disabilities, or members of other interested agencies that serve people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the community. At least one member of the Advisory Board shall be a County Commissioner & one member shall be a City Council Member. Advisory Board members are expected to attend I/DDAB meetings. But, if unable to attend, please notify the Co-chair or DD/BH Coordinator in advance of the meeting or the absence may be considered unexcused. Terms: The terms of Advisory Board members shall be appointed for three years and terms will be staggered, so that no more than 1/3 of the members’ terms shall expire in one calendar year. When an existing Advisory Board term concludes, the vacancy will be advertised in the newspaper of record, but the regular member may apply for reappointment. The Board member will need to send in a letter of interest to the BoCC for reappointment. ARTICLE V: OFFICERS Officers of the Advisory Board shall consist of a Chair and a Co-Chair. The Chair and the Co-Chair shall be elected at the first regular meeting of the new calendar year and shall serve three-year terms. The Chair and the Co-Chair may be elected to consecutive terms. The Chair and a Co-Chair shall be elected by a majority vote from the Advisory Board. Nominees must be active members who have consented to serve. The Chair of the Advisory Board shall: preside at all meetings and execute the agenda of such meetings in an orderly manner; when appropriate and necessary, establish committees and appoint members thereto; and officially represent the Advisory Board before other organizations or groups. The Co-Chair shall officiate as chair in the Chair's absence. In the absence of both the Chair and the Co-Chair at a meeting, members may elect a temporary chair to perform their duties for that meeting. ARTICLE VI: STAFF ROLE The BH/DD County Coordinator will avail themselves to the Advisory Board to record the proceedings of all Board meetings and will offer a link between the County and the I/DDAB. ARTICLE VII: VACANCIES Resignations: A member may resign by submitting written notice to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. Leave of Absence: The Advisory Board may grant a leave of absence for a member not to exceed three consecutive months per year. Removal: No member shall be absent without excuse from more than three meetings, a year or they may be asked to resign. A member may be removed from the Advisory Board if absent from three consecutive meetings without good cause. A member with three unexcused consecutive absences shall be notified of the policy regarding attendance requirement and to determine whether he/she wishes to continue as a member. Advisory Board members are expected to fully participate and to support Advisory Board By-laws. The Advisory Board may, by a majority vote of the total membership, recommend the removal of a member to the Board of Commissioners, provided that thirty days notice of the pending action has been provided to the member. SECTION VIII: MEETINGS The Advisory Board shall establish a regular meeting time and notify the public as required by Jefferson County policies. Regular meetings shall be held in Jefferson County. The Advisory Board may conduct special meetings and emergency meetings when deemed to be in the best interests of the Advisory Board and the community. Public notice shall be properly given for special meetings, as well as whenever a regular meeting must be rescheduled or relocated. Minutes: Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded and a copy will be emailed to each Advisory Board member at least three days prior to the next scheduled meeting. A permanent file of minutes of Advisory Board meetings shall be maintained on the Jefferson County website. Voting: Voting shall be limited to regular Advisory Board members. Voting shall be conducted by voice, show of hands or by ballot if any member of the Board so desires. There will be no voting by proxy on any question before the Board. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of a majority, (one more than half) of regular members. All actions of the Advisory Board shall be determined by a majority vote where a quorum is present. Conflict of Interest: Once appointed, a member may not participate in a discussion or vote upon a matter in which he or she has a direct or indirect financial interest. A conflict would arise when 1) the member, 2) any immediate family member or partner, or 3) an organization, which employs or is about to employ any of the above has a financial or other interest in a firm or organization selected for award. If a conflict of interest arises, the member will notify the Chair and the Co-Chair. Rules of Order: All regular and committee meetings shall be conducted by the Chair or the Co-Chair in a manner designed to promote consensus on Advisory Board actions. Though majority vote will decide action, the Advisory Board may elect to operate in accordance with Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance. Agenda: The agenda shall indicate the order of Advisory Board business. The Advisory Board may approve changes to the agenda. Copies of the agenda and relevant supporting materials shall be emailed to Advisory Board members at least three days prior to the meeting. Time shall be scheduled on the regular meeting agenda for public comment. SECTION IX: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS By-laws will be reviewed annually at the first regular meeting of the new calendar year. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board insofar as such amendments do not conflict with Jefferson County Policy or Washington State Code. Any regular Advisory Board member may propose an amendment to the bylaws. Such proposed amendments must be voted on when a quorum is present. Created-5/26/2011 Updated-5/2/2024