ARTICLE I
NAME:
The name of this organization shall be the Unatego Area Landowners Association.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Association is to negotiate, through legal representation, a lease with a gas drilling company which is safe and minimizes incursion into current ownership rights.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP:
Section A. Any property owner within the bounds of the Otego or Unadilla Real Property Tax Map shall be eligible. Properties adjacent to these townships shall also be considered.
Section B. A landowner shall be considered a member in good standing upon submission of the Association Membership Agreement
Application and payment of the annual dues.
Section C. Annual dues shall be fifteen ($15.00) dollars or as determined by the Steering Committee and payable on or before March 31st of each year.
Section D. The Treasurer shall notify members delinquent of one month in their dues. Such members whose dues remain unpaid as of April 1st shall be considered inactive.
ARTICLE IV
STEERING COMMITTEE:
The Steering Committee shall be comprised of the Officers and the Trustees.
Section A. The officers shall be a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Section B. There shall be as many Trustees as determined needed,
but not to exceed seven (7). Trustees shall share duties as determined by the President.
Section C. Duties of the President. The President shall determine agendas in consultation with the Steering Committee, preside at all meetings, serve as a signatory for the Association’s general transaction of business, and perform all duties pertaining to the office. He/she shall select the Nominating Committee on or before the September General Meeting.
Section D. Duties of the Vice President. The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, perform his/her duties and assist the President in whatever capacity deemed necessary.
Section E. Duties of the Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and read such minutes if requested by any member.
Section F. Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall 1) receive and safely keep all funds, 2) keep an accurate account of all financial transactions, 3) sign all checks, 4) deposit and withdraw funds, 5) make all payments but have approval of the Trustees for any non-customary expenditure exceeding twenty five ($25.00) dollars and 6) present an oral and written report at all meetings, providing the recording secretary with a written report for inclusion in the minutes.
Section G. Duties of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall meet as needed to review and assess all information received concerning each step of the gas lease process and present their recommendations to the general membership for action. After the gas lease has been accepted by a gas drilling company, the Committee shall continue its oversight duties.
Section H. Terms of Office. All Officers shall serve a two (2) year term with a limit of two (2) terms in succession. The Trustees shall serve a one (1) year term with a limit of three (3) terms in succession.
Section I. Rules for Voting. Each Steering Committee member has one (1) vote. A simple majority is needed to pass a motion.
ARTICLE V
SELECTION OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES:
Section A. The Nominating Committee shall present its slate at the October General Meeting. The slate shall also be published in the Newsletter prior to the October General Meeting. Nominations shall be accepted from the floor.
Section B. Elections and installations shall be held in December, weather permitting, or at the next General Meeting.
Section C. Ballots shall be sent or e-mailed two (2) weeks prior to the meeting and must be received by the Association two (2) days prior to the meeting.
Section D. Candidates nominated for office must be members in good standing for one (1) year. Exceptions may be granted by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.
Section E. Should an office become vacant, the President shall appoint a member in good standing to fill the vacancy until the next election. Should the office of President become vacant, the Steering Committee shall appoint an Interim President to serve until the next election.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS:
Section A. General Membership Meetings shall be held monthly unless otherwise determined.
Section B. The Annual Meeting shall be held in either December or January, weather permitting, as determined by the Steering Committee.
Section C. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the President, or upon the written request of twenty (20) members. Such a meeting shall be held within fifteen (15) days after receiving the request. The notice of a special meeting shall be sent to the membership no later than three (3) days after receiving said request.
Section D. Notices of General Membership Meetings shall be sent by the Corresponding Secretary to the membership within seven (7) days of the meeting date.
ARTICLE VII
VOTING:
Section A. For all matters except the vote for the Association lease, each household shall have one (1) vote.
Section B. The vote for the acceptance or rejection of the Association lease shall be apportioned as follows: one (1) vote per acre.
Fractional acreage greater than .50 shall be considered an additional acre.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS: These By-laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full membership. The proposed amendment must be presented in writing at the previous meeting. All members must receive a copy at least fifteen (15) days prior to the vote along with an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received two (2) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION: Should the Association vote to dissolve, the dispersal of all remaining funds shall be equally given to the Otego and