Member Voting Rights

This information is being provided to you to clarify the responsibilities of water association members. As they are currently written, our bylaws erroneously identify membership voting rights. We are the in the process of revising the bylaws to conform more closely to those practiced throughout the state, because what is expected and practiced elsewhere is that the daily business of water associations is administered by its employees and Board of Directors, not its members.

We have begun implementing this practice, although the revision of our bylaws lags behind. This does not diminish either your rights or your responsibilities as members, but, as in other democratic bodies, allows your directors to represent you. You provide input to the directors and they attempt to uphold the desires of the majority. This is necessary, in part, because there are always some members who choose not to participate in this very grassroots level of local government, and getting a quorum of the membership together for specific votes is next to impossible.

Therefore, when attending most meetings of the board of directors, members do not make motions, second them, or vote upon them. There are exceptions, especially during membership meetings (which we have recently agreed to hold quarterly), but they must be identified as such to prevent the records of such meetings becoming confused. We will make it known when membership votes are required.

If you should attend a meeting of the board of directors in which this has not specifically been set out—and you and any other member of the public are always welcome—please avoid making motions, seconding them, and voting upon them. This practice is improper and makes it difficult for your secretary to accurately record the details of any vote.

Purpose of membership meetings:

1. To elect directors (board members). Directors decide among themselves who serves in a particular position.

2. Members may remove any board member for cause, at a membership meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose

3. To report to members regarding revenue, expenses, financial condition, changes to water system condition, review of Consumer Confidence Reports, and other matters as may properly come before the members

Matters for Membership Voting

1. Adopting or amending Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws

2. Authorizing sale, lease or exchange of all or most of the association’s assets outside that which constitutes normal business

3. Approving merger, consolidation, or exchange for which membership approval is required.

4. Approving resolutions submitted to them by the board, including revocation of voluntary dissolution proceedings.

We will make every attempt to inform members, as required by the Open Meetings Act and a duly passed resolution for same, when a vote of the membership is required.