By Laws

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of the Greenwich Democratic Committee (hereafter known as the GDC) is: to inspire participation; to recruit and support Democratic candidates; to evaluate and support issues; to promote high voter turnout for Democratic candidates; to educate, engage and inform local Democrats; to act as a conscience in our community and to participate in creating the best possible government for the Town of Greenwich.

Article II: General Organization

Section 1: Members

Any registered Democrat residing within the Town of Greenwich shall be eligible to be a member of the committee.

a) The GDC shall consist of two duly elected and enrolled Democrats, plus one additional member for each additional fifty voters or major portion thereof cast for the Democratic Candidate for Governor at the last preceding Gubernatorial election but not to exceed four elected members in any one district. This provision shall be in compliance with New York State Election Law 2-104.

b) The GDC may designate any person who has provided distinguished service as an Honorary Member of this committee with voting rights in the GDC only. The GDC will not have more than 12 Honorary Members.

Section 2: Organizational Meeting

There shall be an organizational meeting held within ten days following the election of a new committee. The purpose of the meeting is to elect the Executive Board of the GDC (see Article Five, Section 1) and to elect representatives to the Washington County Democratic Committee. The only committee members permitted to vote for officers and representatives are those who were elected in the primary.

Section 3: Term of Office

Members and officers shall hold office for a term of two years and/or until a successor is elected.

Section 4: Filling a Vacancy

In the event of a vacancy in a committee seat due to removal, resignation or death, the committee shall declare a vacancy at a regular meeting and shall fill the vacancy at the next regular meeting or at the earliest opportunity, after submitting proper public notice in the election district in which the vacancy was declared that a vacancy exists, that the vacancy is eligible to be filled and that a vote will be taken among all enrolled Democrats at the next regular meeting of the GDC to fill the vacancy. The enrolled Democrat who receives the most votes will fill the vacancy until the term of the committee member being replaced ends.

Section 5: Meetings

A set day and time for monthly GDC meetings will be established in September on an annual basis; and an annual schedule of meetings will be provided to all committee persons and will be submitted to the local newspapers. In the event the committee selects a new monthly meeting date and time, an update of the annual schedule of meetings will be issued to all committee persons and submitted to the local newspapers.

All public and special meetings are open to all members of the Democratic party of Greenwich regardless of skin color, sex, age, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic status, or philosophical persuasion.
The time and place of all public meetings shall be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons and shall be held in locations accessible to all Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.
The responsible officers of the GDC shall publicize fully and in a timely manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a description of legal and practical qualifications for registered Democrats of the Town to enter into election of Town and Village Governments.

Section 6: Public Meetings

Meetings will be open to the public.

Section 7: Special Meetings

Special Meetings may be held by vote of the membership at a previous meeting or by direction of the GDC Chairperson or by notice to committee members from a minimum of four committee members, stating the nature of the business to be brought before the special meeting. All Committee members must receive at least 72 hours notice prior to a special meeting.

Section 8: Executive Session

The committee may go into Executive Session (closed to all but committee members) when deemed appropriate in accordance with the NY Public Meeting Law. Executive Sessions may be proposed by any member of the GDC, and must be approved by a majority vote of those committee members present.

Section 9: Voting

All decisions of the GDC will be reached by majority vote of the committee members present and entitled to vote.

There will be no proxy votes.
Officers, committee members and honorary members are each entitled to one vote only per person.
Except where otherwise provided for herein, votes will not be held in secret.

Section 10: Quorum

At any regularly scheduled or duly called meeting, the members of the committee present at the time and place of such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting the business of the said meeting. A majority vote of the members present shall be sufficient to carry a motion or resolution at that meeting to be legally voted upon.

Section 11: Removal

A GDC committee member may be removed for cause in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-116 of NY State Election Law.

Section 12: Removal For Absence

In the event a committee member is absent for three consecutive meetings, he or she may be asked to resign from the GDC by a majority vote of the GDC. If the committee member does not resign upon request and continues thereafter to be absent from regular meetings, he or she will be subject to removal proceedings pursuant to Article II, Section 11 above.

Article Three: Officers

Section 1: Election and Term of Officers

At the organizational meeting the GDC shall meet and elect, by majority vote of the members present and eligible to vote, their officers for two-year terms.

Section 2: Positions

The officers of the GDC will consist of: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer, and may be chosen from members of the GDC or from the enrolled Democratic voters of the Town of Greenwich.

Section 3: Notice

At least one week’s written notice of the meeting to elect officers must be communicated to each committee member by email or regular mail.

Section 4: Organization of Election Meeting

The outgoing Chairperson, or in his or her absence, any newly elected committee member, shall call the election meeting to order. The members present shall by a majority vote elect a temporary Chairperson and Secretary to conduct the elections. The elections shall be by secret ballot, and the candidate receiving a majority of the vote for each office shall be declared elected. Each candidate shall be entitled to appoint one teller to canvas the ballots.

Section 5: Results

The temporary Chairperson and Secretary of the election meeting shall execute a certificate of election of the new officers. This certificate shall be filed with the Chairperson of the Washington County Democratic Committee and the Washington County Board of Elections within 3 days after the election meeting.

Section 6: Vacancies

Vacancies in the offices shall be filled by election at the regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting following the vacancy. Written notice of vacancy and meeting shall be given to all members of the GDC and public notice posted for any eligible Democrat to attend if interested in filling vacancy.

Article Four: Duties and Removal of Officers

Section 1: Chairperson

The Chairperson shall preside at all GDC meetings. He or she shall discharge all duties imposed upon him or her by law or assigned to him or her by the GDC. He or she shall attend and report on the Washington County Committee Meetings and will serve as a liaison for the GDC with the Washington County Democratic Committee and other town committees in Washington County. The Chairperson shall be responsible for submitting the list of Democratic election inspectors and clerks to the Town Board. Additionally, the Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all subcommittees.

Section 2: Vice-Chairperson

The Vice Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in his or her duties and shall serve as Acting Chairperson in the event of the Chairperson’s temporary absence, disability, resignation or removal.

Section 3: Secretary

The Secretary will be responsible for accurately recording the minutes of all monthly, special and executive committee meetings. A copy of such minutes will be forwarded to the Chairperson within seven days and sent to the members of the GDC at least one week before the next regular meeting, by email, mail or listserv posting.

Section 4: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep all funds of the organization, collecting and distributing the same as directed. All accounts shall be deposited in a local banking institution in the name of the Greenwich Democratic Committee. All withdrawals are to be made on the signature or the Chairperson or Treasurer for any amount up to $100. Expenditures of more than $100 require the approval of the committee. The Treasurer shall present an up to date financial report in writing at each monthly meeting and whenever requested to do so by the Committee or Executive Board.

Section 5: Removal

Officers and Executive Board Members may be removed from office, but remain committee members, by a vote of the majority of members of the GDC at any meeting where proper public notice of such business has been given in advance.

Article Five: County Committee Representatives

The GDC shall have one or more representatives on the County Executive Committee up to the number permitted by the Rules of the Washington County Democratic Committee. The representatives shall be elected at the Town Organization Meeting following the election of a new GDC and shall be an enrolled Democrat and a member of the County Committee representing an election district in the Town of Greenwich

Article Six: Standing Sub Committees

The Standing Subcommittees shall be the Executive Board, the Search Committee, The Voter Data Committee, the Fundraising Committee, the Public Relations Committee and the Program Committee

Section 1: Executive Board

The Executive Board shall be comprised of the officers listed above and two members at large elected at the organizational meeting and shall meet as necessary to provide overall policy direction, assist in the administration of the GDC, and assist the Chairperson in implementing policies and recommendations of the GDC. A quorum at an Executive Board Meeting shall be three.

Section 2: The Search Committee

The Search Committee shall meet throughout the year at regularly scheduled meetings in order to screen potential candidates and to present the entire GDC a list of the same no later than July 1 of an election year.

Section 3: Voter Data Committee

The Voter Data Committee will be responsible for evaluating voter patterns and trends and recommending to the committee strategies to increase voter turn out and favorable outcomes.

Section 4: Fundraising Committee

The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for raising sufficient funds for the GDC to carry out its purposes.

Section 5: The Public Relations Committee

The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for writing and distributing press releases and maintaining contact and communication with members of the press.

Section 5: Program Committee

The Program Committee will organize public events to educate the community and promote the GDC platform.

Section 6: Chairpersons of Committees

Chairpersons of all standing committees shall be elected by the entire GDC. The GDC shall elect membership of standing committees.

Section 7: Ad Hoc Committee

An ad hoc committee may be formed by a vote of the GDC. The GDC shall elect membership in ad hoc subcommittees, unless the GDC gives its elected Chairperson the power to appoint the ad hoc subcommittees.

Section 8: Vacancies

Should a vacancy in an elected subcommittee seat or chair occur it should be filled by election at the next regularly monthly meeting or in a specially called meeting.

Article Seven: Miscellaneous

Section 1: No member except the Chairperson may make a public statement on behalf of the GDC or take public action on behalf of the GDC unless said statement and or action has been approved by the GDC in advance.

Section 2: All procedures of this committee shall be held in accordance with the Election Law of New York State.

Section 3: The most current revised edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed on all matters pertaining to parliamentary procedure not otherwise provided for herein.

Article Eight: Amendments to Rules

The Rules of the GCD may be amended or new rules adopted from time to time by a two-thirds majority of the GDC members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum; provided a copy of the proposed amendments shall be sent with the notice of the meeting at which such amendment is to be proposed, such notice to be sent no less than five business days before such meeting.

Adopted July 7, 2004

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