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Centre
Regional Recreation Authority
2643 Gateway Drive #1
State
College, PA 16801
MILLBROOK
MARSH NATURE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
BYLAWS
Revised 17 July 02 - Approved
by CRRA on 20 Aug 02.
The
original bylaws were approved by action of the Centre Regional Recreation
Authority on 16 Jan 01.
ARTICLE
I. NAME
The
name of this Committee shall be the Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee (MMNCAC).
ARTICLE
II. AUTHORIZATION
The
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee was officially
formed by the Centre Regional Recreation Authority in January
2001. The committee had operated informally since the establishment
of the nature center in January 1997. Insofar as the assistance
by members of the advisory committee has been valuable in guiding
the operations of the nature center, extending the assistance
of the committee to other nearby municipal parks (with an environmental
emphasis) would provide benefits. Therefore, effective 01 Sept
02, the responsibility of the committee will include advisory
oversight for:
• Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center: 62
acres leased from PSU by Centre Regional Recreation Authority,
• Thompson
Woods Preserve: 36.6
acres owned by College Township and
6.75
acres owned by State College Borough,
=
105.35 acres total
Organizational
representatives or individuals will be appointed to the committee
by the Centre Regional Recreation Authority, a Pennsylvania
municipal authority, for a term of two years.
ARTICLE
III. PURPOSE
The
purpose of the Advisory Committee is to recommend to the Authority
and/or the Director of Parks & Recreation the adoption,
amendment, or repeal of nature center and park management practices,
policies, rules, regulations, standards, criteria, and procedures
as it deems necessary and advisable for effective management
of the nature center or parks. The Advisory Committee may also
assist the Authority by recommending facility improvements
and assisting with obtaining funding for the nature center
and assigned parks areas. Those recommendations will reflect
the provisions of approved Management Plans, master plans,
leases, easements, and best practices for each site
ARTICLE
IV. MEMBERSHIP
The
Committee will consist of volunteer members interested in the
nature center and the designated parks. Since its inception,
both individual and organizational partners have played an
important role in success and growth of the nature center,
as well as with the purchase and improvement of the municipal
parks. Accordingly, the Authority may name either interested
citizens and/or representatives of partner organizations. The
main criteria for appointment to the committee will involve
representatives of business and industry, state, federal and
local government, environmental organizations, or citizens,
all of whom shall have sufficient knowledge, experience or
familiarity with history, agriculture, the environment, wetlands
or nature center / park operations. Listed
below is the committee appointee roster as of May 2002:
No. Organization Term
Expires Current
Representative
1 Centre
Regional Recreation Authority member 12/31/02 Dr.
Rick Marboe
1 Centre
Regional Recreation Authority member* 12/31/03 George
Falkenstern*
1 Penn
State University (as landlord) 12/31/02 Robert
Finley
2 ClearWater
Conservancy of Central PA. Inc. 12/31/03 Patrick
Morse, CWC Board
12/31/02 Jennifer
Shuey
1 Shavers’s
Creek Environmental Center 12/31/03 George
Vahoviak
1 State
College Area School District 12/31/02 Sue
Younkin
1 State
College Bird Club 12/31/03 Mark
Henry
1 Penn
State Cooperative Wetlands Center 12/31/02 Dr.
Rob Brooks
1 Centre
Regional Planning Commission 12/31/03 Bryce
Boyer
1 Centre
County Historical Society 12/31/02 Jackie
Melander
1 Bald
Eagle Archeological Society 12/31/02 Mary
Alice Graetzer
4 At-Large
Appointees selected by the Authority: 12/31/03 Robert
Ayer*
12/31/02 Diane
Kerly*
12/31/03 Cheryl
Lipton*
12/31/02 Martin
McGann*
16 Total (as
of May 2002) (*Appointed
as an at-large member)
With
the expansion to the additional park area, the committee roster
will expand with the following representatives as of 01 Sept
02:
No. Organization Term
Expires Representative
1 Borough
of State College 12/31/03 Director
of Public Works (or designee)
1 Township
of College (Parks & Rec. Comm.) 12/31/03 Thompson
Woods Delegate
18 Total (effective
September 2002)
A.
The Authority may, at its discretion, appoint or reappoint
members to the Committee at the end of each term. In order
to provide for continuity, the term expiration dates of 50%
of the appointees will expire each year. The Authority may,
at its discretion, increase the number of At-large Appointments
up to 8 (there are currently 5 at-large appointees). In addition,
the Committee may make recommendations to the Authority regarding
any other revisions to the committee roster.
B. Any member not attending three (3) consecutive meetings without prior notice
to the chairperson may be recommended for removal. This recommendation will
be made to the Authority by the Director of Parks & Recreation.
C. Organizational representatives may designate an alternate to the Authority.
A member may only have one (1) designated alternate at any given time. The
designated alternate shall have the privilege to vote in any committee action
(in place of the main appointee). It shall be the responsibility of the appointee
to inform the alternate of committee information. It is requested that the
use of alternates not be a frequent occurrence.
D. Centre Region Parks & Recreation staff members (including any nature
center staff) shall be non-voting members of the committee.
E. As long as the appointee is willing to serve, a member may be reappointed
by the Authority to any number of successive 2-year terms.
ARTICLE
V. VOTING
Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote, in person, on all
matters which shall come before the Committee. Alternates are
not entitled to a vote if the official appointee is present.
All votes will be tallied by number and recorded in the minutes
in the following manner:
A.
A “simple majority” of the members present: greater than 50% agreement
B.
A “super majority” of the members present: greater than 75% agreement
C. “Unanimous Decision” of the members present: 100% agreement
It shall be the purpose of the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Advisory Committee
to allow all view points an opportunity to be expressed. In making a recommendation
to the Authority, the Committee shall inform the Authority of the vote by which
the recommendation was adopted. The Chairperson shall appoint a member or members
to write a dissenting opinion to accompany all recommendations to the Authority
that are passed by a simple majority or super majority vote.
ARTICLE
VI. OFFICERS
The
officers of the committee shall be a chairperson and a vice-chairperson.
A. CHAIRPERSON: It shall be the duty of the chairperson to preside at all meetings
of the Committee, call special meetings, and perform such other duties as pertain
to the office of chairperson. It shall be the duty of the chairperson, or designated
vice-chairperson, to attend regularly the meetings of the Committee as a voting
member.
B. VICE-CHAIRPERSON: It shall be the duty of the vice-chairperson to perform
the duties of the chairperson in his or her absence. The vice-chairperson shall
also assist the chairperson in the performance of such duties as may be assigned
by the chairperson.
C. TERM OF OFFICE: The term of office for the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
shall be twelve months.
ARTICLE
VII. SECRETARY
Centre
Region Parks & Recreation shall be requested to delegate
an employee to perform the necessary secretarial duties for
the Committee. Duties of the secretary include: timely notice
of meetings and standing committee meetings to the affected
members; recording, transcribing, and maintaining a permanent
file of the minutes of the Committee; receipt, preparation,
and transmittal of incoming and outgoing correspondence of
the Committee and maintenance of a permanent file of such correspondence;
performing such duties as may be requested by the Committee.
ARTICLE
VIII. ELECTION
OF OFFICERS
The
officers of the Committee shall be elected at the January meeting.
No less than thirty (30) days prior to the election of officers,
a nominating committee will be appointed by the chairperson.
It will consist of three (3) members of the Committee who will
prepare a list of nominations for Committee offices. The Committee̓s
report shall list not less than one (1) nor more than two (2)
nominations for the chairperson, and a vice-chairperson. Each
candidate named must give consent for his/her name to appear
on the ballot. The names of these nominees by office shall
he distributed to all members at least one (1) week prior to
the meeting at which the election will be held. Additional
nominations may be made from the floor immediately before the
election.
ARTICLE
IX. STANDING
COMMITTEES
A.
Standing committees shall be established by a majority vote
of those members attending a regular or special meeting of
the Committee.
B. Standing committee membership: The chairperson shall appoint committee members.
Tenure on a standing committee is not restricted.
C. Each standing committee shall receive a charge by the chairperson at the
time of its creation, and each standing committee shall exist until such time
as the responsibilities and duties contained in that charge are accomplished.
D. A listing of the standing committees and their respective charges shall
be maintained by the secretary. Additions to and deletions from that appendix
shall not constitute an amendment to these bylaws.
ARTICLE
X. MEETINGS
All
meetings of the Committee will be open to the public. The Committee
will meet no less than once every two months. Regular meeting
dates shall be established on an annual basis. Alternate meeting
dates and additional meetings may be called by the chairperson
or the Director. A quorum for the purpose of conducting business
shall consist of more than half of the current membership.
All meeting agendas shall contain a time for comment by the
public and guests.
ARTICLE
XI. AMENDMENTS
These
bylaws may be amended, revised, repealed, or suspended at any
meeting of the Authority. However, written notice of any proposed
action by the Authority shall be provided to members of the
Committee at least one (1) week prior to said meeting of the
Authority.
ARTICLE XII. TIME
LIMITS
Wherever
a time limit is specified in these bylaws, it may be waived
by a majority action of the Authority.
Approved
by action of the Centre Regional Recreation Authority on
20 Aug 02.
/s/ Dr. Ken
Mawritz ,Authority Secretary /s/
Dr. Rick Marboe, Authority Chair
Date: 22 Aug
02 Date:
20 Aug 02
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