BYLAWS OF

 

 

6B

 

ADVISORY

 

NEIGBORHOOD

 

COMMISSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved: March 23, 1982

Amended: March 23, 1984

Amended: January 27, 1992

Amended: January 11, 1994

Amended: April 12, 1994

Amended: March 14, 1995

Amended: May 9, 1995

Amended: June 13, 1995

Amended: October 8, 2002

 

 

 

Table of Contents

ARTICLE I.  NAME                                                                                                                       1

ARTICLE II.  COMMISSION AREA & OFFICE                                                                       1

SECTION 1.  THE COMMISSION AREA                                              1

SECTION 2.  THE COMMISSION OFFICE                                            1

ARTICLE III.  RESPONSIBILITIES                                                                                           1

SECTION 1.  ADVICE TO THE D.C. GOVERNMENT                                    1

SECTION 2.  GENERAL POWER TO ADVISE                                          2

SECTION 3.  INITIATION OF PROPOSALS                                          2

SECTION 4.  MONITORING OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS                                 2

SECTION 5.  ANNUAL REPORT                                                    2

ARTICLE IV.  MEMBERS                                                                                                           2

SECTION 1.  COMMISSION MEMBERS                                               2

SECTION 2.  TERM OF OFFICE                                                   3

SECTION 3.  VACANCIES                                                        3

SECTION 4.  COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS                                          3

SECTION 5.  ATTENDANCE                                                       3

SECTION 6.  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST                                            3

ARTICLE V.  OFFICERS                                                                                                              3

SECTION 1.  NUMBER AND TERM                                                  3

SECTION 2.  ELECTION PROCEDURE                                               4

SECTION 3.  REMOVAL OR VACANCIES                                             4

SECTION 4.  LIMITATION OF TENURE OF CHAIR                                    4

SECTION 5.  DUTIES OF THE CHAIR                                              4

SECTION 6.  DUTIES OF THE VICE-CHAIR                                         5

SECTION 7.  DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY                                          5

SECTION 8.  DUTIES OF TREASURER                                              5

SECTION 9.  DUTIES OF PARLIAMENTARIAN                                        6

SECTION 10.  BONDING                                                         6

ARTICLE VI.  RELATIONS WITH THE D. C. GOVERNMENT                                            6

SECTION 1.  PROCEDURE FOR TESTIMONY BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENTAL OR

     COMMUNITY BODY BY AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER                            6

SECTION 2.  PROCEDURE FOR TESTIMONY BY A COMMISSIONER ACTING AS ANC

     REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENTAL OR COMMUNITY BODY                7

SECTION 3.  DISTRIBUTION OF NOTICE FROM THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT              8

SECTION 4.  COMMITTEE ACTION ON NOTICE                                       8

SECTION 5.  COMMISSION ACTION ON NOTICES                                     8

SECTION 6.  MEMBER REQUESTS FOR COMMISSION INITIATION OF ACTION              9

SECTION 7.  PROPOSALS AND REQUESTS FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS                  9

SECTION 8.  COMMISSION REACTION TO PROPOSALS                                 9

ARTICLE VI.  COMMISSION MEETINGS                                                                               9

SECTION 1.  MEETINGS OPEN TO PUBLIC                                          9

SECTION 2.  QUORUM                                                          10

SECTION 3.  COMMUNITY FORUMS                                                10

SECTION 4.  REGULAR MEETINGS                                                10

SECTION 5.  MEETING PLACE                                                   10

SECTION 6.  NOTICE                                                          10

SECTION 7.  DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT             11

SECTION 8.  SPECIAL MEETINGS                                                11

SECTION 9.  VOTING                                                          11

SECTION 10.  AGENDA                                                         11

ARTICLE VIII.  MEETINGS WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS                                            12

SECTION 1.  POWER                                                           12

SECTION 2.  AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED                                          12

SECTION 3.  NOTICE                                                          12

SECTION 4.  VOTING                                                          12

ARTICLE IX.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE                                                                             12

SECTION 1.  ESTABLISHMENT                                                   12

SECTION 2.  MEMBERSHIP                                                      13

SECTION 3.  VOTING                                                          13

SECTION 4.  MEETINGS                                                        13

SECTION 5.  EMERGENCY POWERS                                                13

SECTION 6.  OPEN MEETINGS                                                   13

SECTION 7.  PROCEDURE                                                       13

SECTION 8.  VACANCIES                                                       13

SECTION 9.  QUORUM                                                          13

ARTICLE X.  COMMITTEES                                                                                                    14

SECTION 1.  COMMITTEES TO BE ESTABLISHED                                    14

SECTION 2.  COMMISSIONERS AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS; COMMITTEE CHAIRS;

     REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR CAUSE                                  14

SECTION 3.  RESIDENTS AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS                                  14

SECTION 4.  TERM OF OFFICE; REMOVAL FOR GOOD CAUSE                          15

SECTION 5.  OFFICERS                                                        15

SECTION 6.  VOTING AND QUORUM                                               15

SECTION 7.  SUBCOMMITTEES                                                   15

SECTION 8.  MEETINGS                                                        15

SECTION 9.  RESPONSIBILITIES OF DESIGNATED COMMITTEES                       16

SECTION 10.  COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS SPOKESPERSONS FOR THE COMMISSION          16

ARTICLE XI.  FINANCIAL AFFAIRS                                                                                      16

SECTION 1.  BUDGET                                                          16

SECTION 2.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS                                     16

SECTION 3.  ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT                                         16

SECTION 4.  DEPOSITORIES                                                    17

SECTION 5.  EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS                                            17

SECTION 6.  AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN DRAFTS                                    17

ARTICLE XII.  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY                                                                 17

ARTICLE XIII.  EMPLOYEES                                                                                                   17

SECTION 1.  POSITIONS                                                       17

SECTION 2.  GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS                                          18

SECTION 3.  HIRING AND TENURE                                               18

ARTICLE XIV.  MISCELLANY                                                                                                 18

SECTION 1.  CONTRIBUTIONS                                                   18

SECTION 2.  POOLING OF FUNDS                                                18

SECTION 3.  LEGAL REDRESS                                                   18

SECTION 4.  INCORPORATION PROHIBITED                                        18

SECTION 5.  FILING OF BY-LAWS                                               18

SECTION 6.  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC                                              18

SECTION 7.  CONSISTENCY                                                     18

ARTICLE XV.  AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS                                                                          19

SECTION 1.  PROCEDURE                                                       19

ARTICLE XVI.  GRANTS                                                                                                           19

SECTION 1.  POLICY ON THE USE OF FUNDS                                      19

SECTION 2.  PRIORITIES FOR THE USE OF COMMISSION FUNDS                      19

SECTION 3.  PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF GRANT REQUESTS               20

SECTION 4.  CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION OF GRANT REQUESTS                    20

SECTION 5.  PAYMENT PROVISIONS                                              21

SECTION 6.  INFORMATION FOR GRANT APPLICANTS                                21

SECTION 7.  WAIVER                                                          21

 

 

 

BYLAWS OF ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6B

 

ARTICLE I.  NAME

§1 There is established by the Council of the District of Columbia, "The Capitol Hill, Near Southeast Advisory Neighborhood Commis­sion 6B," which shall be referred to herein as "the Commission" or "the ANC."

ARTICLE II.  COMMISSION AREA & OFFICE

SECTION 1.  THE COMMISSION AREA

§1 The area of Washington, in the District of Columbia, represented by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B is the area bound as follows (all streets are in the Southeast quadrant unless otherwise designated): Beginning at the center of the United States Capitol Building at the intersection of two imaginary lines extending and joining East Capitol Street and South Capitol Street; East on East Capitol Street to 11th Street; South on 11th Street to East Capitol Street; East on East Capitol Street to 13th Street; North on 13th Street to East Capitol Street; East on East Capitol Street to the Anacostia River; Southeast on the Anacostia River to 11th Street; North on 11th Street to M Street; West on M Street to 7th Street; North on 7th Street to the Southeast Expressway; Northwest on the Southeast Expressway to South Capitol Street; North on South Capitol Street to the center of the United States Capitol Building.

 

§2 This area shall be referred to herein as "the Commission area"

SECTION 2.  THE COMMISSION OFFICE

§1 The office of the Commission shall be located at 921 Penn­syl­vania Avenue S.E., Suite 108 Washington, D.C. 20003.

ARTICLE III.  RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION 1.  ADVICE TO THE D.C. GOVERNMENT

§1 The Commission may advise the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor and each executive agency and all independent agencies, boards and commissions of the government of the Dis­trict of Columbia, with respect to all proposed matters of District governmental policy including decisions regarding planning, streets, recreation, social service programs, education, health, safety, and sanitation that affect the Commission area. "Proposed matters of District governmental policy" are those for  which prior notice of proposed rule-making is required pursuant to D.C. Code 1-1505 (a) or, in the case of the Council of the District of Columbia, section 204 (f) (1) of D.C. Law 1-21.

 

§2 Proposed District governmental action about which the Commission shall receive notice and have the opportunity to comment shall include, but shall not be limited to actions of the Council of the District of Columbia. the executive branch or independent agencies. The Commission may advise each agency, board, and commission regarding the award of any grant funds to a citizen organization or group, the formulation of any final policy decision or guide­line with respect to grant application, comprehensive plans, requested or proposed zoning changes, variances, public improve­ments, licenses, or permits affecting the Commission area, the District budget and city goals and priorities, proposed changes in District government service delivery and the opening or closing of any facility or system.

SECTION 2.  GENERAL POWER TO ADVISE

§1 The Commission may present its views to any federal or District of Columbia agency.

SECTION 3.  INITIATION OF PROPOSALS 

§1 The Commission may initiate its own proposals for District of Columbia government action, in the manner set out in Article VI of these bylaws.

SECTION 4.  MONITORING OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS

§1 The Commission shall monitor, in accordance with the provi­sions of Article VI, complaints of Commission area residents with respect to the delivery of District of Columbia government services and file comments on such services with the appropriate agency or body of the District of Columbia government as well as with the District of Columbia City Council.  Comments may be submitted either on behalf of a Single Member District by that District's representative or by the Commission as a whole. Any comments sub­mitted on behalf of the Commission as a whole shall be ap­prov­ed by the Commission in the manner set out in Article VI of these bylaws.

SECTION 5.  ANNUAL REPORT

§1 On or before November 30 of each year, the Commission shall file an annual report for the preceding year with the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor.  Such report shall include but shall not be limited to: 1) summaries of important problems perceived by the Commission, and the order of their priority; 2) recommendations for action to be taken by the government of the District of Columbia; 3) recommendations for improvements in the operation of the commission and the ANC system as a whole; 4) the Commission’s financial report; and 5) a summary of Commission’s activities.

 

§2 Minority views, if any, shall be included in the official report.

ARTICLE IV.  MEMBERS

SECTION 1.  COMMISSION MEMBERS

§1 The Commission shall be comprised of those persons duly elected and certified by the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics as representatives of Single Member Dis­tricts within the Commission area.

SECTION 2.  TERM OF OFFICE

§1 Each member of the Commission shall serve for a term of two years which shall begin at noon on the second day of January next following the date of election of such member, or at noon on the day after the date the Board of Elections and Ethics certifies the election of such member, whichever is later.

SECTION 3.  VACANCIES

§1 Any vacancy in office due to death, resignation, failure to maintain the qualifications for office under Section 6 (a) of D.C. Law 1-11, or removal, shall be filled in accordance with provisions of D.C. Law 1-21, as amended.

SECTION 4.  COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS

§1 The members shall serve without compensation; however, appropriate expenses incurred by members may be reimbursed by the Commission upon authorization as set out in Article XI, section 5 of these bylaws.

SECTION 5.  ATTENDANCE

§1 The Secretary shall keep a record of the attendance of each Commission meeting and at each Commission-sponsored Community Forum.

 

§2 Any Commissioner who fails to attend four (4) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings or community forums as defined in Article VII of these bylaws is automatically subject to sanc­tions. A letter shall be drafted by the Parliamentarian detailing the infraction, signed by the Chair, and offered for publication to the local media and the ANC Annual Report for the public record.

SECTION 6.  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

§1 The District of Columbia's conflict of interest restrictions (1-1181 D.C. Code, 1977 Supplement) shall apply to all Commis­sioners.  A Commissioner shall not pursue ANC activities which would result in direct or indirect financial or personal gain for such Commissioner, or anyone in his/her household.  The Commis­sion shall not employ or contract for services a Commissioner or anyone in his/her household.

 

ARTICLE V.  OFFICERS

SECTION 1.  NUMBER AND TERM        

§1 The officers of the Commission shall be the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. Each officer of  Commission must be a Commissioner.     

 

§2 Officers shall be elected in January of each year.

 

§3 The term of office shall begin immediately and shall run for one year, provided that each officer shall serve until his or her successor has been elected.

SECTION 2.  ELECTION PROCEDURE    

§1 Election of officers shall take place during a regular Commission meeting.  The order of nomination and election shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. The election for each office shall take place before nominations for the following office are opened.  Voting shall be by Commis­sioners only and votes shall be indicated by an open ballot.  The votes of a majority Commissioners present shall be required for election. If no candidate receives the required number of votes on the first vote, a second vote shall be taken among candidates except the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes on the first vote. This procedure shall continue until one candidate receives the required majority.

 

§2 Each candidate for office shall be nominated by a Commis­sioner.  Each nomination may be seconded by another Commissioner. There shall be permitted nominating and seconding speeches, if desired, totaling no longer than five minutes in duration.  After these speeches, each candidate for that office may make a brief state­ment of no more than 3 minutes.

SECTION 3.  REMOVAL OR VACANCIES

§1 In the case of vacancies among officers, except for a vacancy of the office of Treasurer, a new officer shall be elected to serve out the term of the officer vacating his or her position at the next regular meeting of the Commission. The election shall be held in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 2 of this Article.

 

§2 In the event of a vacancy in the office of Treasurer a special meeting of the Commission shall be held within 10 days of such vacancy to select a new Treasurer, unless a regular meeting is to be held within 14 days. The election shall be held in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 2 of this Article.

 

§3 An officer of the Commission may be removed for good cause by a vote of two-thirds of the membership of the Commission. Prior written notice, of at least 14 days, shall be given to all Commissioners of the proposed removal. (See statutory provisions for removal).

SECTION 4.  LIMITATION OF TENURE OF CHAIR

§1 No member may serve the Commission as a Chair for more than two consecutive terms.

SECTION 5.  DUTIES OF THE CHAIR

§1 The Chair shall serve as convenor of the Commission and shall chair Commission meetings. The Chair shall rule on proce­dural questions from the chair, but such rulings may be over­turned by a two thirds vote of the Commission. The Chair shall have the power to call special meetings of the Commission and of the Executive Committee, but only in accordance with the provi­sion of Article VII of these bylaws.

 

§2 The Chair shall be responsible for the overall smooth functioning of the Commission and shall bring to the Commission's attention promptly any problems relating to structure, procedures or members.

 

§3 The Chair may, but only in extreme emergencies in which it is impossible to call together the Commission or the Executive Committee, act as the Commission's spokesperson without prior authorization of the Commission. The Chair shall report to the Commission, at its next meeting, any such action taken under this emergency power.

SECTION 6.  DUTIES OF THE VICE-CHAIR

§1 The Vice-Chair shall fulfill the obligations of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, or when the Chair wishes to give up the chair.

 

§2 The Vice-Chair shall provide such assistance to the Chair as it is requested and shall perform such duties as maybe delegated by the Chair.

SECTION 7.  DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

§1 The Secretary shall be responsible for the notification of members of the Commission of Commission and Executive Committee meetings, the preparation of the minutes of all Commission and Executive meetings, and for the distribution of copies of minutes of both committee and Executive Committee meetings to all members of the Commission.

 

§2 The Secretary shall be responsible for maintenance of all records of Commission activities at the Commission's offices, including minutes of all Committee, sub-committee, task force, and Commission meetings.

 

§3 The Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the Commission, including all correspondence with the government of the District of Columbia as required by Article II and VI of these bylaws.  The Secretary shall, in particular, be responsible (in consultation with the Chair) for the distribution of all notices from the District of Columbia government to the appropri­ate Commissioners and committee(s).

 

§4 The Secretary shall keep accurate records of all notices received by the Commission from the District of Columbia govern­ment and Commission responses to such notices, correspondence from citizens, to the Commission and Commission responses there­to, and Commission-initiated correspondence to the District of Columbia government and responses thereto.  The Secretary shall also perform such other duties as the Chair may direct.

SECTION 8.  DUTIES OF TREASURER

§1 The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping, at the office of the Commission, the Commissions account book, develop­ing the Commission's budget and annual and quarterly financial reports, and approving the expenditure of Commission funds as authorized by the Commission, as set out in Article XI of these bylaws.

 

§2 The Treasurer shall file with the office of the District of Columbia Auditor on a form provided by the Auditor a statement giving: a) the Treasurer's name; b) home address; c) business telephone; d) business address; e) home telephone number; f) location of the books and records of the Commission; and g) name and location of each depository of Commission funds.

 

§3 The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Chair may direct.

SECTION 9.  DUTIES OF PARLIAMENTARIAN

§1 The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for knowing and understanding the basic tenets of these bylaws and shall assist the Chair in their execution in an orderly fashion.

 

§2 The Parliamentarian shall draft all letters sanctioning any member of the Commission body as detailed in Article IV Section 5 and in Article VII Section 4 in these bylaws.

 

§3 The Parliamentarian shall also perform such other duties as the Chair may direct.

SECTION 10.  BONDING

§1 The Chair and the Treasurer shall be bonded; however, membership in the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Security Fund shall serve in place of a bond.

ARTICLE VI.  RELATIONS WITH THE D. C. GOVERNMENT

SECTION 1.  PROCEDURE FOR TESTIMONY BEFORE ANY GOVERNMENTAL OR COMMUNITY BODY BY AN INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER

§1 Each Commission member may freely represent himself or herself and his or her Single Member District. However, the Commissioner representing him or herself in the capacity of an individual citizen or as the representative of his or her Single Member District before any body of the legislative or executive branch of the government or any agent of those branches shall present that testimony to the ANC body. A written summary of that meeting, testimony, or a copy of that letter shall be made available to the ANC office for distribution to the full Commis­sion.

 

§2 When testifying before an external governmental or community body as an individual citizen or as a constituent representative of his or her Single Member District, that Commissioner must state for the record within the official testimony his or her limited office as such, so as to minimize the possibility of conflicting representational roles, stating for that agency's record whether his or her views are contrary to the official ANC position, or stating that the ANC does not currently record a position, whichever the case.

 

§3 However, no Commissioner may purport to speak on behalf of the Commission unless so designated by the Chair or the Commis­sion at an official meeting.

 

§4 A Commissioner may not utilize official ANC letterhead stationary when conducting business with an external governmental or community body, or even for SMD purposes except with the implicit understanding that copies of that correspondence be made available to the ANC office files.