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Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Johnson County Empowerment Board (hereinafter the Board).
Article II: Purpose
The Board was duly organized under Senate File 2406 (1998). The purpose of the Board is to oversee and coordinate collaborative services for children and families in Johnson County. The initial emphasis will be
delivery of services to children age 05. The longterm purpose will be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services in the areas of education, health, and human services for persons of all ages.
Article III: Membership
Section 1 – Qualifications. The Board shall consist of a membership of twenty-one (21) to thirty-one (31) members. All members of the Board shall reside or work in Johnson County. Criteria for selection
of candidates for the Board will be proposed each year by the Nominating Committee and ratified by the Board. These criteria will not exclude any otherwise eligible applicant from consideration but will be used to
narrow the number of applicants who appear on the final ballot. Criteria will be selected to help meet Board needs for diversity and will be distributed with the application form. The Board shall comply with
federal, state, and local laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, disability, creed, or national origin.
Section 2 – Selection of Members. A majority of the members of the Board shall be elected officials and members of the public who are not employed by a provider of services to or for the Board. At least
one member shall be a service consumer or the parent of a service consumer. Membership shall include at least one representative from each of the following areas: business, service, consumer, education, faith,
health, and human services. Representatives of Johnson County Public Health, the Johnson County Department of Human Services, Johnson County school districts, and the fiscal agent shall be standing members of the
Board.
The membership of the Board shall include members with interest in education, health, human services, business, faith, and the public good. Members may include individuals who are employees or who receive
compensation from any of the following: a school district, a county, a local board of health, a hospital, a charitable funding group, the Department of Human Services, a religious institution, an area education
agency, Juvenile Services, an area substance abuse agency, a community action program, a city, a business organization, a labor organization, a service club, a business, human service consumers, a private
community-based organization, a neighborhood association, a child care resource and referral service, a library, and others as determined by the Board.
Section 3 – Compensation. Members shall serve without compensation. Members may be reimbursed for child care or travel if funds are available.
Section 4 – Orientation for New Members. Prior to the first regular meeting following their appointment, new members shall be provided with copies of the Community Plan, bylaws, annual reports, and other
documentation that would be useful to Board members in carrying out their duties. The Chairperson (or designee) will be responsible for orientation. A mentor from among the continuing Board members will be assigned
to each new Board member and will assist with the orientation.
Section 5 – Absences. Three absences in one year shall result in member’s removal from the Board. Exceptions shall be subjected to approval by the officers.
Section 6 – Vacancies. Although not mandated, the Board may choose to fill any vacancy on the Board because of resignation, death, longterm illness, disqualification or removal after at least 30
days' public notice of the vacancy. The Nominating Committee is charged with recruiting applicants to fill vacant positions and with submitting a slate of candidates to the Board. The Board votes on these
candidates.
Section 7 – Elections & Terms. The Board as identified in Article III, Section 2 shall be elected for staggered three-year terms.. Board members shall elect individuals to replace members who have
served their term. The Secretary will maintain a record of terms. No persons shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms except the standing positions as outlined in Article III, Section 2.
Section 8 – Resignations. Resignations shall be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the Board at least 30 days prior to the date of intended departure.
Section 9 – Committees & Work Groups. In addition to participation at Board meetings, each member is expected to participate on a Committee or Work Group.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1 – Officers. The officers of this Board shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the members of the Board. The officers shall be
elected from among members who have served a minimum of one year on the Board. The Chairperson must be a citizen or elected official.
Section 2 – Election and Term of Office. Officers of the Board shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting in September of each year. If the election of officers cannot be held at this
meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as is possible. Officers may serve no more than three consecutive one-year terms.
Section 3 – Chairperson. The Chairperson shall, when present, preside at all meetings, appoint committees, call special meetings and in general perform all duties incident to the office of a Chairperson,
and such other duties as may be prescribed by the members from time to time. The Chairperson shall carry out all functions in consultation with other officers. The Chairperson may participate as an ex-officio
member of any standing committee.
Section 4 – Vice Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson, or in the event of death, inability or refusal to act, the Vice Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson and when so acting
shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chairperson.
Section 5 – Secretary. The Secretary shall have the responsibility of insuring that the Board's minutes are accurate and are circulated as prescribed. The Secretary, in the absence of the
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, shall perform the duties of the Chairperson and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chairperson.
Section 6 – Treasurer. Working with the fiscal agent, the Treasurer shall have the responsibility for assuring that all deposits and properly authorized expenditures are made in a timely manner, using
appropriate accounting practices. The Treasurer shall present monthly financial reports to the Board.
Section 7 – Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause shall be filled by the members for the unexpired portion of the term. The Nominating
Committee shall solicit nominations from the Board for officer vacancies and hold elections for the vacant positions(s) as quickly as possible after the vacancy occurs.
Article V: Meetings and Records
Section 1 – Meetings. Meetings shall be conducted pursuant to the open meetings and open records laws.
Section 2 – Regular Meetings. Regular formal meetings of this Board shall be held monthly unless the Board decides not to meet in a given month.
Section 3 – Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called by the Chairperson and, at the request of three or more members of the Board, shall be called by either the Chairperson or Vice
Chairperson.
Section 4 – Time and Place of Meetings. Regular formal meetings shall be held at a time agreeable to all members and in a location accessible to persons with disabilities.
Section 5 – Notice of Meetings. Public notice of regular and special meetings of the Board shall be required; notice for all meetings must be given not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the
meeting. A notice of the meeting shall be posted pursuant to State Code. Board agendas are developed by the Executive Committee. To request an agenda item for the Board, requests must be received by the
Executive Committee at least 2 weeks prior to the Board meeting.
Section 6 – Quorum. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of current members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
Section 7 – Proxies. There shall be no vote by proxy.
Section 8 – Public Discussion. Time shall be made available during all regular formal meetings for open public discussion.
Section 9 – Order of Business. Business shall be conducted by modified consensus. The Board shall seek consensus and if consensus cannot be reached in a timely manner, the Board will use standard
parliamentary procedures.
Section 10 – Conflict of Interest. A member who believes they have a conflict of interest on a matter before the Board shall state the reason for the conflict of interest and refrain from participating
in decision-making. Board members must declare any and all conflicts of interest including perceived conflicts of interest. Any member that has a conflict of interest shall abstain from decision
making. Board members shall govern themselves accordingly during the discussion/debate of the issue in which they have a conflict of interest (real or perceived). Annually, Board members will sign an
agreement to abide by the conflict of interest policy. Specific conflict of interest for an agenda item will be disclosed at each meeting.
Section 11 – Voting. A majority of votes cast at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decisive of any motion or election.
Upon request, voting will be by roll call and will be recorded by yeas and nays. Every member of the Board, except the Chairperson, is required to cast a vote upon each motion. In case of a tie vote, the Chairperson
will cast the deciding vote.
Section 12 – Records. Records of all Board, Committee, and Work Group meetings are on file in the Empowerment Office. All public records are subject to Iowa’s Open Records Law.
Article VI: Responsibilities and Authority
Section 1 – Fiscal Management. The Board will designate a public agency of this State, as defined in Section 28E.2, to be the fiscal agent for grant money and other monies administered by the Board.
The fiscal agent will administer community empowerment grant monies available from the State to the Empowerment Board as provided by law and any other monies made available from federal, state, local, and private
sources.
Section 2 – Annual Report. The officers shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual report. This report shall include, but not limited to, the effectiveness of the grant program and the
Board's effectiveness in achieving state and locally determined goals.
Article VII: Standing Committees
The following committees have been approved by the Board to carry out responsibilities of the Empowerment legislation.
Section 1 – Chairs of Standing Committees: Chairs of all standing committees shall be members of the Board and shall be determined by each committee.
Section 2 – Executive Committee:
The Committee shall be comprised of the officers of the Board, the immediate past chair (if unable to serve, an immediate past officer will be selected), the three standing Board members (Department of Human Services, Johnson County Public Health, and Education), and one community representative appointed by the Executive Committee. The Committee shall be responsible for giving guidance to the Board in setting the Board’s direction. The Committee shall assure staff support and oversight and, with staff, assure compliance with operating policies and procedures.
Section 3 – Fiscal Committee:
The Committee shall include the Board Treasurer, representatives from the Dept. of Human Services, Johnson County Public Health, and Education; a representative of the fiscal agent, and one community representative appointed by the Fiscal Committee. The Committee oversees all Board finances including the Iowa Empowerment Grants and other grants received by the Board, and maintains fiscal accountability.
Section 4 – Nominating Committee:
The Committee shall consist of three members. The members will be the Vice-Chair of the Board and two Board members. One of the Committee members will be a past or present consumer of Board services. The Committee shall be recruited by the Vice-Chair, appointed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board each year. The Nominating Committee will coordinate and oversee the annual recruitment and election of new Board members and officers; coordinate and oversee any special election of Board members that may be required; and develop and/or compile materials needed for the recruitment and election of Board members and officers. The Nominating Committee will conduct membership analysis and targeted recruitment to ensure that membership by-laws are met.
Section 5 – Public Awareness and Community Education:
The Committee shall comprised of Board members and other interested citizens. The Committee shall be responsible for informing and educating the public about Empowerment programs, services, and special events; developing and distributing materials that highlight Empowerment goals, programs, services and accomplishments; and assisting staff and other committees and work groups with the development of materials and distribution of information.
Section 6 – Evaluation Committee:
The Committee shall include representation from the community, health, education and human services along with Empowerment staff. It will be responsible for establishing evaluation criteria for Empowerment programs and for working with the Empowerment staff to submit a comprehensive report, which includes program-specific progress and outcomes, to the Board on an annual basis and other reports as required by regulatory agencies.
Section 7 – Other Committees and Community Work Groups:
The Board may establish such standing or ad hoc committees and work groups as the Board believes will help to carry out its responsibilities. The chair will be determined by each committee or work group. Each committee, work group, and advisory group will have representation from the Board. The Board may also establish advisory groups which, at the discretion of the Board may be given voting or ex-officio representation on the Board. All committees, work groups, and advisory groups will report to the Board, which will retain final and complete authority.
Article VIII: Appeal Process
A written appeal process is on file in the Empowerment office.
Article IX: Amendments
These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new bylaws adopted by an affirmative vote of not less than two thirds of the members of the Board present. Any proposed change needs to be submitted in writing
to all members 14 days prior to a vote at a regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose.
Adopted: 02/25/99
Amended: 10/07/99
Amended: 01/03/02
Amended: 07/10/03
Amended: 03/04/04
Amended: 07/01/04
Amended: 09/07/06
Amended: 01/10/08
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