Name, Membership, and Definitions
Section 1. Name. The name of the Association shall be Paces Green Community Association, Inc. (the "Association").
Section 2. Membership. The Association shall have one (1) class of membership, as is more fully set forth in that Declaration of Protective Covenants for Paces Green (this Declaration, as amended, renewed, or extended from time to time, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Declaration”), the terms of which pertaining to membership are specifically incorporated by reference herein.
Section 3. Definitions. The words used in these Bylaws shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Declaration, unless the context shall prohibit.
Association: Meetings, Quorum, Voting, Proxies
Section 1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Association shall be held at the principal office of the Association or at such other suitable place convenient to the members as may be designated by the Board of Directors, either in the Community or as convenient thereto as possible and practical.
Section 2. First Meeting and Annual Meetings. An annual or special meeting shall be held within one (1) year from the date the Declaration is recorded. Annual meetings shall be set by the Board so as to occur no later than sixty (60) days after the close of the Association's fiscal year. If the day for the annual meeting of the members is a legal holiday, the meeting will be held at the same hour on the first day following which is not a legal holiday (excluding Saturday and Sunday).
Section 3. Special Meetings. The President may call special meetings. In addition, it shall be the duty of the President to call a special meeting of the Association if so directed by resolution of a Majority of the Board of Directors or upon a petition signed by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the
Total Association Vote (the consent of the Declarant shall not be required). The notice of any special meeting shall state the date, time, and place of such meeting and the purpose thereof. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting, except as stated in the notice.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to mail or to cause to be delivered to the Owner of record of each Lot a notice of each annual or special meeting of the Association stating the purpose of the special meeting, as well as the time and place where it is to be held. If an Owner wishes notice to be given at an address other than his or her Lot, he or she shall have designated by notice in writing to the Secretary such other address. The mailing or delivery of a notice of meeting in the manner provided in this Section shall be considered service of notice. Notices shall be served not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before a meeting.
Section 5. Waiver of Notice. Waiver of notice of a meeting of the members shall be deemed the equivalent of proper notice. Any member may, in writing, waive notice of any meeting by a member, whether in person or by proxy, shall be
deemed waiver by such member of notice of the time, date, and place thereof, unless such member specifically objects to lack of proper notice at the time the meeting is called to order.
Section 6. Adjournment of Meetings. If any meetings of the Association cannot be held because a quorum is not present, a Majority of the members who are present at such meeting, either in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to a time not less than five (5) nor more than thirty (30) days from time the original meeting was called. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business which might have been transacted at the meeting originally called may be transacted without further notice.
Section 7. Votinq. The voting rights of the members shall be as set forth in the Declaration, and such voting rights are specifically incorporated herein.
Section 8. Proxies. At all meetings of members, each member may vote in person or by proxy. All proxies shall be in writing, dated, and filed with the Secretary before the appointed time of each meeting. Every proxy shall be revocable and shall automatically cease upon conveyance by the member of his or her Lot, or upon receipt of notice by the secretary of the death or judicially declared incompetence of a member, or of written revocation, or upon the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy.
Section 9. Quorum. The presence, in person or by proxy, of twenty-five
percent (25%) of the total eligible Association vote shall constitute a quorum
at all meetings of the Association. The members present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough members to leave less than
a quorum.
Section 10. Action Without A Formal Meeting. Any action to be taken at a meeting of the members or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the members may be taken without a meeting if one or more consents, in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by members holding the voting power required to pass such action at a meeting held on the date that the last consent is executed and such action is consented to by the Declarant if required. Such action shall be effective upon receipt by the Association of a sufficient number of such consents executed by current members unless a later effective date is specified therein. Each signed consent shall be delivered to the Association and shall be included in the minutes of meetings of members filed in the permanent records of the Association.
Section 11. Action By Written Ballot. Any action to be taken at any annual, regular or special meeting of members may be taken without a meeting if approved by written ballot as provided herein. The Association shall deliver a written ballot to each member entitled to vote on the matter. The written ballot shall set forth each proposed action and provide an opportunity to vote for or against each proposed action. Approval by written ballot of an action shall only be valid when the number of votes cast by ballot equals or exceeds the quorum required to be present at a meeting held to authorize such action and the number of approvals equals or exceeds the number of votes that would be required to approve the matter at a meeting at which the total number of votes cast was the same as the number of votes cast by ballot. All solicitations for votes by written ballot shall indicate the number of responses needed to meet the quorum
requirements; state the percentage of approvals necessary to approve each matter
(other than election of directors); and specify the time by which a ballot must be received by the Association in order to be counted. A timely written ballot received by the Association may not be revoked without the consent of the Board of Directors. The results of each action by written ballot shall be certified by the Secretary and shall be included in the minutes of meetings of members filed in the permanent records of the Association.
Board of Directors: Number, Powers, Meetings
A. Composition and Selection.
Section 1. Governing Body: Composition. The affairs of the Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors. Except as provided in section 2 of this Article, the directors must reside in the Community and shall be members or spouses of such members; provided, however, no Person and his or her spouse may
serve on the Board at the same time.
Section 2. Directors Appointed by Declarant. Declarant shall have the right to appoint or remove any member or members of the Board of Directors or any officer of officers of the Association until such time as the first of the following events shall occur: (a) the expiration of ten (10) years after the date of the recording of the Declaration; (b) the date on which seventy-nine (79) Lots shall have been conveyed by Declarant to Owners other than a Person or Persons constituting Declarant; or (c) the surrender by Declarant in writing of the authority to appoint and remove directors and officers of the Association. Each officer, by acceptance of a deed to or other conveyance of a Lot, vests in Declarant such authority to appoint and remove directors and officers of the Association. The directors selected by the Declarant need not be Owners ot residents in the Community.
Section 3. Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of three (3) members; provided, however, the Board may at any time after the meeting at which the owners elect directors pursuant to Article III, section 5(a) of these Bylaws, increase the number of Board members to five (5).
Section 4. Nomination of Directors. Elected directors shall be nominated from the floor and may also be nominated by a nominating committee, if such a committee is established by the Board. All candidates shall have a reasonable opportunity to communicate their qualifications to the members and to solicit votes.
Section 5. Election and Term of Office. Owner-elected directors shall be elected and hold office as follows:
(a) After the Declarant's right to appoint directors and officers terminates, the Association shall call a special meeting to be held at which Owners shall elect three (3) directors.
(b) At annual meetings of the membership thereafter, directors shall be elected. All eligible members of the Association shall vote on all directors to be elected, and the candidate(s) receiving the most votes shall be elected; provided, however, the initially elected directors shall serve the remainder of their terms.
The term of one (1) director shall be fixed at one (1) year, the term of one (1) director shall be fixed at two (2) years, and the term of one (1) director shall be fixed at three (3) years. At the expiration of the initial term of office of each respective member of the Board of Directors, a successor shall be elected to serve for a term of two (2) years. The members of the Board of Directors shall hold office until their respective successors shall have been elected by the Association.
Section 6. Removal of Directors. At any regular or special meeting of the Association duly called, anyone (1) or more of the members of the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a Majority of the Total Association Vote and a successor may then and there be elected to fill the vacancy thus created. A director whose removal has been proposed by the Owners shall be given at least ten (10) days' notice of the calling of the meeting and
the purpose thereof and shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the meeting. Additionally, any director who has three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from Board meetings or who is delinquent in the payment of an assessment for more than twenty (20) days may be removed by a Majority vote of the directors at a meeting, a quorum being present. This Section shall not apply to directors appointed by Declarant.
Section 7. Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board of Directors caused by any reason, excluding the removal of a director by vote of the Association, shall be filled by a vote of the Majority of the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each Person so selected shall serve the unexpired portion of the term.
B. Meetings.
Section 8. Organization Meetings. The first meeting of the members of the
Board of Directors following each annual meeting of the membership shall be held within ten (10) days thereafter at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 9. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by a Majority of the directors, but at least four (4) such meetings shall be held during each fiscal year with at least one (1) per quarter. Notice of the regular schedule shall constitute sufficient notice of such meetings.
Section 10. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held when requested by the President, Vice President or by any two (2) directors. The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the nature of any special business to be considered. The notice shall be given to each director by one of the following methods: (a) by personal delivery; (b) written notice by first class mail, postage prepaid; (c) by telephone communication, either directly to the director or to a Person at the director's home or office who would reasonably be expected to communicate such notice promptly to the director; (d) by telegram, charges prepaid; or (e) by commercial delivery service to such director's home or office. All such notices shall be given or sent to the director's address or telephone number as shown on the records of the Association. Notices sent by first class mail shall be deposited into a United States mailbox at least four (4) days before the time set for the meeting. Notices given by personal delivery, telephone, or telegraph company shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time set for the meeting.
Section 11. Waiver of Notice. The transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if (a) a quorum is present, and (b) either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its commencement about the lack of adequate notice.
Section 12. Quorum of Board of Directors. At all meetings of the Board of
Directors, a Majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the votes of a Majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the decision of the Board of Directors. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a Majority of the required quorum for that meeting. If any meeting cannot be held because a quorum is not present, a Majority of the directors who are present at such meeting may adjourn the meeting to a time not
less than five (5) nor more than thirty (30) days from the time that the original meeting was called. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business which might have been transacted at the meeting originally called may be transacted without further notice.
Section 13. Compensation. No director shall receive any compensation from the Association for acting as such unless approved by a Majority of the Total Association Vote.
Section 14. Open Meetings. All meetings of the Board shall be open to all members, but members other than directors may not participate in any discussion or deliberation unless expressly so authorized by the Board.
Section 15. Executive Session. The Board may adjourn a meeting and reconvene in executive session to discuss and vote upon personnel matters, litigation in which the Association is or may become involved, and orders of business of a similar nature. The nature of any and all business to be considered in executive session shall first be announced in open session.
Section 16. Action Without A Formal Meeting. Any action to be taken at a meeting of the directors or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors.
Section 17. Telephonic Participation. One (1) or more directors may participate in and vote during any regular or special meeting of the Board by telephone conference call or similar communication equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and those directors so participating shall be present at such meeting. Any such meeting at which a quorum participates shall constitute a regular meeting of the Board.
C. Powers and Duties
Section 18. Powers. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the affairs of the Association and shall have all of the powers and duties necessary for the administration of the Association's affairs and, as provided by law, may do all acts and things as are not by the Declaration, Articles, or these Bylaws directed to be done and exercised exclusively by the members. In addition to the duties imposed by these Bylaws or by any resolution of the Association that may hereafter be adopted, the Board of Directors shall have the power to and be responsible for the following, in way of explanation, but not limitation:
(a) preparation and adoption of an annual budget in which there shall be established the contribution of each Owner to the common expenses;
(b) making assessments to defray the common expenses, establishing the means and methods of collecting such assessments, and establishing the period of the installment payments of the annual assessment;
(c) providing for the operation, care, areas which are the maintenance responsibility
(d) designating, hiring, and dismissing the personnel necessary for the operation of the Association and, where appropriate, providing for the compensation of such personnel and for the purchase of equipment, supplies, and material to be used by such personnel in the performance of their duties;
(e) collecting the assessments, depositing the proceeds thereof in a bank depository which it shall approve, and using the proceeds to administer the Association;
(f) making and amending use restrictions and rules and regulations;
(g) opening of bank accounts on behalf of the Association and designating the signatories required;
(h) enforcing by legal means the provisions of the Declaration, these Bylaws, and the rules and regulations adopted by it, and bring any proceedings which may be instituted on behalf of or against the Owners concerning the Association;
(i) obtaining and carrying insurance against casualties and liabilities, as provided in the Declaration, and paying the premium cost thereof;
(j) paying the cost of all services rendered to the Association or its members which are not directly chargeable to owners;
(k) keeping books with detailed accounts of the receipts and expenditures affecting the Association and its administration, and specifying the maintenance and repair expenses and any other expenses incurred; and
(1) contracting with any Person for the performance of various duties and functions. The Board shall have the power to enter into common management agreements with trusts, condominiums, or other associations. Any and all functions of the Association shall be fully transferable by the Board, in whole or in part, to any other entity.
Section 19. Management Agent. The Board of Directors may employ for the Association a professional management agent or agents at a compensation established by the Board of Directors to perform such duties and services as the Board of Directors shall authorize. The Declarant or an affiliate of the Declarant may be employed as managing agent or Manager. The term of any management agreement shall not exceed one (1) year and shall be subject to termination by either party, without cause and without penalty, upon ninety (90) days' written notice.
Section 20. Fining Procedure. The Board shall not impose a fine (a late charge shall not constitute a fine) unless and until the following procedure is followed:
(a) Demand. Written demand to cease and desist from an alleged violation shall be served upon the alleged violator specifying:
(i) the alleged violation;
(ii) the action required to abate the violation; and
(iii) a time period, not less than ten (10) days, during which the violation may be abated without further sanction, if such violation is a continuing one, or a statement that any further violation of the same rule may result in the imposition of a fine, if the violation is not continuing. The Board or its designee may demand immediate abatement in such circumstances which, in the Board's determination, pose a danger to safety or property.
(b) Notice. Within twelve (12) months of such demand, if the violation continues past the period allowed in the demand for abatement without penalty, or if the same rule is subsequently violated, the Board may, upon notice, impose a fine. The notice shall state:
(i) the nature of the alleged violation;
(ii) that the alleged violator may, within ten (10) days from the date of the notice, request a hearing regarding the fine;
(iii) that any statements, evidence, and witnesses may be produced by the alleged violator at the hearing; and
(iv) that all rights to have the fine reconsidered are waived if a hearing is not requested within ten (10) days of the date of the notice.
(c) Hearing. If a hearing is requested, it shall be held before the Board in executive session, and the alleged violator shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The minutes of the meeting shall contain a written statement of the results of the hearing.