2.4.1lp1 Local Board Bylaws

Modified: Septembe 1986, July 2001; September 2009
Scope: Local Board Members
Owner: Commissioner
Contact: President
References: SBTCSG Policy 2.4.1 et seq.; O.C.G.A § 20-4-11; O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1; O.C.G.A § 50-14-3; O.C.G.A § 50-14-4

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Lanier Technical College Local Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Local boards were created by Georgia State Statute (O.C.G.A. 20-4-11) to support the TCSG State Board in carrying out its mission. The primary purpose of the board and its members is to:

Advise on program direction via their personal subject matter expertise and awareness of area business needs for program decisions and priorities;
Serve as a check and balance for the development and implementation of college goals and objectives as well as operations policies and procedures; and
Advocate within the community and in the state legislature on issues of importance in support of the technical college system and Georgia's workforce development efforts.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership.

The members of the Lanier Technical College Local Board of Directors shall be appointed by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. The board shall have at least seven and not more than fifteen members.

Members shall reside or be employed within the Lanier Technical College's designated service area and within one of the counties they represent. One member may represent up to two contiguous counties. Overall county representation shall generally reflect the relative populations of the counties in the service area as follows:

    Banks County – one representative
    Barrow County – one representative
    Dawson County – one representative
    Forsyth County – two representatives
    Hall County – three representatives
    Jackson County – one representative
    Lumpkin County – one representative

Members shall reflect the diversity of business, industry and economic development interests in the service area and no more than one member shall concurrently serve on any other local board of education. The board shall include men and women and shall also reflect the racial, ethnic, cultural diversity of the State of Georgia and the Lanier College's service area.

Existing staff and faculty of Lanier Technical College shall not serve as members of the board of directors.

Section 2. Terms.

At designated meetings by June of each year, the State Board shall appoint or reappoint board members to fill expiring terms and to serve three-year terms beginning July 1st.

No member may serve more than three consecutive three-year terms but a former member may be reappointed for a term to begin following a one-year break in service. A member whose term is scheduled to expire may continue to occupy his or her seat on the board until their replacement is appointed for a maximum of three meetings into the new fiscal year.

Section 3. Vacancies.

The board shall notify the State Board immediately of any vacancies that occur in unexpired terms and, based on the recommendation of the college president, the State Board shall appoint a new member to serve the remainder of the term as soon as practicable. A new member who fills an unexpired term is eligible to serve three consecutive three-year terms on his/her own.

Section 4. Resignations and Removal

(1) Any board member may resign at any time by notifying the college president who serves as the executive secretary of the board. The president shall inform the TCSG System Office (via TCDA) of the resignation. Using the local board appointment process, the college president may recommend a replacement to complete the board member's term.

(2) Any board member may be removed from office by the State Board after a majority vote of the local board members then in office whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of the college and /or the local board of directors is affected. Written request for removal with a supporting statement of concern must be forwarded to the State Board by the college president for their action. Notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting at which the removal is to be acted upon shall be given to such board member intended to be removed at least ten (10) days prior to the date of such meeting and must state the reason for the proposed removal, consistent with the approved by-laws. Disciplinary issues shall be conducted in accordance with Georgia's Open and Public Meeting Statutes O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3 and § 50-14-4.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section 1. Officers.

The officers of the board of directors shall be the chairperson, the vice chairperson, and the executive secretary.

Section 2. Election and Terms of Office.

(1) The chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected by the board from its membership at its last regularly scheduled meeting prior to July 1 of said year. The term of office for the chairperson and vice chairperson shall be one year. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall assume their respective positions on July 1 following election; no person shall hold more than one of these offices concurrently.

(2) Executive secretary. The president of Lanier Technical College, who shall not be a member of the board of directors, shall be the executive secretary.

Section 3. Removal of Officers.

The chairperson and the vice chairperson may be removed at any time by two-thirds vote of the board.

Section 4. Vacancies.

Vacancies in the offices of chairperson and vice chairperson shall be filled by the board as soon as practicable.

Section 5. Duties of Chairperson.

The chairperson shall be a member of Lanier Technical College Local Board, shall preside at the meetings of the board with the authority to vote, and shall appoint the members of any and all such committees as necessary for the board to perform its assigned duties.

The chairperson shall be an ex officio member of all committees with the authority to vote.

Section 6. Duties of Vice Chairperson.

The vice chairperson shall be a member of the board and shall perform the duties and have the powers of the chairperson during the absence or disability of the chairperson.

Section 7. Duties of the Executive Secretary.

As executive secretary, the president shall schedule and arrange for meetings of the board and furnish meeting notices and materials, as needed, to members in advance of such meetings. The executive secretary shall normally be present at all meetings of the board and shall provide that an accurate record be kept of the proceedings of the meetings of the board and its committees.

The president shall be responsible for implementing recommendations of the board and for the day-to-day operations of the board.

Section 8. Committees.

(1) Boards may have standing committees to serve as college VP/director-specific liaisons whose role is to advise and support on college events/activities.

(2) Boards may appoint ad hoc or special committees to handle specific events, situations or problems and dissolve when the task is completed.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS OF THE LOCAL BOARD

Section 1. Place of Meetings.

Meetings shall be held at such places as determined by the board.

Section 2. Attendance at all Meetings.

Board members shall attend all meetings unless prevented from doing so by disability or other causes beyond their control. Members who are unable to attend at least 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings during a fiscal year should consider resignation from the board. No person may attend any meeting of the board as a substitute for any board member; and no person except a regular member of the board shall be entitled to vote in determining the action of the board at any time.

Section 3. Regular Meetings.

The board shall meet at least eight times per year, and at each meeting it shall schedule one or more future meetings at such time and place as appropriate.

Section 4. Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the board may be called by the chairperson. A notice of the special meeting must be made available to the public in accordance with Open and Public Meetings Law, O.C.GA. § 50-14-1. Business transacted at a special meeting shall be confined to the purposes stated in the call for the meeting and shall in all other ways be conducted in conformance with the law.

Section 5. Committee Meetings.

Committees shall meet at the direction of the chairperson of the board or on call of the committee chairperson.

Section 6. Quorum.

At all meetings of the board, a majority of the full membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The action of a majority of the members of the board present at any meeting shall be the action of the board, except as may be otherwise provided by these by-laws.

Section 7. Public Meetings and Executive Session.

All meetings of the board shall be open to the public, provided, however, upon direction of the chairperson of the board or of a majority of the members of the board present at any meeting, the board may hold executive sessions at any time. The board may go into executive session for the purposes provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-4.

ARTICLE VI. OPERATION OF THE LOCAL BOARD

Section 1. Rules.

The rules contained in Roberts' Rules of Order (Revised) shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the by-laws or any special rule of the board.

Section 2. Agenda.

A prepared agenda with appropriate information shall be sent to each member of the board by the executive secretary in advance of any regular meeting of the board. This agenda, as approved or amended at each meeting, shall govern the order of business for the meeting. Additions, deletions, or reordering of agenda items shall be by majority vote.

Section 3. Minutes.

The executive secretary shall have prepared minutes of the proceedings of the board meetings. A copy of the minutes of each meeting of the board shall be mailed to each board member for review prior to approval at the succeeding meeting. The minutes shall not be considered official unless and until approved by the board.

Section 4. Local Board Actions.

The board shall generally consider action on matters brought to its attention only after referring such matters to technical college staff for appropriate analysis and recommendations. Such staff analyses shall be brief, with supporting information appended as necessary. The staff analyses shall include a statement of the issue and its implications, a description of the practical alternatives with associated advantages and disadvantages, and a recommendation. Whenever possible, such staff analyses shall accompany the agenda for the meeting at which the matter is to be considered.

ARTICLE VII. APPEARANCE BEFORE THE LOCAL BOARD

Individuals or groups wishing to appear before the board shall make their request in writing to the President at least ten days in advance of the meeting. The chairperson at his or her discretion may approve the request and allot a reasonable time for presentation. At any meeting, the chairperson, without opposition, or the board, by majority vote, may recognize unscheduled appearances before the board by individuals or groups. The chairperson shall limit citizens' presentations as necessary to maintain the timely conduct of business by the board.

ARTICLE VIII. METHOD OF AMENDING THE BY-LAWS

Section 1. Method.

These by-laws may be amended by the board with the concurrence of the State Board. Proposed amendments shall be distributed to each member of the board and to the TCSG System Office via the TCDA director no later than the regular meeting immediately preceding the regular or special meeting at which action is proposed to be taken.

Amendments to the by-laws shall require approval by at least a two-thirds vote of the board's members. The adopted amendment shall immediately be forwarded to the State Board, which shall normally consider concurrence at its next meeting. State Board action shall be by majority vote, and its action shall be immediately communicated to the local board.

Section 2. Effective Date.

Amendments shall go into effect immediately upon concurrence by the State Board.