Texas Public Works Association Chapter Bylaws

 

ARTICLE I — NAME AND JURISDICTION

SECTION 1. The name of the organization shall be the American Public Works Association, hereinafter
called Texas Chapter of APWA, hereinafter called the Chapter. The territory included within
the jurisdiction of this Chapter shall be the border of the State of Texas.

ARTICLE II — MISSION AND PURPOSE

SECTION 1. The  purposes of this Chapter are to cause and share with our community, the advancement of the theory and practice of the design, construction, maintenance, administration and  operation of public works facilities and services; the dissemination of information and  experiences; the promotion of improved practices in public works administration; the expectation that all member public works officials will adhere to high professional and  ethical standards; and enhancing the professional and social improvement of its members,  as set forth in the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association.”

SECTION 2. The Chapter shall engage in a program of activities designed to further the purposes of APWA and the Chapter within its jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the scheduling of regular meetings of its membership. Such programs and activities shall be consistent with the mission, vision, and adopted goals of APWA and shall not include the endorsement of items of a partisan, political, or business nature inconsistent with the mission, vision, and adopted goals of APWA and the Chapter.

SECTION 3. The Chapter is not organized for profit, and earnings shall not directly benefit any Chapter
member or Officer except as compensation for services rendered or for reimbursement of necessary expenses actually incurred.

ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Members of APWA residing in the TEXAS Chapter territory specified in Article I, Section 1, shall be members of the Chapter and shall hold the same type of membership in the Chapter that they hold in APWA. Members of APWA residing outside the TEXAS Chapter territory specified in Article I, Section 1, may elect to be members of the TEXAS Chapter and shall hold the same type of membership in this Chapter that they hold in APWA but shall be a member of only one Chapter. Members of APWA residing in the TEXAS Chapter territory as described in Article I, Section 1, may elect to be a member of a Chapter other than the TEXAS Chapter but shall be a member of only one Chapter.

SECTION 2. Criteria for and grades of membership shall be as prescribed by the Bylaws of the American
Public Works Association.

ARTICLE IV — FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE YEARS

SECTION 1. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from July 1 through June 30.

SECTION 2. The administrative year of the Chapter shall be from July 1 through June 30. (To transition the administrative year from January 1 through December 31 to July 1 through June 30, an 18 month transition year shall be from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021)   

ARTICLE V — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Executive Committee, consisting of:

A.  The Officers of the Chapter

    1. President
    2. President Elect
    3. Vice President
    4. Secretary
    5. Treasurer
    6. Immediate Past President

B. The Chapter Directors

  1. Chapter Trustee
  2. TML Representative

C. The President or his/her designee of each Branch of the Texas Chapter

D. Council of Chapters Delegate

  1. Chapter Delegate
  2. Alternate Chapter Delegate

SECTION 2. No person shall be nominated, elected, or allowed to serve on the Executive Committee unless he or she holds current membership in APWA.

SECTION  3. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint a Chapter member to fill the unexpired term of office.

SECTION 4. The Executive Committee shall manage all the affairs of the Chapter in accordance with the
rules and regulations of APWA and the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public
Works Association.”

SECTION 5. The Executive Committee shall have the power to contract an individual or firm to provide
administrative or other services (Chapter Administrator) and whose duties and compensation shall be as specified by the Executive Committee in an approved and executed contract that shall have been previously approved by APWA.

SECTION 6. Provided a quorum as defined in Article X is present, an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Executive Committee members present at any regular or duly called meeting shall be required to pass any motion consistent with this or any other provision of the Chapter Bylaws unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

SECTION 7. Should a motion where no action was taken or a motion that has not been previously debated arise requiring immediate action, the President can put the motion to a vote by means of electronic balloting (for example, but not limited to, letter ballot, telephone,  video conference call, email or web based application) as addressed in the Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association and the Texas Chapter Bylaws.

SECTION 8. The Secretary shall record, as a part of the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting immediately following the voting, the means and results of the voting and the names of each Executive Committee member participating.

SECTION 9. Each Branch may appoint a voting delegate to the Executive Committee in the event that the Branch President is unable to participate or in the event that the Branch President is already a member of the Executive Committee. This representative shall be an officer of the Branch. This designation must be done in writing by the Branch President at the start of the calendar year. No member of the Executive Committee is allowed to give his or her proxy to another person.

ARTICLE VI — OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. The Chapter shall have as its Officers, a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President. The Chapter shall have two (2) Chapter Directors.

SECTION 2. The President shall be the Chief Elected Officer of the Chapter and shall serve a term of one year after having served a one-year term as President-Elect. He/she shall preside at all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings and shall chair the Executive Committee. He/she shall issue the call for regular or special Executive Committee meetings. He/she shall have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Chapter at the direction of the Executive Committee, appoint the Chairs of all Committees, standing and special, and be an ex-officio member of each Committee. He/she shall see that these Committees function and shall cooperate with the Committee Chairs to that end. He/she shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 3 The President-Elect shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and shall assume
the office of President upon the completion of the term of office of President-Elect. The President-Elect shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Committee and shall act for the President in the President’s absence or when the President is unable to perform the duties of the office, as determined by the Executive Committee.  He/she shall have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Chapter at the direction of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4. The Vice President shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and shall perform
such duties as assigned by the President or Executive Committee. The Vice President shall act for the President and President-Elect in their absence or, in case of the inability of the President and President-Elect to perform the duties of the President, as determined by the Executive Committee. He/she shall have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Chapter at the direction of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 5. The Secretary shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and shall keep all records (except for financial records kept by the Treasurer) including membership records and conduct all correspondence of the Chapter. The Secretary shall prepare a written record of  the proceedings of the Executive Committee and any formal proceedings of the Chapter. The Secretary shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may be required. He/she shall have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Chapter at the direction of the Executive Committee. At the expiration of the term of office, the Secretary shall turn over to his/her successor, all books, records, papers, executed contracts, documents, or other property of the Chapter in his/her custody. The Executive Committee may assign various records keeping and correspondence duties to the Chapter Administrator to assist the elected Chapter Secretary during his/her term of office.

SECTION 6. The Treasurer shall be elected annually to serve a term of one year and shall have custody of the funds, securities, and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit of the Chapter. The Treasurer shall receive all monies due the Chapter, depositing them in a bank or in other safe and secure investments approved by the Executive Committee, all of which shall be in the name of the Chapter. All checks and vouchers must be written for goods and services that have been authorized in the Chapter Annual Budget or specifically authorized by the Executive Committee. The checks shall be signed by the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit financial reports to the Executive Committee at the three primary executive committee meetings and shall prepare necessary documents to be reviewed by the Chapter Audit Committee. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may be required. At the expiration of the Treasurer’s term of office, the Treasurer shall turn over to his/her successor all books, papers, money, securities, and other valuable effects belonging to the Chapter, taking a receipt therefore from the successor. He/she shall have the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the Chapter at the direction of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may assign various fiscal duties to the Chapter Administrator to assist the elected Chapter Treasurer during his/her term of office.

SECTION 7. The Chapter’s representative to the APWA Council of Chapters, hereinafter called the Chapter Delegate, shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve a three-year term and shall be confirmed annually by the Executive Committee for the current administrative year. The Chapter Delegate shall represent the Chapter to the APWA Council of Chapters, attending regional and annual meetings of Council of Chapters, bringing Chapter concerns to their attention, and informing the Chapter Executive Committee of APWA and Council of Chapters’ activities. The chapter Delegate shall prepare and submit to APWA such reports as may be required. An Alternate Chapter Delegate may be appointed annually by the Executive Committee to serve for the current administrative year and shall act for and on behalf of the Chapter Delegate in the event of the Chapter Delegate’s absence or inability to perform the duties of this position as determined by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 8. The Texas Chapter will elect two Chapter Directors, one to be known as the Chapter Trustee and the other to be known as the Texas Municipal League (TML) Representative. The Chapter Trustee shall be elected and serve in accordance with Article VI Section 13. The Chapter TML Representative shall be elected and serve in accordance with Article VI Section 14. Each Director shall attend all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings and shall be prepared to present progress reports of any assignments.

SECTION 9. The most recent Past President holding current membership in the Chapter shall be an ex
officio member of the Executive Committee with voting privileges and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the President and the Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Past President to preside at meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee in the absence of the President, President-Elect, and Vice President.

SECTION10. The Chapter’s representative to the Public Works Institute of Texas, hereinafter called the
PWITX Chair, shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve a one-year term for the current administrative year.  The PWITX Chair shall attend all board meetings and shall be prepared to present updates and progress reports regarding PWITX activities

SECTION 11. All Chapter Officers, except as otherwise provided, shall serve for one year or until their
successors are elected and installed. The terms of office shall begin as specified in Article XIII, Section 3, of these Bylaws.

SECTION 12. In case of the inability or neglect in performance of duty by any Officer or Director of the
Chapter as determined by the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee shall have the power by a two-thirds vote of its members to declare the office vacant and shall fill the vacancy as provided in Article V, Section 3.

SECTION 13.  One member of the Chapter shall be elected to serve as Chapter Trustee and shall be a
member of the Executive Committee. The Trustee shall serve a one-year term. The Trustee shall attend all Chapter and Executive Committee meetings and shall be prepared to present progress reports of any assignments.

SECTION 14.  One Member of the Chapter shall be elected to be the Texas Municipal League (TML) Representative. The Representative is required to be an employee of a City that is a member of the TML. This position shall be for a two-year term and shall be elected in odd years.  The TML Representative may serve two consecutive terms. The duties of the TML Representative are to provide information to the Chapter regarding the policies and positions of TML including their proposed legislative program. In addition, the Representative will provide information to TML regarding positions that the Chapter wishes to take on legislative and  policy issues. The Chapter is an affiliate of the TML, and as such, the Chapter’s TML Representative serves on the TML Board of Directors. In the event a vacancy occurs during the term of the TML Representative, the current Texas Chapter President will fill the position until the expiration of the current unexpired term. Should the current Texas Chapter President be ineligible to serve on the TML Board, the Texas Chapter Executive Committee shall appoint a person meeting the necessary criteria to complete the term.

SECTION 15.  The President-Elect, Vice President, and Trustee shall not be eligible for reelection to the same office until at least one full year has elapsed after the ends of their respective terms.  The President may be elected to serve one additional one-year term if the President-Elect decides not to seek the President’s position.

SECTION 16.  Former Officers may be appointed by the Executive Committee in accordance with Article V, Section 3, to fulfill the unexpired terms of vacancies on the Executive Committee. Former Officers so selected shall hold office only for the unexpired term of the office vacated. Such tenure shall not preclude nomination for office at the next election.

SECTION 17.  Duties for the specific positions are further enumerated in the Chapter Manual. The Executive Committee may modify these duties and responsibilities by majority vote at any Executive Committee meeting.

SECTION 18.  A member of the Board may be removed by an affirmative two-thirds vote by the Board for
reasons of non-participation or gross misconduct. Grounds for removal for non-participation shall include unexcused absence of a board member at two or more meetings during each one-year term.

ARTICLE VII — COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. The President will annually designate at a minimum two Standing Committees, the Chapter
Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee. These committees are described in Articles VIII and XIII. The President, at his/her discretion, may designate additional standing committees, special committees and task forces as deemed necessary to conduct Chapter affairs.  The Public Works Institute (PWITX) is to be included as a standing/special committee as long as the Public Works Institute of Texas (PWITX) is in existence. The PWITX
Chair, with approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint the remainder PWITX Committee Officers to meet their needs.

Duties of the committee shall be:

  1. Oversee the administrative and financial matters of the PWITX
  2. Elect a PWITX Committee Treasurer, a PWITX Vice Chair and a PWITX Committee Secretary.
  3. With approval by Chapter Executive Committee, contract with a PWITX Administrator; duties
  4. Prepare Policies and Procedures to guide the operations of the PWITX; submit policies and procedures to the Executive Committee for review and approval.
  5. Serve at the pleasure of the Chapter Executive Committee, without specific terms of office.

The PWITX Committee Chair and the PWITX Treasurer shall be authorized to open a bank account(s) and to receive and disburse funds through that account(s) in a manner consistent with the APWA and Texas Chapter of APWA financial policies and procedures, so as to manage and execute the Chapter Board authorized PWITX training and educational programs. The bank account(s) shall have  the following signatories:  Chapter Board Treasurer, the APWA Executive Director, the PWITX Committee Chair, and PWITX Treasurer.

SECTION 2. The chair of each Standing Committee and Special Committee, with the exception of the PWITX Committee, shall be appointed annually by the President. Additional committee members are recommended and may be appointed at the discretion of the committee chair, and confirmed by the Chapter President.

SECTION 3.  Each Standing Committee shall report to the Executive Committee its activities at least once annually or more frequently if directed by the President or the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4.  No committee shall obligate the Chapter or issue a public proclamation or policy news release without specific authorization from the Executive Committee.

SECTION 5. Committees exist for the purpose of implementing the mission, vision, and goals of the Chapter and APWA. Only members of APWA and the Chapter are eligible to serve as chair of a committee. While it is expected those serving on such committees will be members of the Chapter, the inclusion of non-members in some circumstances where specialized technical expertise is needed may be appropriate. However, the effective control of the committee shall be retained by the committee chair.

ARTICLE VIII — CHAPTER AUDIT COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. The President shall annually appoint a Chapter Audit Committee, hereinafter referred to as
Audit Committee consisting of at least two Chapter members who shall examine the financial records of the Chapter. Chapter members may not serve on the Audit Committee in which he/she had signatory rights to the Chapter’s bank or investment accounts for the reporting period being audited.

SECTION 2. All members having custody or control of Chapter funds at any time during the reporting
period are expected to cooperate fully with the Audit Committee.

SECTION 3. The duties of the Audit Committee include examination of the Chapter’s financial records in order to verify the assets, liabilities, net assets and cash flows (revenues and expenses) of the Chapter for the Association’s accounting period.  The Audit Committee must adhere to the policies and procedures outline in the Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association.

SECTION 4. Financial records of the Chapter’s Branch(es) (if applicable) are to be included in the examination performed by the Chapter Audit Committee unless the Branch Bylaws call for  the formation of a Branch Audit Committee separate from that of the Chapter.

ARTICLE IX — MEETINGS

SECTION 1. The Annual Meeting of the Chapter membership shall be held no later than the Public WorkShop, the date and place of which shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Other General Membership Meetings for the transaction of business of the Chapter may be called by the President upon the President’s own volition, upon request by the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of 15 members in good standing of the Chapter. The membership shall be notified at least two weeks in advance of the date and place of the Annual Meeting and of any other General Membership Meetings.

SECTION 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at least four (4) times during the administrative year.
Special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at the call of the President or at the written request of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. Three (3) meetings will be held at the Public WorkShop, the Annual Conference, and the TML Annual Conference. The fourth meeting during the year will be determined by the President.

SECTION 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be conducted in person, by means of a telephone or video conference call, or in any combination thereof provided such meetings are in accordance with all other provisions of these Bylaws.

SECTION 4.  The Chapter Administrator shall formally notify each member of the Executive Committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date of a regular meeting of the Executive Committee. An agenda and copy of each report and/or resolution, or other actions to be considered at such meeting, shall accompany the notice of the meeting and no changes to the agenda shall be considered at such meeting without the consent of the majority of the members of the Executive Committee in attendance.

SECTION 5. The Chapter Administrator shall formally notify each member of the Executive Committee at least five days prior to the scheduled date of a special meeting of the Executive Committee. An agenda and copy of each report and/or resolution, or other action to be considered at such meeting, shall accompany the notice of the meeting and no other matters shall be considered at such meeting.

ARTICLE X — QUORUM

SECTION 1. A simple majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at all Executive Committee meetings.

SECTION 2. For General Membership meetings of the Chapter involving a formal business agenda, five
percent of the membership of whom no more than one-half shall be members of the Executive Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE XI — ANNUAL DUES

SECTION 1. The Executive Committee may establish Chapter dues for its members in accordance with
the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association.”

SECTION 2. All dues are payable to APWA annually in advance. Non-payment of dues for a period of 90
days shall be treated as equivalent to resignation. Such members shall once again be eligible for membership when all unpaid dues have been paid in full.

SECTION 3. Annual dues shall be that portion of the annual dues paid to APWA that is assigned to the
Chapter by the Board of Directors of APWA.

SECTION 4. Additional Chapter dues may be assessed and collected for the TEXAS Chapter by APWA. Chapter dues will be reimbursed to TEXAS Chapter.

ARTICLE XII — BRANCHES

SECTION 1. Branches of the TEXAS Chapter may be formed in accordance with the procedures set forth
in the “Rules Governing Chapters of the American Public Works Association,” by groups of members representing a region within the territorial limits of the TEXAS Chapter for the purpose of furthering the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of the TEXAS Chapter. The boundaries of a Branch shall recognize the boundaries of existing Branches and must be approved in writing by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 2. Any group of 10 or more members of the Chapter may petition the Executive Committee to
form a Branch within the Chapter. Application for the establishment of a Branch, together with a copy of the proposed Branch bylaws and a list of those who have agreed to become members of the branch, shall be submitted to the TEXAS Chapter Executive Committee for approval. The Executive Committee may authorize upon approval by the APWA Board of Directors the establishment of such Branches by adopting a resolution which provides for
the Branch name, jurisdictional boundaries approves the branch bylaws, method of conducting affairs, and submission of periodic reports and appoints a temporary committee to arrange for an organizational meeting of the Branch.

SECTION 3. The officers and all members of the Branch shall be current members of APWA.

SECTION 4. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of a Branch, any remaining assets shall be rendered to the Chapter.

SECTION 5. Any correspondence, communications or financial reporting between the Branch and APWA must go through the Chapter.

ARTICLE XIII — ELECTION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Prior to the Chapter’s Public WorkShop, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members, one of whom shall be the most recent available Past President having current membership in the Chapter and who shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. If a Past President is unable to serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee, then the President should appoint a past member of the Executive Committee as Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall report the names of its nominees for each office standing election to the Executive Committee at its meeting during the Public WorkShop. One or more nominations shall be made by  the Nominating Committee for each office. No persons serving on the Nominating Committee shall be eligible for nomination except by written declaration presented to the Nominating Committee. The membership of the Chapter shall be informed of the Nominating Committee’s report at the Business Meeting during the Public WorkShop. Additional nominations may be made by declaration, on the floor, following the Nominating Committee’s report, by any person holding membership in good standing in the Chapter, provided such declaration is accompanied by an acceptance of the nomination by the nominee. Additional nominations will be accepted by written declaration submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee no later than April 1. Each such declaration must be signed by at least ten (10) members in good standing. The nomination process shall end on April 1.

SECTION 2. The Executive Committee shall prescribe the form of ballot, schedule and other details of the election procedure.  The annual election shall be held at a time and place of the Annual Conference meeting or in the case of electronic balloting, the results of the election shall be declared at the Annual  Conference meeting. Additional nominations may be made by members from the floor of the annual meeting. Should ballots be distributed to members by mail or electronic means, additional nominations will be accepted by written declaration submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee by the agreed upon published in writing date established by the Executive Committee.

SECTION  3. Newly elected Officers and Directors shall assume office at the beginning of the administrative year on July 1, with the President-Elect who was elected the previous year becoming President.

SECTION 4. In the event of extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, the Executive Committee shall have the power to declare the term of office of any or all Chapter Officers and Directors extended for one full year.

ARTICLE XIV — DISSOLUTION OF THE CHAPTER

SECTION 1. When necessary and when directed by the APWA Board of Directors, the Chapter may be
dissolved. In the event of the dissolution or final liquidation of the Chapter, after all liabilities  and obligations have been paid, satisfied and discharged, or adequate provision made  therefore, all remaining property and assets of the Chapter shall be conveyed, assigned and transferred to APWA to administer according to the bylaws of APWA, with the following exception: Funds held by the Chapter in a scholarship fund as defined by the IRS in Code
Section 501 (c)(3) may, at the discretion of the Chapter, be moved to another 501 (c)(3)
scholarship fund of the Chapter’s choice.

ARTICLE XV —   PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. The order of business at meetings of the Executive Committee or of the Chapter membership shall be determined by the President.

SECTION 2. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall
govern matters of parliamentary procedure of the Chapter, except as otherwise provided in
these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI — AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by initiatory petition submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and signed by not less than 15 Chapter members or by resolution of the Executive Committee. Proposed amendments submitted to the Executive Committee by petition shall be acted upon by the Executive Committee within six months of receipt. Proposed amendments, if approved by the Executive Committee, shall be presented by the Executive Committee to APWA.

SECTION 2. Proposed amendments submitted to the Executive Committee and not approved by the Executive Committee shall be promptly returned by the Executive Committee to the petitioners with a letter of explanation requesting that the proposed amendments be  modified and resubmitted to the Executive Committee. If the proposed amendment is resubmitted in writing and signed by a simple majority of the original petitioners, the Executive Committee shall immediately present the proposed amendment to APWA for approval with or without approval of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 3. Upon approval of the proposed amendments by APWA, the Executive Committee shall, within one year of the approval of the proposed amendments by APWA, present the  proposed amendments to the Chapter membership for approval at a meeting or by letter/electronic ballot as may be determined by the Executive Committee provided that the membership has been given a minimum of three weeks to submit ballots. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the qualified votes cast shall be necessary for the adoption of a proposed amendment.

SECTION 4. These Bylaws and such amendments as may be made from time to time shall become elective upon approval by APWA, the Texas Municipal League and adoption by the Chapter in the manner prescribed in this article.

SECTION 5. The Executive Committee should conduct a review of the Chapter’s bylaws for completeness and applicability at least once every three years. Furthermore, the Chapter should report in writing to APWA compliance with the approved bylaws or submit proposed bylaw changes for APWA approval and adoption by the Chapter.

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