LA City C.O.A Constitution and Bylaws



ARTICLE I

NAME

The Chief Officers Group of the Los Angeles City Fire Department shall hereinafter be known as the Chief Officers Association of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.




ARTICLE II

GOALS

GOAL 1.To maintain and improve wages, hours, and working conditions for all members of the Chief Officers Association.
GOAL 2.To provide improved communications among all members of the Chief Officers Association.
GOAL 3.To promote and provide leadership, direction, and counsel for all members of the Chief Officers Association.
GOAL 4.To provide a social relationship among all members of the Chief Officers Association.
GOAL 5.To establish effective membership participation by developing and implementing a committee structure.





ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. The active membership of the Chief Officers Association shall consist of the active, regularly appointed Chief Officers of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
SECTION 2. There shall exist an associate class of membership which shall consist of retired, regularly appointed Chief Officers of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Associate members may be designated as liaison to retired members and serve as an ex officio member of the Board.
SECTION 3. Any active member who may become more than six (6) pay periods delinquent in the payment of his dues shall automatically lose the rights of voting and holding office until such time as his dues obligations are fulfilled.
SECTION 4. No member shall be discriminated against because of race, sex, religion, age or political affiliation.





ARTICLE IV

ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 1. The administrative functions of the Chief Officers Association shall be performed by a popularly elected five (5) member Board of Directors, hereinafter to be known as the Board. The Board shall have and hold complete authority to administer and execute its various functions and responsibilities.
SECTION 2. The Board shall consist of the following Officers: President , Vice President , Secretary , Treasurer , and Social Director. No member of the Board shall serve in more than one office at any time except during periods of temporary vacancy on the Board.
SECTION 3. During the first business meeting of each calendar year, the Board shall, by simple majority, nominate and elect one Board member to each of the Board offices. Board Officers may serve successive one year terms at the will of a majority of the Board. Newly elected Officers shall take office immediately after their election.





ARTICLE V

ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD

SECTION 1. Members of the Board shall be elected by written secret ballot. No member shall be elected to the Board unless he shall have received a majority of the votes cast by the active membership.
SECTION 2. Election of Board members shall occur during November of each year. Election ballots shall include only the names of those members who have given notice to the Board that they wish their name be placed on the ballot. Those on the ballot may be nominated by any member or by themselves on a written nominating ballot. Such notice shall be submitted to the Board prior to October 1 of the election year. A member may remove his name from the ballot by verbal notice to the Board.
SECTION 3. Elections shall be conducted by the Board and audited by three (3) non-members of the Board who are not candidates in the election they are auditing. Election results shall be recorded in the Minutes of the next Board Meeting.
SECTION 4. Term of office shall be three years and shall commence on January 1 of the year following the year of election.
SECTION 5. The Board shall have authority to appoint members to the Board of Directors in the event of temporary vacancies created by resignation, retirement, death, or removal.





ARTICLE VI

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD

SECTION 1. A Board member's resignation shall become effective upon his presentation of a written statement to the Board which indicates his decision to resign and the date upon which his resignation is to become effective.
SECTION 2. A Board member may be removed from his position on the Board for just cause. Removal from the Board shall be based upon a written petition which states the cause(s) for removal and which has been signed by a majority of the active membership. Such removal shall become effective immediately following presentation of the removal petition to the Board.





ARTICLE VII

BOARD MEETINGS

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall meet as frequently as organization business requires. There shall be at least two (2) business meetings per year for which the date, time, and place shall have been announced to the active membership. All Board meetings shall be open to the membership.
SECTION 2. All Board members shall be notified of the date, time, and place of all meetings sufficiently in advance of the meetings in order to allow opportunity for full Board participation.
SECTION 3. Board action shall occur by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board. A quorum shall be constituted by the presence of at least three (3) Board members at a regular business meeting. The vote of each Board member on each action requiring a vote shall be recorded in the Minutes.





ARTICLE VIII

DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

SECTION 1. Dues for active members shall be in the amount of 3/4 of 1% of a Fifth Step Battalion Chief, to be withheld from each bi-weekly paycheck excluding those pay periods from which payroll deductions are not withheld. (Amend. 1/1/74)
SECTION 2. There shall be no dues for associate members.
SECTION 3. Special assessments may be made from time to time for vital purposes. Special assessments shall be made only after a majority of the active membership have secretly voted in favor of such action.





ARTICLE IX

DISBURSEMENTS AND AUDITS

SECTION 1. Disbursements shall be made only on approval of a majority of the Board. Checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by one other Board member.
SECTION 2. The Secretary and Treasurer may each, with the approval of a majority of the Board, maintain a cash fund of not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for the purpose of meeting incidental and recurring expenses.
SECTION 3. All disbursements shall be recorded in the Minutes.
SECTION 4. The Board shall cause a complete audit of organization funds to be made at the close of each fiscal year by a committee of three (3) members appointed by the Board.
SECTION 5. The Treasurer shall use generally recognized accounting methods in the performance of the Treasurer's duties.





ARTICLE X

COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. There shall be one standing committee:
Employee Relations Committee

The members of the negotiating team will normally be members of this Committee.
SECTION 2. Special committees may be created and disbanded by the Board as the needs of the Association dictate.
SECTION 3. Committee members shall be appointed by the President subject to approval by a majority of the Board. The standing committee shall be comprised of not less than three (3) members and shall be chaired by a Board member.





ARTICLE XI

COMPENSATION, GIFTS, AND AWARDS

SECTION 1. No member shall receive any monetary or material compensation or gift or award for performance or service rendered on behalf of the Association.
SECTION 2. No member shall receive any monetary or material compensation or gift or award for performance or service rendered on behalf of the Association.





ARTICLE XII

RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION 1. Each Association member is required to attend Retirement Dinners of those members of his command who have retired. If he is unable to attend, he shall secure a substitute member to represent the Association at such dinners. member's own expense.





ARTICLE XIII

PROCEDURE

SECTION 1. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all business meetings except that in the event of procedural conflict between Roberts Rules of Order and this Constitution, then the provisions of this Constitution shall have priority. The order of business shall be as follows:

(a) Call to Order
(b) Pledge of Allegiance
(c) Introduction of Guests
(d) Adoption of Minutes
(e) Communications Received
(f) Communications Sent
(g) Committee Reports
(h) Officers' Reports
(i) Unfinished Business
(j) New Business
(k) Adjournment






ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. This Constitution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon approval, by written secret ballot, by a simple majority of the active membership.
SECTION 2. Proposed additions or amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be submitted to the active membership by the Board. Such additions or amendments shall be in full force and effect immediately upon approval, by written secret ballot, by a simple majority of the active membership.
SECTION 3. If any Section of this Constitution or Bylaws is found to be invalid or illegal, the other Sections shall still apply. In case of conflict with any state or local law, the state or local law shall apply.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES



GOAL 1. To maintain and improve wages, hours, and working conditions for all members of the Chief Officers Association.

OBJECTIVES:

A.Provide an effective employee relations negotiating team.
B.Provide training for negotiating team members.
C.Develop and implement an effective organization of political action.
D.Develop a relationship with the Chief Engineer to accomplish desired policy changes.
E.Develop coordination with the Police Protective League, UFLAC, and other employee organizations regarding negotiations, political action, and other areas of common interest.




GOAL 2. To provide improved communications among all members of the Chief Officers Association.

OBJECTIVES:

A.Develop opinion polls.
B.Issue information bulletins.
C.Provide telephone service.




GOAL 3. To promote and provide leadership, direction, and counsel for all members of the Chief Officers Association.

OBJECTIVES:

A.Conduct membership meetings.
B.Conduct orientation of new members.
C.Sponsor members in attendance at seminars and conferences in order to improve overall Chief Officers performance.
D.Support actions of Chief Officers by representing members at management meetings.




GOAL 4. To provide a social relationship among all members of the Chief Officers Association.

OBJECTIVES:

A.Conduct social dinners.
B.Conduct special breakfast and luncheon meetings.
C.Coordinate activities with all retired members.




GOAL 5. To establish effective membership participation by developing and implementing a committee structure.

POSSIBLE COMMITTEES:

A.Council Liaison
B.Pension Review
C.Deferred Compensation Plan Study


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