HomeMy WebLinkAboutBSC Bylaws_5.10.2011CITY OF GEORGETOWN
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Section 1.1. Name. Building Standards Commission ("Commission").
Section 1.2. Purpose. The Commission is established to hear and determine cases
concerning alleged violations or ordinances as authorized by Chapter 54, Subchapter C,
Texas Local Government Code and the City Code of Ordinances. See Ordinance Chapter
2.64.
Section 2.1. Number of Members. The Commission will be comprised of five (5)
Members.
Section 2.2. Eligibility. Each Member shall reside in the City of Georgetown
corporate limits or ETJ while they serve on the Commission. At least four (4) Members
should be experienced in electrical contracting, mechanical contracting (heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)), plumbing contracting, real estate,
architecture, engineering, building construction and/or fire protection. One (1) Member
will serve at -large.
Section 2.3. Appointment of Commission Members. Members of the Commission
shall be appointed pursuant to and in accordance with the City Charter.
Section 2.4. Terms of Office. Generally, terms of office for each Member shall be two
(2) years. Generally, a Member may serve two (2) consecutive terms. Refer to Ordinance
Section 2.36.030A for additional provisions regarding terms of office.
Section 2.5. Vacancies. Vacancies that occur during a term shall be filled as soon as
reasonably possible and in the same manner as an appointment in accordance with the
City Charter. If possible, the Member shall continue to serve until the vacancy is filled.
An appointment to fill a vacated term is not included as a term for purposes of counting
consecutive terms.
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Section 2.6. Compensation and Expenditure of Funds. Members serve without
compensation. The Commission and its Members have no authority to expend funds or
to incur or make an obligation on behalf of the City unless authorized and approved by
the City Council. Members may be reimbursed for expenses authorized and approved
by the City Council and the Commission.
Section 2.7. Compliance with City Policy. Members will comply with City
Ordinances, Rules and Policies applicable to the Commission and the Members,
including but not limited to Ethics Ordinance Chapter 2.20 and City Commissions,
Committees and Boards Ordinance Chapter 2.36.
Section 2.8. Removal. A Member may be removed from the Commission for cause, on
written charge. Before the decision regarding removal is made, the City Council shall
hold a public hearing on the matter unless waived by the Member that is subject to the
removal action. Removal shall be by majority vote of the City Council.
Section 3.1. Officers. The Commission Officers are Chairman, Vice -Chairman and
Secretary. The Chairman is appointed by the City Council during the annual
appointment process. The other Commission Officers are elected by a majority vote of
the Members at the first meeting after the annual appointment process.
Section 3.2. Terms of Office for Commission Officers. Commission Officers serve for
a term of one year. In the event of vacancy in the office of Chairman, the Vice -
Chairman shall serve as Chairman until the City Council appoints a replacement
Chairman. A vacancy in the other offices shall be elected by majority vote of the
Members at the next regularly scheduled meeting, or as soon as reasonably practical for
the unexpired term. If possible, a Commission Officer shall continue to serve until the
vacancy is filled.
Section 3.3. Duties.
a. The Chairman presides at Commission meetings. The Chairman shall generally
manage the business of the Commission. The Chairman shall perform the duties
delegated to the Chairman by the Commission.
b. The Vice -Chairman shall perform the duties delegated to the Vice -Chairman by the
Commission. The Vice -Chairman presides at Conun.ission meetings in the
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Chairman's absence. The Vice -Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman
in the Chairman's absence or disability.
c. The Secretary shall perform the duties delegated to the Secretary by the
Commission.
Section 4.1. Time and bate of Regular Meeting. The Commission shall meet once a
month on the same week of the month, the same day of the week, at the same time, and
at the same place. The regular date, time and place of the Commission meeting will be
decided by the Members at the first meeting of the Commission after the annual
appointment process. Hearings of the Board shall be held at the call of the Chairman at
such times as the Board may determine.
Section 4.2. Agenda. Items may be placed on the agenda by the Chairman, the
Building Official, the City Manager or designee, or at the request of a Member. The
party (or individual) requesting the agenda item will be responsible for preparing an
agenda item cover sheet and for the initial presentation at the meeting. Items included
on the agenda must be submitted to the Staff Liaison no later than one week before the
Commission meeting at which the agenda item will be considered. Agenda packets for
regular meetings will be provided to the Members in advance of the scheduled
Commission meeting. Agenda packets will contain the posted agenda, agenda item
cover sheets, and written minutes of the last meeting.
Section 4.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or on
written request of two (2) Members.
Section 4.4. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Members. A
quorum is required for the Commission to convene a meeting and to conduct business
at a meeting. Attendance of at least four Members is required to hear and determine a
case.
Section 4.5. Call to Order. Commission meetings will be called to order by the
Chairman or, if absent, by the Vice -Chairman. In the absence of both the Chairman and
Vice -Chairman, the meeting shall be called to order by the Secretary, and a temporary
Chairman shall be elected to preside over the meeting.
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Section 4.6. Conduct of Meeting. Commission meetings will be conducted in
accordance with these Bylaws and City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures, as
applicable to the Commission. See Ordinance Chapter 2.24.
Section 4.7. Voting. Each Member shall vote on all agenda items, except on matters
involving a conflict of interest, substantial financial interest or substantial economic
interest under state law, the City's Ethics Ordinance, or other applicable Laws, Rules
and Policies. In such instances the Member shall make the required disclosures and
shall refrain from participating in both the discussion and vote on the matter. The
Member may remain at the dais or leave the dais, at the Member's option, while the
matter is being considered and voted on by the other Commission Members. Unless
otherwise provided by law, each case before the Commission must be heard and
determined by at least four Members. Any request not approved by affirmative vote of
four or more Members shall be considered denied.
Section 4.8. Minutes. A recording or written minutes shall be made of all open
sessions of Conuni.ssion meetings. The minutes shall show the vote of each Member
upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and
examinations and other official actions. The Staff Liaison is the custodian of all
Commission records and documents.
Section 4.9. Attendance. Members are required to attend Commission meetings
prepared to discuss the issues on the agenda. A Member shall notify the Chairman and
the Staff Liaison if the Member is unable to attend a meeting. Excessive absenteeism
will be subject to action under Council policy and may result in the Member being
replaced on the Commission. See Ordinance Section 2.36.010D. Excessive absenteeism
means failure to attend at least 75% of regularly scheduled meetings, including
Commission meetings and Subcommittee meetings. If a Member is removed from the
Commission that position shall be considered vacant and a new Member shall be
appointed to the Commission in accordance with Section 2.5 above.
Section 4.10. Public Participation. In accordance with City policy, the public is
welcome and invited to attend Commission meetings and to speak on any item on the
agenda. A person wishing to address the Commission must sign up to speak in
accordance with the policy of the Council concerning participation and general public
comment at public meetings. Sign-up sheets will be available and should be submitted
to the Chairman prior to the start of the meeting. If any written materials are to be
provided to the Commission, a copy shall also be provided to the Staff Liaison for
inclusion in the minutes of the meeting. Speakers shall be allowed a maximum of three
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minutes to speak, but may take up to six minutes if another individual who signs up to
speak yields the time to the speaker. If a person wishes to speak on an issue that is not
posted on the agenda, they must file a written request with the Staff Liaison no later
than one week before the scheduled meeting. The written request must state the
specific topic to be addressed and include sufficient information to inform the
Commission and the public. A person who disrupts the meeting may be asked to leave
and be removed.
Section 4.11. Open Meetings. Public notice of Commission meetings shall be provided
in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act. All Commission
meetings and deliberations shall be open to the public, except for properly noticed
closed session matters, and shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the
Texas Open Meetings Act.
Section 4.12. Closed Sessions. The Commission may conduct closed sessions as
allowed by law, on properly noticed closed session matters, such as consultation with
attorney on legal matters, deliberation regarding the value of real property, competitive
utility matters, and economic development negotiations. A recording or certified
agenda shall be made of all closed sessions of Commission meetings.
ARTICLE V. REPORTS TO CITY COUNCIL
The Commission shall meet with City Council, as requested, to determine how the
Commission may best serve and assist City Council. City Council shall hear reports
from the Commission at regularly scheduled Council meetings.
Section 6.1. Formation. When deemed necessary by a majority of the Commission,
Subcommittees may be formed for specific projects related to Commission matters.
Subcommittees comprised of non -Members may only be formed with the prior consent
and confirmation of the City Council.
Section 6.2. Expenditure of Funds. No Subconu-nittee, or member of a Subcommittee,
has the authority to expend funds or incur an obligation on behalf of the City or the
Commission. Subcommittee expenses may be reimbursed if authorized and approved
by the Commission or by City Council.
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Section 6.3. Open Meetings. Subcommittee meetings and deliberations shall be open
to the public, except for properly noticed closed session matters, and shall be conducted
in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the Commission Members at any
regular meeting of the Commission. The Commission's proposed amendments to the
Bylaws must be approved by City Council at the next Council meeting after the
Commission's approval. Bylaw amendments are not effective until approved by City
Council.
Approved and adopted at a meeting of the City Council on the day of
20 .
City Secretary
Mayor
Approved and adopted at a meeting of the Commission on the day of
,20
FT-161=9
Commission Secretary
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Commission Chairman