Note: The ABN Bylaws below are in the process of being revised to reflect the transformation of the organization into an individual-membership group.
Article 1 - Name and Area
The name of the organization shall be the Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods, hereinafter referred to as ABN. The area is defined as the City of Boston, Massachusetts.
Article II - Purposes
Section 1. General Purposes
The general purposes of ABN are as follows.
A. Serve as a clearinghouse of information for the neighborhood groups in the City, and collect information about local issues such as development, transportation, zoning, licensing, city services, and legislation.
B. Provide a channel of communication between ABN, governmental agencies, public officials and others on concerns that transcend neighborhood boundaries.
C. Identify issues of common concern reported by representatives from neighborhood groups.
D. Serve as the voice of neighborhood interests in areas of Citywide or metropolitan regional concern.
E. Coordinate neighborhood associations, neighborhood councils, civic groups and community groups in matters dealing with neighborhood concerns in the City.
F. Meet with city departments and elected officials to ensure fairness in the public process.
G. Serve as a public forum and community education source for all neighborhood associations and all residents.
Article III - Membership
Section 1. Membership. Membership in ABN shall be open to any neighborhood organization or elected neighborhood council (hereinafter referred to as "neighborhood organization") in the City of Boston which meets the following criteria.
1. Subscribe to the general purposes of ABN.
2. Represent residential concerns.
3. Represent a contiguous geographic area.
4. Have an open membership.
5. Have at least twenty-five members.
6. Hold at least one public meeting annually.
7. Have leaders selected by its membership. 8. Pay the annual ABN dues.
An organization in which the primary mission is development is not eligible for ABN membership.
Applicants for admission to ABN must meet the minimum criteria as defined in Article III Section 1.
Applicants must submit written application for membership to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall evaluate each application and make a recommendation to the membership.
The ABN membership shall vote whether to admit the organization.
Section 3. Continued Membership
A. Maintaining Membership. To maintain ABN membership, an organization must continue to meet the membership criteria, participate in ABN monthly meetings, and pay all dues when assessed. An organizationís membership status may be changed after a recommendation by the Executive Committee and a vote by the membership.
B. Final Decision. In all cases, the final decision as to whether a neighborhood organization shall retain membership status is made by the membership of ABN, with a two thirds vote required for expulsion.
Article IV - Representation
The selection of delegates and timing of their appointments is determined by each member organization. Upon payment of the annual dues, each member organization is allowed one vote, and one primary and one alternate delegate as its representatives. An organization may designate additional alternate delegates upon payment of a fee for each additional alternate delegate. A member organization must notify the Executive Committee in writing whenever any of the organizationís delegates change. Written proxies are allowed if they are presented in writing to the officer presiding at the meeting via mail, facsimile, or in person, and announced prior to the vote.
Article V - Management
Between regular meetings, management of ABN shall be vested in its Executive Committee. Actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the membership at the next regular meeting.
Article VI - Executive Committee
1. Members. The Executive Committee of ABN shall consist of its four officers and three other delegates, as elected by the membership. All Executive Committee meetings are open to any delegate who wishes to attend.
2. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or upon request of three or more Executive Committee members.
3. Quorum. The presence of a majority of the delegates on the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article VII - Officers
1. Officers. Officers of the ABN shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. Duties. The President shall be the ABN spokesperson and primary contact with city officials, media, and potential members. The Vice President shall organize and conduct ABN meetings, and shall assist the president. The Secretary shall maintain membership rosters, keep meeting records, publish bulletins, and distribute neighborhood profiles. The Treasurer shall administer the finances of the ABN.
Article VIII - Elected Positions
1. Eligibility. Any delegate of an ABN member organization shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Executive Committee or as an officer of the ABN.
2. Nominations. A Nominating Committee, consisting of three ABN delegates from three different neighborhood organizations shall be elected by the delegates at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting for the purpose of presenting a proposed slate of officers and Executive Committee members. This slate shall be announced in the call for the Annual Meeting. Nothing herein contained shall preclude nominations from the floor when duly seconded.
3. Election and Tenure. All officers and Executive Committee members shall be elected once annually by a majority vote of the membership. Elections shall be by ballot. Each officer and Executive Committee member shall be elected for a one-year term and shall assume office at the conclusion of the election.
4. Vacancies. If a position of officer or other member on the Executive Committee shall become vacant during the year, such vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee. Persons so appointed shall serve until the next Annual Meeting.
5. Removal. Any officer or other member of the Executive Committee may be removed by a majority vote of the delegates at any duly called meeting of ABN. Such removal, however, must be included in the call for the meeting.
Article IX - Meetings
1. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting shall include the election of members of officers and members of the Executive Committee, and the transaction of other business, and shall take place during the month of January. The time and place shall be designated by the President subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee.
2. Meetings. ABN shall hold monthly meetings as practicable at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall determine.
Article X - Dues and Fiscal Year
1. Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of ABN shall commence January 1 of each year.
2. Membership Dues. Membership dues shall be recommended by the Executive Committee, approved by a vote of the membership, and payable at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Article XI - Amendments
The by-laws may be amended after a delegate introduces a proposed amendment at a regular meeting and the membership votes in favor at the next meeting. The Secretary shall notify the delegates in writing of any proposed amendment at least seven days prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon. A two thirds vote is required to amend.
Article XII - Voting
Section 1. Eligibility, Quorum, Procedures, and Representation Authority
A. Eligibility. Prior to any vote, a list of authorized delegates from member organizations shall be compiled.
B. Quorum. A quorum shall consist of delegates representing fifty per cent (50%) or more of neighborhood organizations that are members and have paid the current yearís dues.
C. Approval. Except as otherwise prescribed in the by-laws, authorization for the ABN to take action shall be by a vote of three quarters (3/4) of the paid member neighborhoods at a meeting where a quorum is present. In the event that a representative is unable to attend a meeting where a major decision is to be voted upon, an absentee ballot may be submitted by mail, facsimile, or by another delegate. All absentee ballots shall be presented to the presiding officer prior to the vote. Any or all dissenting votes may be made public at the request of the dissenting organization.
D. Representation Authority. Each delegate shall represent the interests of the neighbor;hood organizations by whom he or she is appointed. It is the responsibility of each member organization to determine the extent and frequency of communication between that organization and its ABN delegates.
Section 2. Position of Conflict with a Single Neighborhood.
ABN's purpose, as described in Article II, is to address issues of City-wide concern. ABN shall not vote on questions relating exclusively to one neighborhood's geographic area if such a vote would conflict with any other neighborhood organization's interest in an issue pertaining to its geographic area. ABN will not impinge on the sovereignty of any neighborhood organization to solely express a position exclusively pertaining to its geographic area.
Article XIII - Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of ABN, the residual assets shall be turned over to an organization or charity whose goals are compatible with those of ABN. The ABN shall conform with Massachusetts dissolution laws. Upon dissolution, the net assets of the organization and corporation shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes specified in Section 501 ©3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
No assets shall be distributed to any individual, director, officer, or other private person except to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and in furtherance of the exempt purposes described in Article II of these by-laws.
Article XIV - Implementation
These by-laws shall take effect after they are introduced at one ABN meeting, discussed at the next ABN meeting, and voted upon at a third ABN meeting.