Community Bylaws

ARTICLE I - Name

The official name of this Association shall be The Teaneck Garden Apartments Community Board. We will also be doing business as the following names / entities: Teaneck Apartments Community Board; Congregation of West Englewood; Congregation Ahavat Achim.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The Purpose of this association is to establish and maintain a communal structure for the Jewish residents of the local apartments within an orthodox framework, such as providing educational, religious, social and recreational activities as will help further the cause and objectives of its members and of Orthodox Judaism. These local apartments refer to residencies in and immediately around the Terrace Circle, Ayers Court, Walraven and Westgate residence complexes.

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 1. Any person of the Orthodox Jewish faith, 18 years of age or older, living within the geographic area served by the Association, shall be eligible to become a member.

Section 2. A member may be suspended from all privileges and offices or expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board for any one of the following reasons:
a) Failure to pay dues or other assessments for a period of more than one year;
b) Repeated violations of the rules and regulations of the Association, as determined by the Executive Board together with the appointed Posek.

Section 3. Application for special consideration as to the payment of dues and/or other assessments shall be made confidentially to the treasurer, whose decision shall be final.

Section 4. A member shall be in good standing if all dues and assessments have been paid in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Executive Committee or, if applicable, in accordance with terms set by the treasurer. The treasurer shall determine the standing of members (except for special incidents, as delineated in Article III Section 2).

Section 5. Members, for the purposes of voting, must declare a shul of choice (from our two shuls, Congregation of West Englewood and Terrace Circle Minyan). Further, if a member lives outside one of the clearly delineated complexes, he must choose one to be affiliated with, until such time as a formal Vice-Presidency is established for his area of residence.

ARTICLE IV - Privileges of Membership

Section 1. Members in good standing shall have the following privileges:
a) To attend all open meetings of the Association and its committees, with the exception of sessions of the Executive Board;
b) To speak, to make motions, and to vote at all open meetings of the Association;
c) To hold office in the Association and to serve on committees;
d) To participate in religious worship at all religious services conducted by the Association, subject to rules and regulations that may be established by the Executive Board.
e) To vote for board members as specified elsewhere in this document.

ARTICLE V - Dues

Section 1. Membership dues shall be fixed by the Executive Board annually.

Section 2. Newly installed members shall be assessed dues on a modified pro rata basis. For the first six (Jewish calendar) months of the year (seven during a leap year), no discount shall be offered. For each of the following six months there shall be an incremental 20% discount in the membership fee.

Section 3. The fiscal year shall be from September 1 through August 31.

Section 4. A member expelled for failure to pay dues or other assessments and who makes application for reinstatement, may be so reinstated by majority vote of the Executive Board and upon payment of all arrears.

Section 5. Payment of membership dues must be made in full by Rosh Chodesh Kislev, unless special arrangements have been agreed to with the sitting Treasurer. Payment dates for special activities, such as Yom Kippur davening, the annual BBQ, and other events, shall be determined by the committee coordinating that event.

Section 6. The Executive Board must approve the budget annually. Once approved the president must publicize the budget the membership.

ARTICLE VI - Officers
Section 1. The Executive Board of the Association shall be comprised of a President, a Vice President of Terrace Circle, a Vice President of Walraven, a Vice President of Westgate, and an Honorary Vice President for Other Apartments, a Treasurer, a Gabbai Rishon of Terrace Circle, and a Gabbai Rishon of Congregation West Englewood. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.

Section 2. Other elected officers of the Association shall be two (2) Sisterhood Co-Chairwomen, a Gabbai Sheni of Terrace Circle, a Gabbai Sheni of Congregation West Englewood, a kehilla representative of Terrace Circle and a kehilla representative of Congregation West Englewood.

Section 3. At the end of each term of office, the Executive Board shall determine if the numbers of residents outside the three main complexes are of sufficient number to warrant a special Vice Presidency with full voting rights. If so determined, this new Vice Presidency shall take the place of the honorary Vice President currently on the Executive Board. Furthermore, residents of an additional apartment complex may petition the Executive Board for the right to have an additional Vice President. Upon a majority vote of the Executive Board such a Vice President shall be established as a permanent position with all the right and responsibilities of office.

Section 3b. In a year where an incoming Executive Board will have an even number of members (as determined by Section 3), then in that year’s election the Sisterhood shall elect a Senior Chairwoman and a Junior Chairwoman instead of two Co-Chairwomen, and the Senior Chairwoman will also have a seat on the Executive Board. In a year where the incoming Executive Board will have an off number of members (as determined by Section 3), then there shall be two Co-Chairwomen of the Sisterhood, who shall not sit on the Executive Board.

Section 4. All candidates must be members in good standing, both of the previous year in order to run for office, and in the current year for elected officials. All candidates for Vice President must reside in the complex they represent as of the first date of their term. If a candidate moves out of his representative complex prior to the election deadline, that candidate will have the option of running for the same office in the new complex. If the candidate refuses, or if he moves out of the community entirely, his candidacy is immediately null. If it is later proven that a candidate knew prior to elections that he would probably be moving after elections, Section 8 does not apply, and the runner-up in that category is considered winner of the position.

Section 5. No candidate may run for more than two positions during any specific election.

Section 6. All candidates for Gabbai Rishon, Gabbai Sheni and kehillah representative, must regularly attend the minyan that they wish to represent, and must declare that minyan as their shul, as per Article III Section 5. All candidates for these positions must be male.

Section 7. All candidates for the Sisterhood co-Presidents must be female.

Section 8. In the event of the death, resignation, or incapacity of any elected officer other than the President, a successor shall be elected by the Executive Board to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. In the event of the death, resignation, or incapacity of the President, the Vice President of the most populous complex at that time shall become President and a new Vice President shall be elected by the Executive Board to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Section 9. Any candidate for the position of President shall have lived in the Apartments community for at least nine months (prior to the voting deadline date for that election).

Section 10. No member shall function in more than one seat of the Executive Board at the same time. If the same person wins two positions, on the Executive Board he shall serve in the higher seat for voting purposes. For example, if the same person is elected as President and Gabbai Rishon, he shall serve as Gabbai Rishon in shul, but while on the Executive Board he shall function as President and his Gabbai Sheini shall serve as Gabbai Rishon. If, however, the ‘replacement’ person, (in this case the Gabbai Sheini) is also elected to another seat on the Executive Board, he must choose between the two positions from the outset, and the runner-up in the election will fill the seat which he chooses to vacate. A person can also run for President and a Vice-Presidency, and in the case of winning both seats, he will serve as President while the runner-up for his Vice-Presidency seat will serve as Vice President.

Section 11. A quorum (70% or more) of Executive Board members is required to hold a Board meeting. Furthermore, the meeting may not be held if half or more of the Executive Core (VPs + President) are absent. In the absence of the President, the Vice President from the most populous complex shall carry out all duties of the office of President at that meeting. Members of the Executive Board must attend at least 7 of the 12 annual board meetings. Failure to do so will force the Executive Board to declare that member ‘incapacitated’ and remove him from the board. [He may, however, run again at the next election.]

Section 12. At least 45 days prior to the following term’s elections, the Executive Board shall submit a request for nominations for a period not less than 7 days. Self-nominations are allowed. After the allotted time has been met the Executive Board shall, in session, confirm candidate eligibility as well as each candidate’s desire to run. Only then shall the Executive Board make public the list of candidates. Additional candidates may only file for a position should that position lack any valid nominations.

Section 13. Each member shall be able to vote for all the positions directly affecting him or her. Only female members shall vote for the Sisterhood co-Presidents. In the case that the Outside Apartments Vice Presidency is still an honorary (non-voting) position, residents of the outside apartments may also vote the VP of the residence complex of their affiliation (see Article III Section 5).

Section 14. All officers shall be elected by ballot to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. The term of office for all officers shall begin on January first.

Section 15. Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of members the Association who choose to vote. All members shall have at least 5 days in which they may vote. Secret ballot voting shall be made available, whereby, in a given location, members can sign-in and cast their votes. Aside from that availability, ballots must either be signed by members and delivered to the association’s mailbox, or emailed to the Board (or an electronic ballot may be submitted, if a secure method is instituted).
Section 16. The Executive Board shall meet on the deadline night of voting to count the ballots (both paper ballots and printouts of e-ballots), settle any discrepancies, and declare the winners.

ARTICLE VII - Meetings
Section 1. The annual open meeting of the Association shall be held during the month of November or December of each year, on such day as the President may designate. Notice of the annual meeting shall be given not less than fourteen days prior to such meeting. The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of informing the Association, receiving reports of officers and committees, discussing the budget for the following year, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 2. Special meetings of the membership of the Association may be called by the President or upon any fifteen members in good standing petitioning the President to call a special meeting. In the event that the President fails to call such meeting within five days after requested in writing to do so, any other officer may call such meeting. Notice of the special meeting shall be given to all members of the Association, not less than seven days prior to such meeting.

Section 3. Twenty-five members or one quarter of the total membership, whichever is less, shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. All voting shall be done by show of hands unless otherwise provided for in these bylaws or called on by the President.

ARTICLE VIII - Executive Board

Section 1. The officers as described in Article IV section 1 shall constitute the Executive Board. The President of the Association shall serve as Chair of the Executive Board and the Treasurer of the Association shall serve as Secretary of the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between meetings of the Association, fix the date, hour, and place of meetings of the Executive Board, make recommendations to the Association, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall make such rules and regulations, consistent with these bylaws, as they may deem advisable for the proper conduct of their meetings and for the furtherance of the general purposes of the Association.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall have authority to enter into all contracts subject to annual budget approval with discretion to vary ten percent (10%) of the affected expense category from budget. Special exceptions to this rule can be instituted by a 70% vote of the Executive Board. At all times two members of the executive board should be empowered to pay expenses of the organization.

Section 5. The Executive Board shall have the power to enter into contracts on behalf of the Association, provided that each such contract not exceed $5,000 or half of the total annual budget, whichever is less. However, if the Executive Board, in conjunction with the Ritual Committee, votes to establish new premises for a synagogue, they may do so beyond the $5,000-per-annum restriction. Also, special exceptions to these rules can be instituted by a 70% vote of the Executive Board.

Section 6. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board, regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held monthly from January to December, inclusive. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX - Committees

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees:
a) Chessed
b) Communications
c) Events
d) Ritual

Section 2. Except as provided for elsewhere in these bylaws, the Executive Board shall, by majority vote, appoint the chairs of all standing committees of the Association within a reasonable time after the annual meeting of the Association. The committee chairs shall then submit a roster of committee members to the Executive Board for approval.

Section 3. Members of standing committees shall be appointed for terms of one year or until their successors are appointed. Appointees may be removed by a 70% vote of the Executive Board. Elected chairs of these committees may be removed by a 100% vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4. In the event of the resignation or departure from the community of any committee member, the outgoing chair of the committee shall appoint a successor to fill the resulting vacancy for the unexpired term with the approval of the President. In the event of the death or incapacity of any committee member, the President shall appoint a successor in consultation with the Executive Board.

Section 5. The President of the Association shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except sisterhood committees, without the right to vote.

Section 6. No committee or individual shall have the right to make any expenditure from the treasury of the Association or in any way make the Association liable, unless the expenditure is specifically provided for in the current budget approved by the Executive Board, or by special exception as outlined in Article VIII Section 4.

Section 7. The Chessed Committee shall be comprised of at least three members, exclusive of ex-officio members. The committee shall:
a) Develop and run a program of within-the-community Chessed that is not already covered under the mandate of the Sisterhood, such as a baby clothes Gemach;
b) Develop and run a program of external Chessed, such as arranging a blood drive, or getting the community involved with Habitats for Humanity.

Section 8. The Communications Committee shall be comprised of at least three members, exclusive of ex-officio members (unless one of the mandated ex-officio members is appointed to the committee). The committee shall:
a) Develop, maintain, and execute a plan, subject to approval by the Board, for maintaining communication between all elements of the Association via mechanisms such as newsletters, fliers, voice-mail, e-mail, web site, etc.;
b) Develop, maintain, and execute a plan, subject to approval by the Board, for publicizing the Association and its activities both internally and externally. The plan shall include, but not be limited to: identifying points of contact among the committee members for submitting publicity information; identifying key media outlets for obtaining publicity; and developing mailing lists for both paper and electronic communication.

Section 9. The Events Committee shall be comprised of at least three members, exclusive of ex-officio members. At least one Executive Board member shall be an ex-officio member of the committee. The committee shall:
a) Develop a year-round schedule of social activities aimed at furthering fellowship among members of the Association;
b) Run the annual BBQ and Simchas Torah Kiddush;
c) Arrange appropriate programs for the various events that it sponsors, subject to approval of the Executive Board.
d) Submit its plans to the Executive Board for approval;
e) Conduct and evaluate approved events and activities.

Section 10. The Ritual Committee shall be comprised of at least seven members, the Gabbai Rishon of Terrace Circle, the Gabbai of Congregation West Englewood, the Gabbai Sheni of Terrace Circle, the Gabbai Sheni of Congregation West Englewood, the kehilla representative of Terrace Circle and the kehilla representative of Congregation West Englewood, as well as an additional member voted on by the above six members. This committee shall:
a) Formulate all necessary and appropriate rules, regulations, and guidelines in connection with the conduct of services and other religious gatherings of the Association in consultation a rabbi, and submit same for approval of the Executive Board;
b) Develop and carry out a plan for High Holy Day ticket sales, subject to approval of the Executive Board;
c) Appoint additional gabbayim services;
d) Develop the community luach zemanim with times to apply to both minyanim;
e) Chose a Posek with the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 11. The Executive Board may appoint additional ad hoc committees as they deem necessary. Each Committee must have at least three members. Ad hoc committees must be reapproved yearly. Any ad hoc committee that has been approved twice consecutively may be made a permanent standing committee by a majority vote of the Executive Board in its third year of reapproval.

ARTICLE X - Auxiliary Organizations

Section 1. The Association shall have such auxiliary organizations as shall from time to time be authorized and constituted by the Executive Board.

Section 2. The activities of all auxiliary organizations of the Association shall always be conducted in such a manner as will advance the best interests of the Association.

Section 3. The bylaws and other regulations of all auxiliary organizations shall be consistent with these bylaws and with policies set by the Association.

Section 4. The sisterhood shall be considered an auxiliary organization to help further the interests of the members of the Association. The sisterhood shall be able to appoint its own committees.

ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. If a circumstance arises which requires special ruling, and its procedures are not covered in these bylaws, the Executive Board shall rule by a 70% majority. However, if the Executive Board is unable to come to a concensus, or if the matter directly affects the powers of the Executive Board, then a special arbitration panel shall settle the matter by simple majority. That panel shall consist of the President, the Posek, and a third person of their joint choosing.

ARTICLE XII – Amending the bylaws

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended in the following manner:

a) Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed either by two or more members of the Executive Committee, or by ten members of the community in good standing, and submitted to the President.
b) The Executive Board shall consider such a proposal by its next monthly meeting.
c) Within thirty days after consideration of such a proposal at a meeting, the Executive Board must vote on the proposed amendment.
d) The President must notify the community via email of the proposal and its contents prior to the vote. However, if the proposal is raised by Board members and is voted upon during the same meeting, the president must inform the community via email as to the result of the vote and the proposal’s contents as soon as possible following adjournment of the meeting.
e) A 70% vote or more by ballot within the Executive Board shall approve the proposed amendment. A 45% vote or less by ballot within the Executive Board shall defeat the proposed amendment. A vote between 46%-69% by ballot within the Executive Board shall table the amendment until the following monthly meeting. At that next meeting, the same rules shall apply, except that a 46%-69% vote by ballot will precipitate a referendum vote.
f) A referendum vote as precipitated by Article XII, Section 1, Sub-Section E shall be conducted concurrently with the following general election only, and shall pass on a two-thirds vote by ballot.

Section 2. An amendment proposal that has been rejected by the Association may not be resubmitted for the consideration of the Association unless twelve months have elapsed since the time of such proposal.

ARTICLE XII – Amendments

1. The names of the Community Organization: The official name of this Association shall be The Teaneck Garden Apartments Community Board. We will also be doing business as the following names/entities: Teaneck Apartments Community Board; Congregation of West Englewood; Synagogue Association of West Englewood; Congregation Ahavat Shalom.

2. Any person may run for a position as long as said individual is a Paid Member. A Paid Member is defined as a person who has given their full membership dues, which shall include the prior year’s dues, as well as the following year’s dues (may be in the form of a post-dated check), to the treasurer by the date the nominating process is completed, and elections begin. A person must have lived in the Teaneck Apartment community for a minimum of nine months before running for the position of President. Each adult member of the family is entitled to vote, up to a maximum of 2 votes per family, i.e. a husband and wife are considered two mutually exclusive votes.

3. The Vice-President of the Outside Apartments complex seat on the board becomes a voting member, and has all privileges of a full member on the Executive Board.

4. The Community Board’s annual open-membership meeting shall be held in August or September, and at said meeting, the following year’s budget, membership dues, and election process shall be announced, and ratified by no less than two-thirds of the Community Board’s Executive Board.

5. Elections for Community Board members shall take place in August and conclude in early September, allowing all members the opportunity to vote for the Community Board. Voting shall be held via the www.teaneckapartments.com website and via paper-ballot for persons without Internet access.

6. Term of the Community Board Members: While elections are to conclude by September, the outgoing administration shall remain in office through December 31 to allow the incoming board a full transition period. The full term year is January 1 to December 31 of the following year.

7. Requirements of Board Members to attend meetings: Each Board Member is expected to attend a minimum of 60% of the regular meetings called by the President. If a Board Member does is absent from more than 40% of the meetings, and is unresponsive to requests for ‘best dates’ messages, such Board Member may be asked to resign their position, and the Board shall vote on a replacement for said Member. The new Board Member shall fall under the same rules and regulations as if elected by the general membership in August.

8. Any constitutional changes shall be voted upon and approved by no fewer than two-thirds of the Executive Board, and shall be put out to the general membership for a referendum on each amendment. All amendments must be voted on individually, so as to not invalidate any specific amendment. Referendums on constitutional amendments shall be held at the open- membership meeting held in August or September or upon thirty-day advance notice of said meeting and/or vote. No less than two-thirds of the members present at the open-membership meeting must approve each amendment for the change to go into effect. All changes to the constitution shall be binding upon such vote by the membership at the open meeting.

(amendments approved 8/16/03)

page last modified 12/15/03