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Bylaws Executive Committee Project Committee Outreach Committee Resource Subcommittee

Rules adopted by the Onondaga Lake Partnership for the government of its members and the regulation of its affairs.

Onondaga Lake Partnership Amended Bylaws approved by the Onondaga Lake Partnership Executive Committee on February 2, 2005.

Article 1 - Purpose

The Onondaga Lake Partnership is established to promote cooperation among Federal, State, and local governments, and other involved parties in the management of the environmental issues of Onondaga Lake and its watershed. The Partnership will facilitate and coordinate the development and implementation of improvement projects to restore and conserve water quality, natural resources, and recreational uses to the benefit of the Public. The Partnership's efforts and actions shall be consistent with the Onondaga Lake Management Plan.

Article 2 - Membership

2.1 Composition

The Onondaga Lake Partnership, hereinafter referred to as the "Partnership", shall be composed of representatives of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of New York, and political subdivisions of the State. The Partnership shall include voting and non-voting representatives of other involved organizations who have a common and vested interest in accomplishing the goals of the Partnership as defined in its Charter. Signing the appropriate agreement and approval by the Executive Committee is a condition of standing committee membership. The Committees shall operate on consensus but will vote, if needed. Voting members of the Executive Committee shall be referred to as "Partners." Voting members of the standing committees shall be referred to as "Committee Members. All other individuals interested in the goals of the Partnership who request to receive correspondence from the partnership shall be referred to as "Members."

2.2 Resignations

Shall be submitted in writing and acknowledged for documentation in the minutes at the next regularly scheduled Partnership meeting.

Article 3 - Leadership

3.1 General Powers

The Partnership shall be managed by the Executive Committee.

3.2 Leadership

The Executive Committee of the Partnership shall be comprised of six (6) Partners: the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Governor of the State of New York, the Attorney General of the State of New York, the County Executive of Onondaga County, and the Mayor of the City of Syracuse; or their designated representative. Each Partner organization shall submit a letter to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), identifying a representative to the Executive Committee. An Executive Committee Partner or their designated representative should attend all scheduled Executive Committee meetings. Section 573 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, states that "the Secretary shall establish and lead the Partnership".

3.3 Chair

The USACE is the permanent chair of the Executive Committee.

3.4 Secretary

The USACE shall record the minutes of all meetings.

3.5 Duties of Officers

3.5.1 Executive Committee Chair

The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, sign the minutes thereof, and perform generally all the duties usually incident to such office and such other and further duties as shall be from time to time required by the Executive Committee.

3.5.2 Chairs of the Standing Committees (Project and Outreach)

The Chairs of the Project and Outreach Committees shall serve two-year terms. Chair appointments and extensions shall be determined by a vote of the Executive Committee. These Chairs shall also perform such other duties as shall be from time to time required by the Executive Committee. In addition, these Chairs shall be responsible for submitting and attesting minutes and status reports of their respective committee meetings to the Executive Committee within fourteen days following such meetings. In the event that any Committee Chairs are absent or unable to perform their duties, the vice-chair shall assume their duties. The Chair shall designate a Vice-Chair, as needed.

3.5.3 Secretary

The USACE shall be responsible for preparing minutes of the respective committee proceedings within seven (7) days. Within fourteen (14) days following the meeting, the Chair shall distribute the minutes to all Executive Committee and other committee members. The minutes shall be subject to the review and approval of the respective committee members at the next meeting.

Article 4 - Committees

The Committees of the Partnership shall be comprised of the Executive Committee, Project Committee, which shall include a Resource Subcommittee, and Outreach Committee. It is anticipated that, from time to time, ad- hoc committees and possibly other standing committees shall be appointed and approved by the Executive Committee. Each standing committee shall report to the Executive Committee and include a maximum of six (6) representatives from the Partners and a maximum of six (6) other Committee Members approved by the Executive Committee to serve a term of two-years renewable upon approval of the Executive Committee.

4.1 Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall meet at a minimum on a semi-annual basis for the following purposes:

• Establish and maintain the mission of the Onondaga Lake Partnership and the lake improvement effort as defined in the Onondaga Lake Management Plan.
• Set goals, assess performance, and report progress on the lake improvement effort.
• Allocate available resources for Partnership requirements.
• Provide on-going public outreach on the lake improvement effort.
• Provide ongoing senior-level coordination among Partnership member agencies and non-member agencies.

Specific functions of the Executive Committee include:

• Review progress, address issues requiring senior level coordination, and resolve issues brought forward by the standing committees.
• Publish on an annual basis a report on the overall lake improvement progress and status of the Partnership. The USACE shall be responsible for preparing the draft report, coordinating the draft report, and issuing the final
report. The report shall publish Lake improvement requirements, funds status, project progress, outreach activities, executive decisions, and open issues. The standing committees shall provide input for the report.
• Senior-level Partners shall sponsor and conduct an annual Partnership Meeting for all Partners, Committee Members, and Members.
• Review and approve all final actions of the standing committees.
• Recommend any changes to the Onondaga Lake Management Plan by a majority vote. Select and approve standing committee members who represent interested and involved organizations that sign the committee member agreement.

Executive Committee Member List

4.2 Project Committee

The project committee shall meet as required for the following purposes:

• Serve as the Partnership's technical center of expertise on specific projects. Investigate and provide technical recommendations to the Executive Committee as directed.
• Provide input for a comprehensive project database and schedule for the entire lake improvement effort. Monitor projects progress and provide data for status reports.
• Identify and develop projects from the Management Plan required for Lake cleanup.

Specific functions of the Project Committee include:

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive project database.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive project schedule.
• Identify opportunities for project coordination.
• Provide project definition packages to the Resource Subcommittee.
• Make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
• Develop operating procedures to be approved by the Executive Committee.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Committee.

Project Committee Member List

4.2.1 Resource Subcommittee

The Resource Subcommittee shall be comprised of one representative from each of the six Partners of the Executive Committee. Each Partner organization shall submit a letter to the United States Army Corps of Engineers identifying a representative to the Resource Subcommittee. The representative can be the Partner's Project Committee member, but need not be. The Chair of the Resource Subcommittee shall be recommended by the Project Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. The Chair of the subcommittee shall be responsible for submitting and attesting minutes and status reports of the Subcommittee meetings to the Project Committee. The Chair shall designate a Vice-Chair as needed. The Resource Subcommittee shall meet as required for the following purposes:

• Track existing funding (amount and source) for the Partnership and the lake improvement effort.
• Identify and recommend potential funding sources for lake improvement projects defined in the Onondaga Lake Management Plan.
• Develop a funding strategy for Partnership projects.
• Make recommendations to the Executive Committee.

Resource Subcommittee Member List

4.3 Outreach Committee

Outreach Committee Member List

Article 5 - Administration

5.1 Meetings

Regular meetings of the Partnership shall be held in Onondaga County, New York. Agendas, resolutions, and supporting materials shall be distributed to the respective committee members fourteen (14) days before the next meeting. All meetings of the Partnership shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. Notice of all Partnership meetings shall be given at least fourteen (14) days before the date of such meeting to each member by mail, e- mail or fax at their last known address, and all such notices shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. Partnership and committee meetings shall be held at a frequency to ensure schedules and goals of the Partnership are met.

5.2 Special Meetings

Special meetings, as needed by the Committee Chair, shall be called from time to time in accordance with Section 5.1, Notification above, exclusive of the fourteen (14) day advance notice.

5.3 Quorum

A quorum shall consist of five (5) of six (6) of the Partners attending Partnership Executive Committee meetings. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the committee members attending the standing committee meetings.

5.4 Method of Voting

Each Partner and Committee Member of a committee or subcommittee shall have one (1) vote. While it is the intent that the Partnership shall endeavor to develop a consensus in all decision-making, a simple majority shall approve all matters. However, under no circumstance shall any action taken by a committee be construed to obligate any individual or agency to undertake projects or activities without their consent.

5.5 Minutes

Minutes shall be recorded and voted on for approval in the next regular meeting. Minutes shall serve as an official record of the Partnership.

Article 6 - Code of Ethics

All Partner and Committee and Subcommittee Members shall comply with their respective agency's code of ethics, as applicable. All Partners Committee and Subcommittee member shall avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety.

Article 7 - Miscellaneous

Administration of Partnership funds, programs and activities shall be the responsibility of the USACE. Responsibilities shall include but not be limited to fiscal management, including administration of contracts, record keeping, and preparation and distribution of minutes of all Partnership meetings. In accordance with Section 573 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, revisions to the Onondaga Lake Management Plan shall be made in consultation with the partnership and after providing public review and comment. The Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall approve revisions to the Onondaga Lake Management Plan, if the Governor of the State of New York concurs in the approval.

Article 8 - Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws shall be amended, suspended, repealed, or superseded, in whole or in part, only by an affirmative vote of no less than five (5) Partners.