BYLAWS

BYLAWS OF
WARRICK COUNTRY
LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE
(LEPC)

ARTICLE I - IDENTIFICATION

The Warrick Country Emergency Planning Committee, hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”, is a state entity created pursuant to SARA Title III, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. The committee has been appointed by the Indiana Emergency Response Commission. The primary purpose of the Committee is to implement SARA Title III in Indiana, but its broader purpose is to enhance environmental protection and public health and safety as these are affected by chemical hazards in Warrick County.

ARTICLE II - COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Committee consists of members appointed by the Indiana Emergency Response Commission, and includes representatives from the following: local and state government, law enforcement, emergency management, fire fighting, emergency medical services, health, hospital, environmental, transportation, media, industry and community groups. Each committee member may appoint a proxy to attend on his/her behalf. In absence of appointed member, proxy shall enjoy full benefits of membership.

ARTICLE III - COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Section 1:
Frequency of Meetings:

  • The Committee will meet at least quarterly, four meetings a year, and more frequently at the discretion of its chair.

Section 2:
Announcement of Meetings:

  1. Members of the Committee will be notified at each Committee meeting of the next meeting time, place and date, and will be notified in writing 48 hours in advance of such meetings of the next meeting’s agenda, time place and date.

  2. The public will be notified of Committee meetings at least 48 hours in advance of each meeting.

Section 3:
Location of Meetings:

  • The Committee meetings will be held in the office of Warrick County Emergency Management, Warrick County, Indiana, or as otherwise determined by the Chair.

Section 4:
Quorum of Members for Meetings:

  • A quorum of Committee members is required for the members to conduct business, and consists of the presence of nine (9) members.

Section 5:
Conduct of Meetings:

  1. Committee meetings will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, and Committee business according to the provisions of the Indiana Open Door Law, the Indiana Public Records Law, and the Indiana Administrative Adjudication Act.

  2. Any matter to be voted on will take the form of a resolution or motion. A simple majority of the members in attendance at a Committee meeting must vote affirmatively for adoption of any resolution or to pass any motion. The Chair may entertain a motion but shall not make a motion.

  3. Each Committee member will have one vote or in case of the member’s absence an the proxy shall have one vote.

  4. A committee member may vote for or against a resolution, or may abstain from voting.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEES

Section 1:
Identification of Committees and Appointments/Resignations:

  1. The Subcommittees are three (3) in number and are the Planning/Communications, Fiscal, and Training/Exercise Sub-Committees.

  2. Appointments to Sub-Committees, including Sub-Committee Chairs, are made by the Chair of the Committee.

  3. Resignations of Sub-Committee members are to be submitted in writing to the Chair, who will at his/her discretion replace resigning members.

Section 2:
Dissolution and Establishment of Sub-Committees:

  • Additional Sub-committees may be established and existing ones dissolved by a majority vote of the Committee.

Section 3:
Duties of Sub-Committees:

  1. Sub-Committees will convene to consider issues assigned by the committee and/or issues of the Sub-Committee’s devising.

  2. Sub-Committee meetings will be held at the discretion of Sub-Committee Chairs in terms of frequency and location.

  3. Sub-Committees will report their findings and make their recommendations to the full Committee.

  4. Sub-Committee recommendations must, to be adopted, is affirmed as resolutions by a majority of the Committee members.

  5. Additional duties may be assigned Sub-Committees by the Committee Chair.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

Section l:
Officers:

  • The Officers of the Committee are the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 2:
Terms of Officers:

  • The Terms of the Officers are for the period of one year.

Section 3:
Election of Officers:

  • Annual election of Officers will be effected by a majority vote of all Committee members present appointed by the Indiana Emergency Response Commission.

ARTICLE VI - POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1:
Meeting Frequency, Dates, Times and Locations:

  • The Chair will determine the frequency, dates, times, and locations of Committee meetings.

Section 2:
Sub-Committee Appointments:

  • The Committee Chair will appoint the Chair and members of each Sub-Committee

Section 3:
Committee Meetings’ Conduct:

  1. The Chair will conduct Committee meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order.

  2. Committee meeting agendas will be set by the Chair.

Section 4:
Delegation of Authority:

  • The Chair of the Committee may delegate at his/her discretion his/her powers and duties to the Vice-Chair, consistent with other provisions of the bylaws.

Section 5:
Meeting Minutes and Fiscal Records:

  • The Secretary/Treasurer will keep committee meeting minutes and a record of the finances of the Committee.

ARTICLE VII - TITLE III DOCUMENT SUBMISSIONS

Section 1:
Repository of Documents:

  • The Warrick County Court House, 107 W. Locust Street, Boonville, Indiana will be the repository for all documents submitted to the Committee pursuant to the provisions of SARA Title III.

Section 2:
Availability of Documents to the Public:

  • Requests for Title III documents by the public must be submitted by form # to the Board Secretary during the hours of 8:15 am and 3:45 pm, Monday through Friday, at 107 W. Locust Street, Boonville, Indiana. The Secretary will present the request to the Board at the next scheduled meeting.

Section 3:
Committee Records:

  • All records of the Committee meetings, including meeting agendas and minutes, will be available for inspection by the general public and interested parties at 107 W. Locust Street, Boonville, Indiana.

Section 4:
Legal Notices:

  • The Committee will publish annually a legal notice indicating where all Title III documents are maintained, including the Committee’s emergency plan, MSCS, Tier forms, and written follow-up notices from facilities experiencing Title III spills.

ARTICLE VIII - ADOPTION/AMENDMENT OF COMMITTEE BYLAWS

Section 1:
Adoption of Bylaws:

  • A majority of committee members is required to adopt the Committee’s bylaws.
Section 2:
Amendment of Bylaws:
  • A two-thirds (2/3) majority of Committee members present is required to amend the Committee’s bylaws.

ARTICLE IX - NON-EXCLUSION PROVISION

Nothing in these bylaws is to be construed as excluding or contravening any additional provision of federal or state law, which are not explicitly or referred to within these bylaws.

ARTICLE X - BYLAWS ADOPTION AND SIGNING

Upon their adoption by the Committee, a copy of these bylaws will be signed and dated by the Chair of the Committee and will be available for inspection by the public at 107 West Locust Street, Boonville, Indiana.






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