Denver Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Commission By-laws
(as amended 10-14-08)
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization is the Denver Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Commission (hereinafter the “GLBT Commission” or the “Commission”).
Offices and Contact
a) Principal Office: The principal office of the GLBT Commission shall be with the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations of the City & County of Denver at 201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept. 1102, Denver, CO 80202. The Commission may keep and maintain such other offices as the Commission may designate or as the business of the Commission may require.
b) Meeting Office: The Commission shall meet eleven times a year at locations designated by the Administrative Committee or as the business of the Commission may require.
c) Contact: The contact person for the Commission shall be the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations at: (Phone) 720-913-8450; (FAX) 720-913-8470.
ARTICLE II
STATEMENT OF MISSION AND PURPOSE
1. MISSION STATEMENT
The GLBT Commission is a Mayoral appointed commission of the City & County of Denver.
It is the mission of the GLBT Commission to enhance the social, economic, and political quality of life in Denver by assisting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the attainment of political equality and full opportunity by empowering the community through coalition building, gathering and disseminating information and other activities.
The GLBT Commission provides the Mayor with a more complete understanding of and access to the GLBT community in Denver for the purpose of creating better representation and government services.
2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
To support this mission, the GLBT Commission shall:
a) Develop and promote public policy leadership in the Community.
b) Assume an active role in local public policy that enhances the
social, economic and political quality of life of the Community,
including legislation, ordinances and regulations at the local,
state and federal levels.
c) Represent and advocate for local public policy with
policymakers, related organizations and agencies,
and the public.
d) Support effective local public policymakers for the purpose of
enhancing the social, economic and political quality of life of the
Community through such efforts as participation in the development
and implementation of local standards and/or laws.
e) Represent the Community’s local public policy on a statewide
basis and build coalitions with other related statewide
organizations and associations.
f) Foster innovation in local public policy through the exchange of
ideas and consultation among local public officials and Community
organizations.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Commission shall consist of no less than seven (7) and no more than twenty-one (21) local Community leaders appointed by the Mayor of the City & County of Denver and confirmed by City Council action.
a) The membership of the Commission shall, to the extent possible, fully represent the diversity of the Community.
b) Each member appointed to the Commission shall serve a two-year term. Members may be reappointed to the Commission to serve no more than three consecutive terms.
c) In the event of the death or resignation of a member, his/her successor shall be appointed in the manner provided for original appointment, to serve for the unexpired portion of the term for which such member has been appointed.
d) A member may resign his or her membership at any time by providing written or e-mail notice to the Director of Boards and Commissions of the City & County of Denver and to the Commission Chair.
e) The Office of the Mayor and the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations may provide staff liaisons who shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the Commission.
f) With the exception of staff liaisons appointed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Article, no member shall receive any compensation for serving in such office, except that Commission members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with the work of the Commission in accordance with the charter and code, executive orders, fiscal rules, and city policies as approved by the HRCR executive director.
g) Regular participation is expected. Any commission member with three or more unexcused absences in one year from scheduled commission meetings may be referred to the Administrative Committee.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS AND QUORUM
a) The GLBT Commission shall meet at least eleven times a year.
b) The presiding officer shall call the meeting to order.
c) Special meetings may be called at such times and places as may be determined necessary by the Chair, Administrative Committee, and/or Commission.
d) Written notice and agendas for all meetings of the membership shall be transmitted to all members via electronic media in advance of the meetings.
e) All meetings are open to the public.
f) Committees and task forces shall meet as necessary via electronic media and/or in person.
g) A quorum is defined as two-thirds of the duly appointed, voting members of the Commission. A quorum is presumed to exist unless called; however, in no event shall any official business take place with less than one-half of voting members present.
ARTICLE V
DECISION-MAKING
Voting shall take place for issues as determined by the Commission Chair or the Commission.
a) Each appointed commission member has one vote. The only members permitted to vote are appointed commissioners. Votes can be made by proxy by providing advance notice to Chair and proxy holder.
b) Decisions shall be made by a consensus of the Commission as evidenced by the quorum present and voting at a meeting. In the absence of consensus, the question may be called by the Chair or upon motion of a member and voting will ensue. A two-thirds majority vote of the quorum present at a meeting shall determine the matter at hand.
c) The Chair may direct that a vote by mail, electronic mail, fax, or telephone be taken on matters requiring immediate decision. All members must be notified at least 24 hours prior to this action and a two-thirds majority vote of the Commission is required to carry official action under this procedure, except for changes to the bylaws as discussed in paragraph (d) of this Article. The Commission shall maintain a record of any such vote taken under this paragraph.
d) Changes to the bylaws shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Commission membership at a meeting for which notice of bylaw changes was duly given.
e) A commissioner may participate in a meeting of the Commission
or a committee thereof through the use of any means of
communication, such as telephone, by which all members
participating in the meeting can hear each other during the meeting.
A member participating in a meeting in this manner is deemed to be
present in person.
f) Any member of the Commission may bring an issue forward for action by the membership.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Officers of the Commission shall consist of: a Chair, a Vice Chair, and Secretary elected by the Commission.
a) Only members of the Commission are eligible to hold office.
b) Election of the Chair shall occur in June, unless otherwise necessary to fill a vacancy in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Article. Election of the Chair is subject to confirmation by the HRCR Executive Director. If the Executive Director is absent, the Acting Interim HRCR Executive Director shall be responsible for the confirmation of the newly elected chair.
c) Election of the Vice Chair shall occur in June, unless otherwise necessary to fill a vacancy in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Article.
d) Election of the Secretary shall occur in June, unless otherwise necessary to fill a vacancy.
e) All terms of office shall be for one year from the date of election. Officers may serve for more than one term, except for the Chair, who shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive one-year terms.
f) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Vice Chair shall immediately assume the duties of the Chair until such time as a new Chair is elected. In the event of a vacancy of the Vice Chair, the Commission shall elect a replacement to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
g) The Commission shall nominate candidates for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary as needed to fill a vacancy. Nominations also may be made from the floor from the Commission at the time of election.
h) If the Chair is unable to fulfill his or her duties due to illness or other incapacity, the Vice Chair shall have the authority to fulfill the duties and shall exercise all of the rights and powers of the Chair during the Chair’s incapacity. If the Vice Chair is unable to fulfill his or her duties due to illness or other incapacity, the Chair shall have the authority to appoint a member who shall fulfill the duties and shall exercise all of the rights and powers of the Vice Chair during the Vice Chair’s incapacity.
i) The Chair presides at meetings of the Commission and performs all duties prescribed by these bylaws. The Chair shall appoint members to attend the meetings of committees, work groups, and task forces, as well as other meetings or gatherings of organizations at the local or state level as may be necessary to represent the interests of the Commission. The Chair shall also be the direct liaison to the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations.
j) The Vice Chair serves as the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair. The Vice Chair is responsible for ensuring that the bylaws are followed.
k) The Secretary is responsible for reviewing and ensuring the maintenance of records of Commission meetings, Commission actions, and official correspondence. The Secretary shall record official minutes of the meetings. If the Secretary is unavailable to record minutes at a meeting, the Delegate to the Advisory Board or the at-large member of the Administrative Committee shall record the official minutes of the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES AND DELEGATES TO THE ADVISORY BOARD
a) The Administrative Committee shall be a standing committee consisting of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, the Delegate to the Advisory Board, and one member at-large elected by the Commission. The Administrative Committee shall facilitate expeditious decision making on time-sensitive matters before the Commission; establish the agenda for full Commission meetings; and serve as the official liaison to the City & County of Denver.
b) The Commission shall elect one member as its primary Delegate, and one member as its Alternate Delegate to the HRCR Advisory Board. Election of the primary Delegate and the Alternate Delegate shall occur in June, unless otherwise necessary to fill a vacancy. The term of the Delegate to the Advisory Board shall be two (2) years. If the primary Delegate cannot attend a scheduled meeting or perform his or her required duties, the Alternate Delegate shall attend scheduled meetings and perform duties at the primary Delegate’s request.
c) Election of one at-large member to serve on the Administrative Committee shall occur in June, unless otherwise necessary to fill a vacancy.
d) The Commission shall nominate candidates for primary
Delegate, Alternate Delegate, and at-large member of the
Administrative Commiiiee as needed to fill a vacancy.
Nominations also may be made from the floor from the Commission
at the time of election.
e) A task force or ad hoc committee may be established as needed
by the Chair, Administrative Committee and/or Commission to carry
on the work of the Commission. Such task forces or ad committees
shall provide recommendations and report to the Commission.
A task force or ad hoc committee shall not take action on behalf
of the Commission without Commission approval.
f) The Chair shall appoint task force or ad hoc committee members, as well as chairs if deemed necessary.
g) All task forces and committees shall report to the Commission at the Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting.
h) All task force and ad hoc committee terms may have an indefinite or stated term relative to function.
i) A task force may include participants who are not Commission members. Such non-Commission member participants shall not have the power to vote.
ARTICLE VIII
ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
a) This Article is intended to be consistent with Article IX of the bylaws of
the HRCR Advisory Board ("Advocacy Activities"). The Commission may
undertake advocacy activites in the fulfillment of its mission. The
Commission's unique perspective is relevant to the understanding and
resolution of public policy issues affecting the GLBT community in Denver,
and should be shared with officials of the City and County of Denver and its
residents. Positions determined by the Commission do not necessarily
reflect the position of individual members and should not be attributed to
any individual or other body.
b) Definition. As used in this article, the term "advocacy" means the
adoption and communication of a position regarding ballot measures
(whether referred or initiated) or pending legislation. General issue
advocacy that does not concern a specific ballot measure that has
been submitted for the purpose of having a title designated and fixed,
or specific, identifiable pending legislation, shall not be governed by
the provisions of this article. Other types of advocacy activities, such
as educational campaigns, or endorsement or co-sponsorahip of
events shall not be governed by the provision in this article.
c) All advocacy positions and activites undertaken pursuant to this Article
shall be communicated in writing for the Mayor, the Executive Director of
HRCR, and to the HRCR Advisory Board.
d) Specific Advocacy Activities. Subject to the restrictions in paragraph (5)
below, the Commission may:
i. Adopt an advocacy position on pending ballot measures.
ii. Adopt an advocacy position on legislation pending before the
Denver City Council, or rules, regulations, or policies of
City agencies.
iii. Adopt an advocacy position on legislation pending before any
other local legislative body, the State of Colorado, or the federal
government, where that legislation affects the Denver
GLBT community.
iv. Report the adoption of such advocacy in the minutes of the
meeting at which such action occurred.
v. Permit others, including campaigns for or against ballot
measures, to list its name among others that have taken a
position for or against a ballot measure.
e) Prohibited Activities. The following advocacy activities are prohibited:
i. The Commission shall not endorse any candidate for elective
office or take a position regarding the proposed recall of a
person holding elective office. The Commission shall avoid
any interaction with a candidate that might be perceived as
an endorsement of such person's candidacy.
ii. The Commission shall not contribute any resources, whether
monetary or in-kind, to any political campaign, candidate,
party or political committee.
iii. Political contributions shall not be solicited or received in any
room or building occupied for the discharge of official duties.
iv. While the Commission may adopt advocacy positions pursuant
to this Article, the Commission shall not take any official
position urging voters to cast their ballot for or against any
ballot measure.
ARTICLE IX
RATIFICATION
Ratification of these bylaws shall require an affirmative vote of two thirds of the quorum present at a meeting of Commission for which notice of bylaw ratification was duly given.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
a) The bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, or new bylaws
adopted, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Commission
membership.
b) Notice of intent to amend the bylaws shall be communicated to each member with the agenda for the regular meeting where the vote occurs.
c) The bylaws shall be amended as needed to conform with City and County law and Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations policy.
d) These By-Laws, including any amendments thereto, are subject to the approval of the HRCR executive director.
These By-Laws approved this 9th day of January, 2007.
By:
_____________________________
Morris Price, Chair
These By-Laws were AMENDED as approved this 8th day of January, 2008.
By:
_____________________________
Morris Price, Chair
These By-Laws were AMENDED as approved this 14th day of October, 2008.
By:
_______________________________
Monica M. Marquez, Chair
These By-Laws were AMENDED as approved this 12th day of January, 2010
By:
________________________________
Ryan Kendall, Chair