[1]
Editor's Note — Ord. No. 99-40 § 1,
adopted November 9, 1999, repealed this article and enacted the provisions
set out herein. Former Art. X derived from ord. no. 98-28 §§ 1 — 6,
9-8-1998.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
A.
To provide the youth of Lexington an opportunity to be involved in
the decision-making process which affects their lives in the community.
It offers formal lines of communication between the teenage youth
of the community and the elected officials. It further provides an
opportunity for local youth to understand how government operates
and to coordinate youth participation in community service and social
activities.
B.
To serve the youth of Lexington by:
1.
Informing the Lexington Municipal Government of the needs and wishes
of the youth.
2.
Planning and implementing social, educational, cultural and recreational
activities for the youth.
3.
Working with the Mayor, City Council, City department heads, schools,
Chamber of Commerce, civic clubs and service organizations to provide
service and leadership opportunities for the youth of the City.
4.
To instill a feeling of positive self worth and esteem. To teach
respect for the rights and property of others. To promote community
pride and to eliminate potential negative influences among our future
community leaders.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999]
The term of the membership shall be for two (2) fiscal years
or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified, though
membership may be terminated after the first (1st) fiscal year pending
the decision made by the committee that performs the annual review
of current members.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
The fiscal year of LYC shall commence directly prior to the
initialization of new business on the first (1st) Sunday of October
and terminate directly following the completion of old business on
the first (1st) Sunday of October each year, and the books and reports
of officers of the LYC shall be made to conform thereto.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
LYC shall consist of nine (9) members. A "member of
LYC" is defined as an active participant of LYC with voting
power. These nine (9) members comprise six (6) from the Lexington
High School and three (3) from Wentworth Miliary Academy. LYC shall
consist of nine (9) alternates. An "alternate" of
LYC is defined as an active participant of LYC with voting power only
in the absence of any of their respective members. These nine (9)
alternates comprise six (6) from the Lexington Middle School and three
(3) from Wentworth Military Academy. The member positions from the
Lexington High School shall be selected at large from the applicants.
Wentworth will assign positions as they see fit. The Lexington Middle
School shall appoint three (3) seventh (7th) grade alternates and
three (3) eighth (8th) grade alternates.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
New Youth Connection members and alternates shall be sworn in
between the completion of old business and the commencement of new
business on the first (1st) Sunday in October, assuming that all appointments
and reviews have already been completed. The members shall be given
the same "Oath of Office" that their adult counterparts are given.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
No member or alternate of the LYC shall absent themselves from
any regular meeting thereof, nor from any adjourned or special meetings
after due notice thereof, unless they have leave, or are sick and
unable to attend, or is otherwise prevented by circumstances beyond
their control.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
The member and alternate lists of the Lexington High School
and Middle School will be written in alphabetical order by last name.
Each alternate will be assigned to one (1) member. Wentworth Military
Academy alternates will cover their members as they see fit. In the
absence of a quorum, all alternate members present may serve as voting
members for that meeting.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999]
During the summer when Wentworth Military Academy is out of
session, the remaining alternates will fill the positions left by
Wentworth Military Academy. If for some reason there are more alternates
than positions needing to be filled, the alternates with the highest
attendance, between the beginning of the present fiscal year and the
time at which the positions are opened, will assume the positions.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Participants of LYC who served as members (this includes the
time alternates spent filling in for their respective members while
they were absent) for at least the majority of the prior term shall
be reviewed by a panel of selected by the principal of their respective
school. The purpose of the panel is to determine if each member met
the requirements to remain on LYC, during the prior fiscal year. Those
who meet the requirements shall retain their membership, but not necessarily
their office. Should a participant not meet the requirements, the
panel has three (3) choices: 1) they may warn the participant, but
allow him/her to remain a member, 2) they may allow the participant
to compete through the interview process along with the new applicants,
and 3) they may recommend the dismissal of the participant from LYC
entirely, according to dismissal of LYC participants procedure. This
shall be completed within one (1) month preceding the new LYC fiscal
year.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Participants of LYC who served as members or alternates for
less than the majority of the prior fiscal year shall compete with
all other interested parties for the remaining positions. After indicating
an interest, a student shall be interviewed by the principal of their
respective school or a person or persons he/she appoints. Each applicant
will receive a packet containing the LYC ordinances. The principal
or their designated person(s) shall conduct the interviews and make
a appointments to the LYC by the end of September. Alternates will
be selected using the same method.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999]
When a member position becomes available within the duration
of a term, due to that member no longer being able to serve, the Council
shall select the replacement from within the pool of alternates. The
alternate replacement selection will be the same as that for a new
alternate.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Duties and responsibilities of the LYC shall be as follows:
1.
LYC shall meet in regular session on at least one (1) Sunday of each
month.
2.
(Reserved)
3.
To recommend changes to these ordinances as needed by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of members present.
4.
To present to the Mayor and City Council all amendments for their
approval.
5.
To select one (1) of its members to act as Youth Mayor and another
to act as temporary Youth Connection Mayor (Mayor Pro Tem) when the
Youth Mayor is absent. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are to be from
different schools (Wentworth Military Academy High School and Lexington
High School).
6.
To pass motions and resolutions as necessary by a majority vote.
A majority vote is one (1) vote more than one-half (1/2) of the voting
members who are present.
7.
To carry out the purposes of the Youth Connection as outlined in
these ordinances.
8.
To plan activities for the youth of the community, coordinating all
such activities with the Mayor and the Youth Connection advisors.
9.
To select one (1) of the members to serve as a Lexington Youth Treasurer.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Limitations of authority are as follows:
1.
The Youth Connection must have a quorum of five (5) voting members
in order to conduct business.
2.
All amendments to these ordinances are to be approved by the Mayor
and City Council.
3.
The agendas of all Youth Connection meetings are to be posted publicly
at City Hall at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of each meeting.
4.
All activities are to be coordinated with the Youth Connection advisors
and the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Youth Mayor responsibilities and authorities are as follows:
1.
To plan and conduct all Youth Connection meetings.
2.
To carry out the decisions of the Youth Connection.
3.
To meet periodically with the Lexington Mayor and/or Youth Connection
advisor to provide for proper planning and coordination between the
City Council and the Youth Connection.
4.
To propose to the Youth Connection plans and projects designed to
assist in the fulfillment of the purposes of the Youth Connection.
5.
To vote only in case of a tie.
6.
To assign each Youth Connection member and alternate to one (1) of
the committees.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999]
It is the Youth Mayor Pro Tem's position to assume all responsibility
and authority of the Youth Mayor during his/her temporary or permanent
absence.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Youth City Clerk responsibilities and authorities are as follows:
1.
To attend all Youth Connection meetings, take and maintain minutes
of said meetings.
2.
To record the attendance of all members and alternates at all meetings.
3.
To carry out assignments of the Youth Connection.
4.
To have all Youth Connection records reviewed by the City Clerk every
July and January.
5.
To deliver all agendas and minutes to City Clerk for permanent file.
6.
To assume all responsibility and authority of the Youth Mayor Pro
Tem during his/her temporary or permanent absence.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Election of new officers shall take place at the first (1st)
meeting of the new fiscal year. If possible, officers should have
at least one (1) year of experience serving as a member of the Youth
Connection. The voting process shall begin with the selection of the
Youth Mayor, then proceed to the Youth Mayor Pro Tem, then Youth City
Clerk and then Youth City Treasurer selections. Only one (1) office
will be voted on at a time. Each voting member will write the name
of the one (1) party he/she considers best qualified for that position.
Ballots will be handed to the advisors who will announce the new officers.
Ballots are then destroyed. For each office that is available, the
process will be repeated.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
The Youth Connection shall create the following permanent committees
to assist the Connection in carrying out their plans, goals and projects.
The members of the committees are to be appointed by the Youth Mayor.
Committee membership shall be for a one (1) fiscal year period. The
Chairman is selected by the members of the respective committees.
The committees shall be named as follows:
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
The Youth Connection shall have one (1) advisor from each school
and a City representative. The advisors should attend Youth Connection
meetings and Youth Connection activities.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Requirements to serve on Youth Connection are as follows:
1.
With the exception of Wentworth Military Academy, applicants must
have resided in the sponsoring City for at least one (1) year.
2.
Must be in at least the seventh (7th) grade and not yet be a graduate
of high school.
3.
Must have at least one (1) year experience serving as a member to
serve as Mayor of the Youth Connection.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Requirements to remain on Youth Connection are listed below:
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Any member or alternate may be removed from their position upon
violation of one (1) or more of the requirements to remain on the
LYC and by a majority vote of the Youth Connection with final approval
of the principal of the member or alternate being removed.
[Ord. No. 99-40 §§ 1 — 2, 11-9-1999; Ord. No. 2004-29 § 1, 9-14-2004]
Written resignations should be submitted to the Youth Mayor.
Acceptance of such resignation is to be voted on at the following
meeting.
