In accordance with M.G.L. c. 40, § 8B: "A city by ordinance or a town by by-law may establish a Council on aging for the purpose of coordinating or carrying out programs designed to meet the problems of the aging in coordination with programs of the department of elder affairs. The Council shall submit an annual report to the city or town and shall send a copy thereof to the department of elder affairs. Said department shall from time to time review and evaluate such reports and make recommendations as to any required or needed changes in said local programs. The Council may appoint such clerks and other employees as it may require. The names, addresses, telephone numbers, or other identifying information about elderly persons in the possession of the Council shall not be public records, but the use of these records shall comply with sections 14 to 24, inclusive, of chapter 19A as a condition of receiving a government contract, program grant or other benefit, or as otherwise required by law."
[Adopted 6-6-1988 STM (Ch. 2, Art. VI, Div. II, of the General Bylaws); amended in its entirety 4-28-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
The name of the organization shall be the "Groveland Council on Aging," hereinafter referred to as "the Council," as established by Town Meeting of the Town of Groveland in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Mission of the Council on Aging is to advocate for Groveland's older adults, to identify their needs, to develop and implement services, to meet their health, economic, social, and cultural needs, to encourage maximum independence and to improve their quality of life.
A.
The Council shall carry out the programs designed to meet the problems of older adults in coordination with programs of the Boards on Aging established under M.G.L. c. 40, § 8B.
B.
The Council shall identify the total needs of the older population of the community.
C.
The Council shall inform the members of the community of the needs of its older population and enlist support, cooperation and participation of the townspeople concerning these needs.
D.
The Council shall design, promote and support programs and services to fill the needs of the older population in the community.
E.
The Council shall be aware of all state and federal legislation concerning funding, information exchange, and program planning which exists for the better community programming for the older population.
The Board shall support and oversee the mission and the Director of the Council on Aging. In the absence of the Director, the Board oversees the Assistant Director.
A.
Membership.
(1)
The Board shall consist of seven members, of which at least 51% shall be over 60 years of age.
(2)
Members shall be nominated by a majority vote of the existing members of the Board, and nominations shall be sent to the Select Board for appointment. Vacancies in unexpired terms shall be filled in the same manner.
(3)
Board members shall be appointed for a term of three years, except members appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term. These appointees to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term shall serve initially only for the duration of the unexpired term.
(4)
Board members wishing to be reappointed must make their intentions known by so stating in writing to the Chairperson of the Board.
(5)
All voting rights shall be vested in the members and each individual present shall be entitled to one vote with respect to any question or matter which may come before the Board.
(6)
If a member should miss three consecutive meetings without just cause, resignation may be requested.
A.
Number, qualification, election and term of office.
(1)
The officers of the Board shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer, and may include such number of assistants as the Board may from time to time deem advisable.
(2)
Each of such principal officers shall be elected annually from the membership at the regular annual meeting of the Board in the month of June.
(3)
New terms of office take effect at the first meeting of the Board in the month of July, with the start of the fiscal year.
(4)
Election of officers to fill vacancies created by death, resignation or other cause may take place at any regular or special meeting and shall be for the unexpired term of the previous incumbent, except that the office of Chairperson, if vacated, shall first be filled by the Vice-Chairperson followed by the Secretary, and then the Treasurer, for the unexpired portion of the Chairperson's term of office.
(5)
After serving two consecutive terms of one year, the Chairperson shall be ineligible to hold that office for the next two years. However, said Chairperson shall be eligible to hold another office.
B.
Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the Board, subject to the direction of members of the Board, and shall have charge of the business affairs of the Board in its general operations, including correspondence. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall appoint all committees and shall be an ex officio member of all committees.
C.
Vice-Chairperson. During the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall exercise all the functions of the Chairperson, and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chairperson.
A.
Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be posted with the Town Clerk at least two workdays in advance and shall be held each month.
B.
Special meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson or upon the written request of three members. All members shall be notified of special meetings.
C.
Annual meeting. The annual meeting of the Board shall be held during the month of June. Notice of the annual meeting, stating the purpose for which the meeting is called, and the time and place where it is to be held, shall be given to each voting member not less than seven days before the meeting.
D.
Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, the presence of a majority of the voting membership shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.
A.
The Board shall appoint, subject to the Town Administrator's approval, a Director of the Council on Aging.
B.
No member of the Board, other than the Chairperson, shall make requests of the staff or assign duties.
C.
The Council on Aging Director, subject to the approval of the Town Administrator, will have the authority to appoint all Council on Aging staff aside from the Director. All such appointments shall be made in a manner consistent with the Town's current hiring practices.
D.
Upon the recommendation of the Director of the Council on Aging, the Town Administrator has the authority to terminate in accordance with the Town's Personnel Procedures Manual. Appropriate information about the termination will be communicated to the Board's Personnel Committee.
A.
The Chairperson shall appoint the following standing committees: (1) Nominating; (2) Personnel; and (3) Finance. The Board Chairperson may also make replacements to the members as the Chairperson deems advisable and necessary.
(1)
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed and confirmed by the Board as a whole each April for the purpose of nominating candidates for the principal officers of the Board.
(2)
Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee consults with and supports the Council on Aging Director in personnel matters.
(3)
Finance Committee. The Finance Committee consults with and supports the Council on Aging Director in financial matters.
B.
The Board Chairperson may create ad hoc committees as needed. Ad hoc committee chairpersons must be Board members. The ad hoc chairperson shall form the committee which may include non-Board members.
The Board shall have the power to suggest amendments to the bylaws in the following manner: Any proposed amendment or alteration of the bylaws must be approved by affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board at two consecutive regular meetings. Proposed amendments or alterations may be considered at a special meeting of the Board called for such purpose, preceded by not less than 14 days' notice of the proposed action. In either case, notice shall be accompanied by the full text and purpose of the proposed amendment or alteration. The Council on Aging Board's amendments to the bylaw must be submitted to Town government for review, approval and inclusion on the Town Meeting warrant.
The effective date of these bylaws shall be the date of that meeting at which the bylaws have been approved by an affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of members. The date on which this approval is voted is June 6, 1988.