GROVE PLACE ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS
The name of the organization shall be Grove Place Association.
All persons making their residence or place of business in the Grove Place area (as defined below) are united to form Grove Place Association (GPA). The goals of the organization are to preserve the residential character of said area, and to be a constructive participant in the civic affairs of the city of Rochester and the county of Monroe by:
1) Support and secure zoning regulations which are consistent with the preservation of the residential neighborhood and its architectural heritage.
2) Promote the enforcement of the building code and housing laws.
3) Encourage owners to maintain their property in a manner consistent with an attractive, desirable, residential neighborhood.
4) Maintain an on-going effort to encourage downtown residence, especially in Grove Place.
5) Encourage a neighborhood spirit of civic responsibility to fulfill the Association’s role of being a cooperative and/or initiating agent with other neighborhoods, political and economic entities for the enhanced well-being of the city of Rochester and the county of Monroe.
The Association is organized solely for the furtherance of exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or any comparable section thereof as may from time to time be amended.
No part of the net earning or assets of the Association shall inure to the benefit of any officer, member, or individual. No member, officer, or individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any assets of the Association upon dissolution. In the event of dissolution, the executive committee shall dispose of the assets of the Association as they determine by majority vote. Such disposition must be to an organization exempt within the meaning of Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and must be directed to the above stated purposes of Grove Place Association.
The Association shall serve as a resource for information regarding issues and persons involved in activities which impact the above stated purposes, of the Association. The Association shall be non-partisan and refrain from all activities on behalf of a specific candidate for public office. The Association will not participate in any attempt to discriminate against residents or prospective purchasers for reasons of race, creed, sex, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or disability.
West: Chestnut Street
South: Main Street
North: Delevan Street
East: Scio Street
1) Voting members shall be persons residing within the above stated boundaries, or operating a business, and/or owning property within the boundaries. They shall have paid the current annual dues of the association. The above criteria having been met, they shall be eligible to vote on all motions and resolutions put before the membership, to vote in elections and to hold office.
2) Non-voting members shall be all persons residing within the above stated boundaries, or operating a business, and/or owning property within these boundaries. They shall be welcome to attend all general membership meetings and social events of the Association.
3) Non-profit organizations whose official address is within the boundaries of the GPA are eligible for non-profit organization membership by paying the non-profit organization annual dues and selecting two representatives to the association. The representatives shall have the privileges of voting members as defined above.
4) Life membership shall be granted to members who have made an outstanding contribution to the neighborhood and its organization. Persons may be suggested for this honor in petition by any five voting members. Life member selection will be determined by secret ballot. Life members will not pay dues. Previously granted Life Memberships:
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June 4, 1989 |
Anne McQuay |
Association founder. |
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April 4, 1969 |
Mrs. F. Hawley Ward |
First president. |
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April 4, 1969 |
Mr. M. C. McQuay |
First vice president. |
5) Those individuals who embrace the purpose and objectives of the Association, but do not meet the location criteria, may be granted voting or non-voting membership by recommendation of the executive committee and a majority vote of the voting membership present at any General Membership Association Meeting.
1) The amount of annual dues shall be recommended by the executive committee to the membership at the Annual Meeting in April and the amounts approved by a majority of the voting members present.
2) There shall be three categories of dues:
a) Individual
b) Business
c) Non-profit organization
3) Dues are payable following the annual meeting.
4) GPA fiscal year shall be May 1-April 30.
Officers shall be elected at the annual membership meeting and shall serve for two years. They shall be elected by a majority of voting members (as defined above) present at the meeting.
1) Chair meetings of the association.
2) Represent the association.
3) Call meetings and determine agendas.
4) Oversee the functioning of committee chairs in view of the organization’s purposes.
Shall perform duties as the president and executive committee shall designate for examples:
a. Serve in the absence of the president, or other elected officer
b. Arrange programs
c. Serve as nominating committee chairperson
1) Collect all dues and pay association bills promptly.
2) Maintain an accurate up-to-date list of all dues paying members.
3) Maintain up-to-date accurate account of the Association’s assets and liabilities.
4) Prepare a suggested budget with the in-put of committee chairpersons at the beginning of each fiscal year. This budget to be presented to the executive committee and membership for modification and adoption.
5) Alert the Executive Committee and, if necessary, the membership, of deviations from the budget which subsequently occur.
Shall keep records of:
1) Attendance at executive committee meetings, executive board meetings, and general membership meetings.
2) Salient discussions, decisions reached, resolutions and motions past during the above listed meetings.
All secretary’s records are to be written on acid-free paper and kept readily available to any officer or member. At the conclusion of each fiscal year (April 30) these records shall be given, for safe keeping, to the Historical Committee.
Shall consist of the elected officers and the preceding president. The executive committee shall be responsible to:
1) Conduct the business of the association between the membership meetings.
2) Appoint standing committee chairpersons.
3) Define ad hoc committee responsibilities and designate chairpersons as needed.
4) Appoint interim officers as the need occurs.
5) Be prepared to review pertinent issues for the neighborhood to be considered by the membership and to suggest a possible course of action. After discussion the voting membership shall make a decision for an action plan with guidelines for its implementation. It is the responsibility of the executive committee to follow the action plan and guidelines.
The executive board shall consist of the executive committee and the committee chairpersons. Committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the executive committee. Each chairperson shall:
1) Recruit members to fulfill the responsibilities of the committee.
2) Be responsible for all communications necessary to the work of the committee.
1) Shall be responsible to maintain vigilance regarding the attractiveness of the neighborhood and seek the cooperation of property owners, businesses, government officials and any other resources that are responsible to or may contribute to the improved beauty of the neighborhood.
2) Shall plan beautification projects to be presented to the executive committee for modification and approval.
3) Shall serve as a consultant resource for any neighborhood beautification project not on personal property.
1) Shall be responsible for promoting downtown living market rate housing, especially in the Grove Place area.
2) Shall support development that coincides with neighborhood objectives.
3) Shall represent the Association in zoning matters, review development plans for neighborhood properties, and make recommendations to the executive committee regarding such matters.
4) Shall meet with city officials to discuss neighborhood concerns regarding conservation zoning and property code violations.
1) Shall be responsible to collect for safe keeping all significant data concerning the past activities of the association.
2) At the end of each fiscal year officers and members shall be expected to provide to the historical committee all significant data from the past year which is not anticipated to be needed for easy accessibility during the coming year.
3) Shall preserve materials of significance on acid-free paper, or acid-free sleeves, which shall be given for permanent safe keeping to the Rochester Historical Society at the end of each fiscal year pursuant to the GPA agreement with that Society on 7/94.
1) Shall maintain a list of members and actively recruit voting members
2) Shall notify members, in a timely fashion, of the place and time. of general membership events.
3) Shall send appropriate remembrances on behalf of the association to voting members and families who are ill or bereaved.
4) Shall make recommendations to the executive committee and membership regarding memorials.
1) Shall have 3-5 members selected by the vice president/ chairperson of the nominating committee in consultation with the executive committee. All committee members must be voting members of the Association as defined by Article IV, and property owners within the association boundaries.
2) At least two weeks before the election, this committee shall mail to the voting members its slate of officers with the annual meeting notice.
3) Nominations may also be made by the voting members, such nominations shall be in writing and signed by at least five voting members. Such nominations should be presented to the nominating committee chairperson at least one week before the annual meeting.
1) Shall provide coordination with the Rochester Police Department Downtown Section and other public safety agencies in order to enhance the perception and reality of safety in the neighborhood.
2) Shall gather and provide information on neighborhood public safety issues and solutions.
3) Shall encourage group and individual action to enhance public safety.
4) Shall work with the Rochester Police Department, encourage residents to support, and become involved in, Neighborhood Watch, PAC-TAC, and other public safety initiatives.
The annual membership meeting for the election of officers shall take place in April of each year. The number of meetings to be held each year shall be recommended by the executive committee. The voting members may modify and approve that recommendation. Other meetings shall be called at the discretion of the executive committee.
Roberts Rules of Order shall apply. The order of business as follows:
1) Call to order.
2) Recording secretary’s report.
3) Treasurer’s report.
4) Committee reports.
5) Old business.
6) New business.
7) Adjournment.
The By Laws may be amended by presentation of an amendment to a membership meeting, followed by a written statement of the amendment to all voting members informing them that the amendment will be voted on at the next association meeting. The amendment to be accepted must be approved by no less than two-thirds of the voting members present as defined in Article IV.
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Approved: |
May 26, 1968 |
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Amended: |
April 27, 1969 |
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September 24, 1989 |
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April 23, 1995 |