PAHMT Constitution and Bylaws

PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIANS
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Article I: Name and Object

SECTION 1. NAME. This organization shall be know as the “PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIANS” and is hereinafter referred to as the “Association”.

SECTION 2. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE. The objectives and purpose of this organization shall be to provide a representative and coordinated voice for Pennsylvania’s hazardous materials responders; to provide for networking and mutual exchange of information; to provide in the facilitation of the hazardous materials response team (HMRT) certification process; to interface with other state, regional and national organizations with interests in the hazardous materials response field; to promote uniformity and standardization of hazardous materials operations, equipment, training and certification on both a regional and state wide basis; and to provide for the sharing of resources and provide for the ability to make joint purchases of hazardous materials supplies, equipment, and training. This Association shall not be operated for profit or gain to its members.

Article II: Membership

SECTION 1. ADMISSION. Application for membership or for a change in class of membership shall be made to the membership committee who shall process and submit their recommendation to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. CATEGORIES. Membership shall consist of Active members and Sustaining (Associate) members. Criteria for membership is as follows:

A. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP.
1) Member of a county-recognized Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) which is trained to and
operates at the Hazardous Materials Technician level.
2) If not a member of a HMRT, an individual trained to the Hazardous Materials Technician level (minimum
of 40 hours documented training at the HM Technician Level).
3) Hazardous Materials Instructors with recognized certification credentials from either the State or Federal
level, or professional organizations (e.g., PA State Fire Academy, National Fire Academy, Certified
Environmental Trainer, etc.).
4) Hazardous Materials emergency response contractor personnel trained to the Hazardous Materials
Technician level (minimum of 40 hours documented training at the HM Technician Level).
5) Member of an industrial or government agency HMRT trained to the hazardous materials technician
level (minimum of 40 hours documented training at the HM Technician Level).
6) Environmental health and safety professionals active in the hazardous materials emergency response
field (e.g., CIH, CSP, toxicologist, etc.).

B. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP.
1) Hazardous materials emergency planners.
2) Members of Local Emergency Planning Committee’s (LEPC).
3) Other individuals with an interest in the goals and objectives of the Association.
4) Associate members shall have the privileges of an active member, except, voting and holding office.

C. SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP.
1) Hazardous materials clean-up contractor personnel who do not engage in emergency response operations
and who are limited to remediation activities (e.g., asbestos and underground tank removal).
2) Manufacturers and suppliers of hazardous materials emergency response supplies and equipment.
3) Sustaining members shall have the privileges of an active member, except, voting and holding office.

SECTION 3: MEMBERSHIP DUES. Dues for Active and Sustaining Members shall be determined by the Association membership on the recommendation of the Board of Directors. Dues shall be fixed by a majority vote of members present at the annual meeting. Prospective members shall submit dues with their application for membership.

Failure to pay membership dues within ninety (90) days of the due date shall forfeit membership in the Association. Reinstatements are conditioned on approval of the Board of Directors and payment of all arrears.

Article III: Officers

SECTION 1. OFFICERS. The officers of this Association shall be a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

SECTION 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The officers, immediate past president (President Emeritus), and nine (9) Regional Directors, duly elected, shall constitute the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. REGIONAL DIRECTORS. The State shall be divided into three (3) regions, with three directors from each region. Regions shall follow the same structure as defined by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. (e.g. East, West, and Central).

SECTION 4. TERMS of OFFICE. The officers and directors of the Association shall hold their offices from the time of their election for terms of two years. No member of the Board of Directors shall succeed themselves from an expiring two full terms of office with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer. (Regional directors shall initially begin with a staggered term of one, two, and three years respectively for purposes of the first years election).

SECTION 5. VACANCIES. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors of the Association, the President shall, with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors, appoint a voting member to complete the term of office. The President shall be succeeded by the First Vice President, the First Vice President shall be succeeded by the Second Vice President. The position of Second Vice President shall be filled by the appointment of a qualified member, by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 6. MULTIPLE OFFICES. No individual may hold more than one office in the Association at any one time. Officers and members may, however, serve on one or more committees.

SECTION 7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association. Members of the Board of Directors, (regional directors) shall be nominated and elected by the membership within each region at the spring meeting of each respective region.

1. Nominees for any office shall be voting members of the Association.
2. No member may be nominated for more than one position per election.
3. Nominating Committee members cannot be nominated for an elective office without first resigning from the Nominating Committee.
4. Vice Presidents shall advance to the next vacancy until reaching the office of president unless removed for cause by the Board of Directors.
5. In the event of a tie vote between candidates for the same position, a ballot shall be conducted during the general meeting and will contain the names of the tying candidates only. This ballot will be used to determine the successful candidate, and will be repeated as often an necessary until the position is filled.
6. The Nominating Committee shall administer the election.
7. Members may receive and cast their ballots upon proper verification of membership.
8. The results of the election shall be announced at the general meeting.

SECTION 8. DUTIES AND POWERS. The government of this Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors who shall have the full power to initiate and transact the business as necessary for the existence of this Association. The Board of Directors shall have general powers to direct, control, and supervise the affairs of this Association and assist the development of activities of all respective regions.

1. President. The president shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and it shall be his/her responsibility to supervise and coordinate the activities of the Association, to preside at meetings of the Association and Board of Directors, and to appoint appropriate committees.
2. First Vice President. The First Vice President shall assist the President as directed and in the absence of the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and assume the duties and responsibilities of the President.
3. Second Vice President. The Second Vice President, in the absence of the President and First Vice President of the Association shall perform the duties of the President.
4. Secretary. The secretary shall keep records and record the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, reduce same to writing, and distribute copies to all members of the Association. The secretary shall keep a record of attendance of the members of the Board of Directors at all meetings and assist in the official correspondence of the Association.
5. Treasurer. The treasurer shall be the custodian and sole depositor of the funds of the Association and disburse such funds by check as authorized by the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall render a completed summary of all income, disbursements and balances as required by the Board of Directors and at each regular meeting. He/she shall furnish a bond to the Association in the form and amount as specified by the Board of Directors, the cost thereof to be paid by the Association.
6. Regional Directors. Regional directors shall serve as members of the Board of Directors. They shall, within their respective districts, chair, organize and hold bi-annual meetings.

SECTION 9. SUSPENSION. An officer or director may be suspended from an office for cause by an affirmative vote by a majority of the Directors then in office. Suspension shall be in effect until the issue is placed before the membership at the next Association meeting.

SECTION 10. REMOVAL. An Officer or Director may be removed from office with or without cause by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership present and voting at an Association meeting, providing that such business is contained in the meeting notice.

Article IV: Committees

SECTION 1. STANDING COMMITTEES. The following committees shall be standing full time committees of the Association.

1. Bylaws. The duties of the committee shall be to advise the officers, directors and members of the Association on matters pertaining to the bylaws. In the event of proposed changes the committee shall review and prepare said changes in a suitable format for presentation to the officers, directors, and members of the Association.
2. Ethics and Grievance. The committee shall investigate any and all allegations of misconduct directed toward the officers, directors or members of the Association and following the completion of their investigation forward the results and recommendations in writing to the Board of Directors for final action.
3. Nominating. The committee shall consist of five (5) members of the Association who shall encourage, solicit, receive, and verify all nominations received for positions of Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Association. The committee shall conduct the election of officers at the annual meeting of the Association an announce the results of the election prior to the close of the meeting. Each regional nominating committee shall consist of three (3) members.
4. Membership. The committee shall promote membership in the Association through any appropriate means and report annually on the total number of paid up members in the Association.
5. Education and Training. The committee shall encourage and assist in the development of educational programs and materials for the membership and provide for the distribution of this information in a timely manner. The committee shall develop plans for and implement the delivery of regional and statewide training and related programs.
6. Sustaining Membership. The committee shall promote, encourage and solicit sustaining membership on behalf of the Association.

Article V: Meetings

SECTION 1. ANNUAL. The annual meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. The annual meeting shall consist of, but not limited to, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors and the Annual Meeting of the members of the Association. The election of Officers as well as any other Association business may be presented at the annual meeting.The secretary shall take minutes of the annual meeting and reduce same to writing for distribution.

SECTION 2. GENERAL. There shall be, in addition to the annual meeting a winter meeting of the Board of Directors which shall be held in conjunction with one of the three regional meetings on a rotating basis.

SECTION 3. SPECIAL. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors at such places and time as fixed by the Board of Directors. Notice there of is due all members at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting. No business, other than that stated in the notice of the special meeting shall be conducted there at.

SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of directors shall meet at least twice per year. The date and time of these meetings shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 5. REGIONAL MEETINGS. The regional directors shall provide for a minimum of one meeting of the members of the Association within their region in the winter or spring of the year in order to provide for a forum for exchange of ideas and communication and for the purpose of the election of regional directors. The meeting shall be held no later than the first of June each year.

SECTION 6. RULES OF ORDER. When any question comes before a meeting, not specifically provided for by these bylaws, the rules as set forth in “Robert’s Rules of Order,” as revised, shall apply.

SECTION 7. ATTENDANCE. Failure to attend at least two (2) consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors without being excused by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board shall constitute cause for removal of any Director.

SECTION 8. NOTICE. Notice of any meeting of the Association shall be published not less than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting unless other wise specified in these bylaws.

SECTION 9. QUORUM. A two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors present shall be required for a vote or resolution to carry at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Article VI: Amendments

SECTION 1. The bylaws of this Association may be amended at any meeting of the Association by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes cast at the meeting provide that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been contained in the notice of the meeting and at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.

Adopted: 3/06/93
Amended: 10/14/94
Amended: 10/02/97