Planning Commission By-Laws

Section 1 – Name

The official name of the Commission shall be the Putnam County Planning Commission.

Section 1 – Elections

Annually, at the regular meeting of the Planning Commission held in January, the Commission shall elect a President and Vice-President.

Section 2 – President

The President shall preside at meetings of the Planning Commission and at public hearings and meetings called by the Planning Commission. The President shall call special meetings of the Planning Commission as required and shall transmit reports, plans, recommendations, and other documents from the Planning Commission to the appropriate authorities or bodies. The President shall act as spokesperson for the Planning Commission.

Section 3 – Vice-President

The Vice-President shall perform such duties and functions as may from time to time be required by the Planning Commission.

Section 4 – Additional Duties

The President and Vice-President shall perform such other duties and functions as may from time to time be required by the Planning Commission.

Section 5 – Replacing Officers

In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the President or Vice-President, the Planning Commission shall elect one of its members to complete the unexpired term. A three-fifths majority of the total membership of the Commission may, at any regular meeting, remove the President or Vice-President from office, provided that a new election to fill the remaining term of office is immediately held.

Section 6 – Term of Office

The President may not serve more than two consecutive one-year terms.

(Amended: January 16, 1990)

Section 7 – Nominating Committee

A nominating committee shall be established prior to the January Annual Meeting of the Planning Commission in order to make recommendations for appointments to the Planning Commission and Planning Commission officers.

(Amended: February 28, 2017)

Section 1 – Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Planning Commission shall be held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., except December, in a place and at a time designated by the Commission. In the event that the fourth Thursday of the month shall fall on a holiday or any other day when the Putnam County Courthouse will be closed, the regular meeting of the month shall be held on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

(Amended: March 26, 2019)
(Amended: October 17, 2023)

Section 2 – Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the President or by at least two members upon request to the Secretary. Whether called by the President or by two or more members, the Secretary shall send to all members, at least two days in advance of a special meeting, a written notice fixing the date, time, and place of the meeting, but written notice of a special meeting is not required if the date, time, and place of the special meeting have been fixed in a regular meeting or if all the members are present at the special meetings.

Section 3 – Quorum

In order to conduct a commission meeting, a quorum of the members must be present. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. No action of the Commission shall be official unless authorized by a majority of the members present at a regular or properly called special meeting.

Section 4 – Temporary Chairman

In the event of a quorum for a meeting and the absence of both the President and Vice-President, any member may call the meeting to order for the purpose of electing a temporary chairman by a simple majority of those present.

Section 5 – Procedures for Conducting Meetings

Roberts Rules of Order, current edition, shall be the parliamentary authority of the Planning Commission meetings. In the case of a conflict with a statute or ordinance and with any policy adopted by these bylaws, priority authority is given first to the statute, second to the ordinance, and third to the bylaws.

(Amended: January 30, 2018)

Section 1 – Informing County Commission of Members’ Absence

The President shall automatically send a letter to the County Commission to inform them when any member fails to attend three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled meetings or any five (5) regular meetings in a calendar year.

Section 1 – Separability

The invalidation of any article or any section of any article shall not invalidate any other portion of these Bylaws.

Section 1 – Amendments

These Bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote provided that the amendments have been submitted in writing at the previous meeting.

Adopted: November 17, 1987
To Become Effective: January 19, 1988
Amended: January 16, 1990
Amended: November 27, 1990
Amended: February 28, 2017
Amended: January 30, 2018
Amended: March 26, 2019
Amended: October 17, 2023