I. PURPOSE

The purpose of the membership is to inspire and encourage the greatest number of Democrats to participate in the affairs of the Democratic Committee of the Town of Niskayuna, to ensure success of the Democratic Committee, to encourage high voter turnout for Democratic candidates, and to provide the best possible, responsible government for the Town of Niskayuna.

II. OPERATING AUTHORITY

The Niskayuna Democratic Committee shall operate within the framework of the rules of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee.

III. MEMBERSHIP

1. Committee Members
   Committee members are those members of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee who represent Election Districts in the Town of Niskayuna.
2. Interim Committee Members
   1. In the event of a Committee vacancy, the Committee may appoint an eligible person to fill that vacancy on an interim basis until such time as the County Committee fills the vacancy or a new Committee is elected, whichever comes first. Interim appointments are to be made by majority vote of those Committee members present at a Committee meeting where the appointee is also present.
   2. An Interim Committee member has the same privileges (including voting privileges) and responsibilities as other Committee members with respect to Town Committee matters.
3. Assistant Committee Members
   1. The Committee can appoint assistant Committee members to the various Town Election Districts. These appointments are to be made by majority vote of those Committee members present at a Committee meeting where the appointee is also present.
   2. Only enrolled Democrats residing in Niskayuna can be appointed as assistants.
   3. The term of an assistant Committee member ends with the election of a new Committee. An assistant's appointment can be revoked at any time by majority vote of those members present at a Committee meeting.
   4. An assistant Committee member can vote as a substitute for a Committee member from the same Election District when that member is absent both in person and in proxy. The assistant can also (but not at the same time) vote as a substitute for a vacant position in the same Election District. In the event there are more assistants present than there are substitute positions, the assistants are assigned appropriate fractional votes.
4. Guidelines
   The Town Committee shall adopt and periodically update a set of guidelines outlining the duties and responsibilities of Committee members.

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

1. There shall be an organizational meeting held within ten (10) days following the election of a new Committee. The purpose of the meeting is to elect the Executive Board of the Town Committee, to elect representatives to the Schenectady County Democratic Executive Committee, and to decide the number of weighted votes each representative will be allocated in compliance with the rules of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee.
2. The only Committee members permitted to vote for officers and representatives are those who were elected in the primary.
3. The organizational meeting shall be called by the outgoing Chair or, in his/her absence or refusal to do so, by any member of the outgoing Executive Board, or by any five (5) members of the Committee.

V. ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE

1. Officers of the Town Committee
   1. There shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer; all of whom shall be enrolled Democrats residing in the Town of Niskayuna.
   2. There shall be an Executive Board consisting of the five officers and two Members-at-Large. The Executive Board shall be elected at the Organizational Meeting following the election of a new Committee.
   3. The Executive Board shall meet as necessary to provide overall policy direction, assist in the administration of the Town Committee, and assist the Chair to implement policies and recommendations of the Town Committee. A quorum at any meeting of the Executive Board shall be four (4).
   4. The officers shall hold office during the term of the Committee which elects them unless they resign, become ineligible, or are removed for cause. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Vice-Chair shall act as temporary Chair and a new Chair shall be elected within thirty (30) days.
2. Representatives to the County Executive Committee
   1. The Town Committee shall have one or more representatives on the County Executive Committee up to the number permitted by the Rules of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee. Each representative shall be an enrolled Democrat and a member of the County Committee representing an Election District in Niskayuna. The representatives shall be elected at the Town Organizational Meeting following the election of a new Committee. A person can serve as both a Town Committee officer and a County Executive Committee Representative.
   2. Under the rules of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, each representative shall have a weighted vote on the County Executive Committee. The weights allocated to each representative shall be determined at the Town organizational meeting. In the event that the Committee fails to pass a resolution on allocation, then the weighted vote shall be allocated evenly.
   3. In the event that a representative resigns or becomes ineligible, the Committee can reallocate his/her weighted vote and/or elect a new representative. If the number of elected representatives is less than the number permitted by the County Rules, then the Town Committee can at any time elect additional representatives.

VI. MEETINGS OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE

1. Meetings of the Town Committee shall be called by the Chair with sufficient frequency to carry out the Committee's purpose. In any event, the Committee must meet at least quarterly. Meetings must also be held within thirty (30) days of a request made in writing or by e-mail from any one member of the Executive Board or by twenty percent (20%) of the Committee members.
2. Committee members, interim members, and assistants shall be sent written notice of a meeting at least five (5) business days before the meeting date. Notice shall be by electronic mail, unless a Committee member, interim member, or assistant directs otherwise in writing, in which case notice shall be by first class mail to any preson so requesting. In unusual circumstances (such as an unanticipated deadline), a meeting may be called with shorter notice provided a reasonable effort is made to notify Committee members.
3. Meeting notices must include an announcement of any important matters to be voted upon. These following matters must be noticed: (1) changing the rules; (2) electing a new Chair; and (3) endorsing candidates for Town Offices. As a point of order, any Committee member can ask the presiding officer to rule on whether some item should require written notice and the ruling may be appealed to the Committee.
4. A quorum is twenty five percent (25%) of the Committee members in person or in proxy. For purposes of determining a quorum, an assistant can be counted in place of an absent Committee member from the same Election District.
5. Each Committee member and each interim Committee member shall be entitled to one vote. An assistant Committee member may be entitled to one vote (or a fractional vote) as prescribed in part 4 of the subsection above titled "Assistant Committee Members." Any Committee member (but not an assistant member) can designate a registered Democrat from Niskayuna to act in his/her absence as his/her proxy at a designated meeting. The proxy must be in a signed written communication. No proxy can be valid for more than one meeting.
6. Voting at Committee meetings shall be by voice vote unless otherwise provided for in this paragraph. A roll call shall be conducted if one is requested for by any one Committee member. A secret ballot may be taken instead upon a motion approved by a majority of the members present at such meeting.
7. The Chair of the Town Committee shall preside at the meetings of the Town Committee. In his/her absence, the Vice-Chair shall preside. If the Vice-Chair is absent or unwilling to so preside, then any substitute designated by the Chair shall preside. Otherwise, the order of succession shall be the order as listed under the subsection titled "Officers of the Town Committee."
8. All meetings shall be open to the public unless closed by a majority vote of those members present. By majority vote, the Committee may exclude particular non-members from attending a meeting.
9. The Chair may, in consultation with the Executive Board, establish sub- committees and, if necessary, he or she shall appoint Chairs and members to them.

VII. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed on all matters pertaining to parliamentary procedure, not otherwise provided for.

VIII. FORMER RULES

Any and all Town Committee rules heretofore adopted or existing are hereby repealed.

IX. AMENDMENTS TO RULES

The Rules of the Town Committee may be amended or new rules adopted from time to time by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members of the Town Committee present at a meeting at which there is a quorum, provided a copy of the proposed amendments shall be sent with the notice of the meeting at which such amendment is to be proposed, such notice to be sent not less than five (5) business days before such meeting.

X. FILING OF RULES

These Rules must be filed with the Secretary of the County Committee and the Board of Elections.