MMA Bylaws
Maryland Mayors Association
ARTICLE I
Section 1: Name
This organization shall be known as the Maryland Mayors’ Association of the Maryland
Municipal League, hereafter referred to as the Mayors’ Association.
Section 2: Purpose
The purpose of the Mayors’ Association shall be to help its members better serve their
municipalities and to promote Maryland Municipal League initiatives. The Mayors’
Association, as a Constituency Group of the Maryland Municipal League, will be subject to League regulations and to policy guidance from the League’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II – Membership
Section 1: General Membership
The membership of the Mayors’ Association shall consist of the Mayor or Chief Elected Officer, by whatever name known, representing a member city/town of the Maryland Municipal League. Any eligible person, as noted above, upon payment of membership dues, if applicable, may become a member of the Maryland Mayors’ Association and is eligible to vote and participate fully in the Mayors’ Association’s activities. Membership period is July 1 through June 30.
Section 2: Honorary Membership
All past presidents of the association shall be honorary members. Honorary members shall not have a vote in any proceedings of the association, and shall not be eligible to hold office, but shall be entitled to participate fully in all other member activities.
ARTICLE III – Officers and Executive Committee
Section 1: Officers
The Officers of the Mayors’ Association shall be president, president elect, vice-president , secretary/treasurer or secretary, and treasurer and immediate past president. The president shall serve as liaison to the Maryland Municipal League.
Section 2: Executive Committee
The Officers of the Mayors’ Association shall also be known as the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Qualifications
Each officer shall, at the time of election, be a member of the Mayors’ Association.
Section 4: Nominations, Election and Terms of Office
Nominations for president elect, vice-president, secretary/treasurer or secretary, and treasurer shall be made at the winter meeting of the Mayor’s Association. Nominations for officers shall be made at the winter meeting of the Mayor’s Association. The president elect of the previous executive committee shall be named President without nomination. The President may solicit nominations or appoint a nominating committee prior to the winter meeting and nominations may also be made from the floor.
The officers shall be elected from those nominated at the winter meeting. The election shall take place at the annual business meeting of the Maryland Mayors’ Association and the officers shall be elected by the voting members present at the meeting. The officers shall hold office for one year.
Section 5: Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the President elect shall become President. In the event of a vacancy of President elect or Vice-President, the current officers shall ascend into the position above them. This includes the position of Secretary moving into the 2nd Vice President position in the event that the position is vacated.
Upon ascension, all other vacancies shall be advertised to the voting membership of the Maryland Mayors Association within 15 days after an office has been vacated. Nominations will be received by the Executive Committee and filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee with 30 days after the office has been vacated.
ARTICLE IV – Meetings
Section 1: Annual Meetings
The Mayors’ Association shall meet a minimum of three times annually: shall meet once in
conjunction with the Maryland Municipal League’s summer convention to conduct the
business of the Mayors’ Association; shall meet once in conjunction with the Maryland
Municipal League’s fall Legislative Conference; and shall meet once during the winter.
Section 2: Other Meetings
The date, time, place, and agenda for any other meetings shall be determined by the
membership or the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Quorum
A quorum of fifteen Mayor’s Association members present shall be necessary to conduct business.
Section 4: Representation
Official Mayors’ Association business meetings are open to the Mayors/municipal chief elected officer only – definitions to include Commission Presidents and Burgesses. Mayors unable to attend official MMA business meetings may not send a proxy or designee.
ARTICLE V FINANCES
Section 1: Dues
The dues of the Maryland Mayors’ Association shall be fixed by a vote of the membership at the annual business meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer or Treasurer shall send a notice to each municipality annually in July specifying the amount of their dues.
Section 2:
A special assessment may be imposed if needed to support the activities of the Maryland Mayors’ Association, if approved by a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting.
ARTICLE VI – Maryland Municipal League Liaison
Section 1: Liaison
Upon request of the Mayors’ Association and at the discretion of the Maryland Municipal
League Executive Director, the Maryland Municipal League may provide a liaison to the
Mayors’ Association to assist in carrying out its activities.
Section 2: Annual Meetings
Upon request of the Mayors’ Association, the Maryland Municipal League will provide
meeting space and logistical support for the Mayors’ Association’s meetings occurring in
conjunction with the Maryland Municipal League’s summer convention and the fall Legislative
Conference. Upon request of the Mayors’ Association, the Maryland Municipal League may
provide assistance in the planning of the Mayors’ Association’s meetings.
Section 3: Resource Conflicts
If the Executive Director determines that insufficient resources are available to meet requests
from the Mayors’ Association, the Executive Director shall notify the Association and seek guidance as to priorities from the Maryland Municipal League’s Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII – Miscellaneous
Section 1: Use of the Maryland Municipal League Name
The Mayors’ Association may use the Maryland Municipal League’s name only in conjunction
with activities described in these bylaws. Should the Mayors’ Association engage in other
activities for which a public statement of endorsement or support of the Maryland Municipal
League is desired, implied, or intended, the written consent of the League’s Executive Director
and/or Board of Directors is required.
Section 2: Parliamentary Procedure
Meetings of the Mayors’ Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Section 3: Absentee Voting
All Mayors’ Association business requiring a vote of its members shall be conducted by a vote
from a quorum of members present. Proxy votes will not be allowed.
Section 4: Amendments to the Bylaws
Proposed changes in the Bylaws shall be submitted to the Mayors’ Association membership in
writing 30 days prior to a meeting and shall be adopted subject to a two-thirds favorable vote
by the members present. Adopted Bylaw changes shall require approval by the Board of
Directors of the Maryland Municipal League at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Section 5: Adoption of Bylaws
These Bylaws have been adopted by the members of the Mayors’ Association at a membership
meeting on February 19, 1994 and co-signed by the President of the Mayors’ Association and
the President of the Maryland Municipal League to establish a working partnership between
the Mayors’ Association and the Maryland Municipal League to achieve shared goals.
Section 6: Special Recognition
The Mayors’ Association President and Executive Committee may, when merited, award special recognition to a member mayor who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, above and beyond the everyday responsibilities associated with his or her elected office, that best exemplify the highest standards of municipal executive leadership. The award shall be proffered at the annual MML Convention.
First Adopted 4/23/94
Amended this date by the Association 6/25/01 _ Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 9/6/01
Amended this date by the Association 2/7/08 Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 4/26/08
Amended this date by the Association 6/28/10 Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 06/28/10
Amended this date by the Association 10/21/10 Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 01/29/11
Amended this date by the Association 10/4/12 Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 1/22/13
Amended this date by the Association 6/26/17 Approved by the MML Board of Directors on 10/13/19