Morrow County Township Association

“Bringing Together Morrow County’s Townships.” 

Constitution of the Morrow County Township Association

ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this association shall be “The Morrow County Township Association”.

 

ARTICLE II: Membership
All township trustees and fiscal officers in Morrow County shall be entitled to ACTIVE membership in this Association. All township employees, township boards and township commission members shall be eligible for AFFILIATE membership. Former trustees and fiscal officers and others interested in local self-government shall be entitled to ASSOCIATE membership.

 

ARTICLE III: Principles
Local self-government is a vital principle of free institutions. This principle is recognized in the case of municipalities by giving Ohio cities the right to frame and amend their own charters. The people living in rural communities are likewise entitled to control their own local affairs. This can be done only by electing officials who are directly responsible to the voters and by entrusting to them the control of township affairs. Township officials are neighborhood officials and hence, more directly responsible to the voters than any other officials can possibly be.

 

ARTICLE IV: Purposes
The purposes of this Association shall be:

  1. To protect the township against any attempt to abolish it as a governmental unit.
  2. To resist any effort at further centralization of governmental powers by depriving the township of any rights, duties or privileges that it currently possesses.
  3. To secure, through friendly interchange of ideas, a better acquaintance among township officials.
  4. To promote a better knowledge of the rights and duties of township officials, and by comparison of experiences and exchange of ideas, to arrive at the best way to discharge those duties.
  5. To secure from the General Assembly legislation that will enable township government to function more efficiently.
  6. To secure for the 40,000 miles of township roads in Ohio an equitable share of gasoline tax and other road revenue, such revenue to be expended on township roads by township officials.
 

ARTICLE V: Election and Terms of Officers

  1. The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee Representative. If deemed necessary, the Secretary and Treasurer positions can be combined and held simultaneously by a single officer. The December meeting of the CTA shall be designated as the Annual meeting when officers are elected. Each officer shall be holding office as a township trustee or fiscal officer at the time of their election except that officers shall be eligible for re-election although no longer serving as a township trustee or fiscal officer.
  2. Each officer is elected to a two-year term with no term limits.
  3. Terms of Office will begin on January 1 of the year following the election.
  4. Nominations shall be presented at said meeting by a nominating committee which shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of three members from three different townships. Additional nominations for any office may be made from the floor by any member and the election shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.
 

 

ARTICLE VI: Duties of Officers
The officers, aided by the committees, shall have general charge of the affairs of the Association and each of them shall discharge the duties usually incident to the office.

 

  1. The President shall preside at all regular and called meetings of the Association, likewise at all meetings of committees.
  2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the event of absence or inability to perform the same, or in case of vacancy in the office of President.
  3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the Association and mail notices to members of meetings.
  4. The Treasurer shall collect membership dues and pay out funds on order signed by the President.
  5. One member shall be elected by this County Township Association to serve as a representative on the State Association Executive Committee. The President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer of the County Association may be chosen to fill this role. The representative shall be especially charged with the task of securing new members, enlisting the support of township and county officials, members of the legislature and other interested citizens.
 

ARTICLE VII: Committees

To assist the officers in carrying out the aims and purposes of this County Township Association, there shall be a Legislative Committee, Finance Committee and Nominating Committee. Other special committees may be formed and appointed by the President as is deemed appropriate or necessary. These include, but are not limited to, a Scholarship Committee, Constitution Review Committee, Know Your County Officials Booklet Committee, etc.

ARTICLE VIII: Legislative Committee
There shall be a Legislative Committee of three members appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Legislative Committee to have full charge of legislation affecting township interests; and all such proposals shall be referred to said committee during the meetings of the Association or at any time during the year, by the President.

ARTICLE IX: Finance Committee
There shall be a Finance Committee of three members appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to supervise the finances of the County Township Association and to assist in raising funds of the Association. This committee shall also examine the books of the Treasurer and make an annual report of the same to the County Township Association.
 
ARTICLE X: Nominating Committee
There shall be a Nominating Committee of three members representing three different townships appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to screen candidates for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Committee Representative. The Nominating Committee shall report said nominations to the full County Association membership prior to the annual CTA officer elections.
 
ARTICLE XI: Meetings
Four regular meetings shall be held each year. Special meetings may be called by the President at such times as deemed advisable.
 

ARTICLE XII: Order of Business

  1. President calling County Township Association to order
  2. Roll call of members by the Secretary (or Secretary/Treasurer)
  3. Reading of the minutes from the last meeting
  4. Reports of committees
  5. Addresses by persons selected by President
  6. General discussion by members
 
ARTICLE XIII: Dues
The annual membership dues in this Association shall be $20.00 for Active members, $20.00 for Affiliate members, and $20.00 for Associate members, which shall be paid in full at the annual meeting.
 
ARTICLE XIV: Amendments
This Constitution may be amended at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present.
 
Rev. 11/2019