NOTICE OF INFORMATION SESSION AND SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TO VOTE ON BYLAW CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY LSA BOARD AND BYLAW REVIEW COMMITTEE (BRC)
MEETING SCHEDULE
Information Session – 6:30 – 9:30 pm, June 13, 2022, Deerfield Township Hall. Given the number of changes and the importance of the bylaws, the Bylaw Review Committee (BRC) is hosting this meeting to give you an opportunity to learn about the proposed changes and to ask questions. This is an information session and not a forum for debate. NO VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING
Special Membership Meeting - 6:30 – 9:30 pm, June 20, 2022, Old Hartland High School Auditorium, 9525 East Highland Road (west of 23) with the single agenda item of considering and voting on the specific bylaw amendments proposed by the LSA Board and Bylaw Review Committee. This is the meeting where the membership will debate and vote on the recommended changes. Our bylaws (Article IV, Section 3.3) limit the scope of special meetings to only “that which is stated in the call” and therefore no new or additional bylaw changes can be introduced at this meeting. If you wish to propose changes other than the recommended ones, you should do this for a future membership meeting. You may, however, propose a modification to the recommended change.
| lsa_specialmeeting_ballot_2022june20_v3.pdf | |
| File Size: | 447 kb |
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We encourage you to review the three attachments to this meeting notice prior to the information session and special membership meeting. These include:
- A document which provides additional background information, a detailed overview of the proposed amendments and an explanation of how voting will occur at the special membership meeting.
- Compare the current and proposed bylaw language; and
- Show what the bylaws would look like if the proposed changes are approved by the membership.
| The Overview.pdf | |
| File Size: | 155 kb |
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| Lake Shannon Bylaw Revisions 2022.pdf | |
| File Size: | 219 kb |
| File Type: | |
| Lake Shannon Bylaw Revision Recommendations 2022.xlsx | |
| File Size: | 145 kb |
| File Type: | xlsx |
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Bylaw Review Committee
The LSA Board created a committee (the Bylaw Review Committee or BRC) to comprehensively review the current bylaws and recommend changes. After fifteen months of work, meeting nearly every other week, the BRC has completed its work. The Board has considered the BRC’s recommendations, supports them, and is proposing that the membership adopt the package of changes to our bylaws recommended by the Bylaw Review Committee.
Summary of Proposed Changes
The vast majority of recommended changes are simple clean up (editing, updating and repackaging for easier reading and better flow). There are approximately 18 substantive changes, most of which are:
Several of the recommendations are less restrictive than current bylaw language including recommendations to:
Bylaw Enforcement
Several members have previously expressed their opposition to any bylaw amendment that introduces fines for bylaw violations. Consequently, before it did any work on the topic of bylaw enforcement, the BRC polled those persons who asked to receive communications from the BRC. Sixty per cent of the respondents indicated support of a fine structure, mirroring last year’s vote for trustees. While this is slightly less than the two-thirds factor needed for approval of bylaw amendments, the BRC decided this was sufficient interest to warrant consideration of a fine structure by both the BRC and the membership.
Bylaw Review Committee
The LSA Board created a committee (the Bylaw Review Committee or BRC) to comprehensively review the current bylaws and recommend changes. After fifteen months of work, meeting nearly every other week, the BRC has completed its work. The Board has considered the BRC’s recommendations, supports them, and is proposing that the membership adopt the package of changes to our bylaws recommended by the Bylaw Review Committee.
Summary of Proposed Changes
The vast majority of recommended changes are simple clean up (editing, updating and repackaging for easier reading and better flow). There are approximately 18 substantive changes, most of which are:
- Practical recommendations
- Responses to suggestions from members
- Changes focused on protecting the interests of the neighborhood
- Changes to reflect current community norms.
Several of the recommendations are less restrictive than current bylaw language including recommendations to:
- Permit outside storage of two (2) rubbish/recycling bins
- Address outside parking and storage of vehicles, etc.
- Permit signs other than for sale signs
- Allow water skiing before 9am on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- Permit more than two household pets
Bylaw Enforcement
Several members have previously expressed their opposition to any bylaw amendment that introduces fines for bylaw violations. Consequently, before it did any work on the topic of bylaw enforcement, the BRC polled those persons who asked to receive communications from the BRC. Sixty per cent of the respondents indicated support of a fine structure, mirroring last year’s vote for trustees. While this is slightly less than the two-thirds factor needed for approval of bylaw amendments, the BRC decided this was sufficient interest to warrant consideration of a fine structure by both the BRC and the membership.