BY-LAWS
OF THE
GREAT LAKES WATER RESOURCES REGIONAL COMMITTEE
Article I: Name
The name of this committee shall be the Great Lakes Water Resources Regional
Committee (Regional Committee), Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
Article II: Authorization
The Water Resources Planning Act (Act 220 of 2002), 27 Pa.C.S. Chapter 31 authorizes
the creation of this Regional Committee.
Article III: Purpose
The Regional Committee's purpose is to guide the development of and recommend
to the Statewide Committee the Regional Plan component for review and incorporation
into the State Water Plan.
Article IV: Members
Members of the Regional Committee shall include 21 members appointed by
the Governor. The Committee shall include:
Four members with a knowledge, background or understanding of water resources
planning and management who are County Conservation District or Planning Commission
Directors or, where a County Conservation District does not cover a portion
of a region, representatives of the governing body of the county or city of
the first class, as appropriate, and shall represent a geographic cross-section
of the region. At least two County Conservation District Directors shall be
appointed to each Regional Committee. Such members shall be appointed by the
Governor from recommendations made separately by the governing bodies of each
county or city of the first class, which is in whole or part within the region.
Seventeen members appointed by the Governor from recommendations made separately
by statewide and regional organizations representing such interests, whose residence
or place of business is within the region and who meet the following criteria:
Two members shall be representative of agriculture, one from production agriculture
and one from horticulture.
One member shall be an officer or employee of a public water supply agency
providing residential service within the region.
One member shall be an office or employee of a public wastewater agency providing
service within the region.
Three members shall represent significant industrial and commercial enterprises,
energy development and production interests.
Three members shall represent environmental and conservation interests.
Four members with education and experience in professions relating to water
resources management, including engineering, hydrology, geology, planning, law
and economics, one whom shall be a registered professional geologist.
Three members representing local governments other than counties. The members
appointed under this subparagraph shall represent a cross-section of the region,
considering the distribution of population within each region.
Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term in the same
manner as original appointments. A member, upon expiration of the term, shall
continue to hold office until a successor is appointed.
The Secretary shall appoint one member, who is a Department employee. This
member shall advise the Regional Committee without voting on any matter before
the Regional Committee.
Where a compact basin commission exists with jurisdiction over all or a portion
of the region, a representative of such compact basin commission shall be invited
to serve as an ex officio voting member of the Regional Committee.
Members shall be appointed for a term of three years, but of the members
first appointed by the Governor there shall be staggered terms of one, two and
three years.
Members shall serve without compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed
for reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses incurred.
The Department and the Chair of the Regional Committee shall maintain lists
of the Regional Committee membership.
Article V: Officers
The Regional Committee shall annually elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair by a majority
vote of the full membership. It shall be the duty of the Chair to preside at
all meetings of the Regional Committee, call special meetings, prepare the meeting
agenda in consultation with the Department, and perform other such duties as
pertain to the office. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chair to perform the
duties of the Chair in his/her absence. The Vice-Chair shall also assist the
Chair in the performance of such duties as may be assigned by the Chair.
Article VI: Voting
Members shall be entitled to one (1) vote, in person or via teleconference
or videoconference when applicable, on all matters that come before the Regional
Committee. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be allowed to vote on all matters
before the Regional Committee.
A majority of the membership of the Regional Committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of Regional Committee business. Action may only be
taken on a matter before the Regional Committee by a majority vote of the full
membership of the Committee.
Article VII: Critical Area Advisory Committees (CAAC) and Ad Hoc Work Groups
Critical Area Advisory Committees
The Regional Committee shall establish a Critical Area Advisory Committee
upon designation of a Critical Water Planning Area in the State Water Plan or
by the Statewide Water Resources Committee and the Secretary, upon recommendation
of the Regional Committee. The CAAC shall evaluate policy, program and management
alternatives and advise the Regional Committee and Department throughout the
critical water area planning process.
Critical Area Advisory Committees shall be composed of Regional Committee
members interested in participating and persons representative of appropriate
governmental agencies, agricultural, public water supply, industrial and other
water uses in the area, conservation and environmental organizations and other
persons who have knowledge of, background in or an understanding of water resources
planning and management.
A member of the Regional Committee shall chair each CAAC. It shall be the
responsibility of the Chair of the CAAC, in consultation with the Department,
to maintain lists of members, call meetings, establish agenda, and prepare minutes
and submit them to the members of the Regional Committee and the Department
for each meeting. All CAAC members shall have one vote within their designated
CAAC.
Ad Hoc Work Groups
The Chair, with approval of the Regional Committee, may appoint Ad Hoc work
groups from the Regional Committee membership, as deemed necessary. A specific
task shall be assigned upon formation of the Ad Hoc work group. The Ad Hoc work
group shall report to the Regional Committee. The Chair of the Ad Hoc work group,
in consultation with the Department, shall issue reports to the Regional Committee
on the progress and findings of the Ad Hoc work group.
Article VIII: Administration
The Department shall designate employees who shall perform
administrative secretarial duties for the Regional Committee. It shall be their
duty to function as the recording and corresponding secretary, as assigned by
the Department. Included among these duties shall be:
To give public notice of the meetings of the Regional Committee, CAAC
and Ad Hoc Work Groups.
To record Regional Committee minutes and keep a permanent file of the
minutes of the meetings of the Regional Committee, as well as the CAAC and Ad
Hoc work group minutes. Minutes of the meetings of the Regional Committee, CAAC
and of Ad Hoc work groups shall be distributed to the full membership of the
Regional Committee. The Chair may review the minutes prior to distribution.
To conduct both outgoing and incoming correspondence for the Regional
Committee and to maintain a permanent file of such correspondence.
Article IX: Meetings
Meetings of the Regional Committee shall be open to
the public in accordance with the Sunshine Act, 65 Pa. C.S. Chapter 7, and shall
be held a minimum of twice per year. Meetings may be held via electronic media
in accordance with the Sunshine Act.
Members who miss three or more consecutive meetings of the Regional Committee
may be recommended by the Regional Committee to the Governor for removal from
the Regional Committee.
Article X: Executive Session
In accordance with applicable state laws, the Regional
Committee shall call for Executive Session where the situation is applicable
and warranted.
Article XI: Public Participation and Outside Presentations
Open time for public participation will be provided at each meeting of the
Regional Committee. The length of open time may vary depending upon the number
of agenda items for consideration and will be at the discretion of the Chair.
The Chair may choose to invite public input on agenda topics as they ensue and
will limit the time for such discussions accordingly. The Chair may allow outside
presentations such as speakers, films, etc. Any member may request the Regional
Committee as a whole to determine whether a presentation shall be permitted.
Article XII: Amendment of By-Laws
The By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Regional Committee by two-thirds
vote of the full Regional Committee membership (15 voting members) provided
that written notice of such change has been sent via certified mail with a return
receipt to each member at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Article XIII: Regional Committee Representation
The Regional Committee shall act as a body in all matters, and only the Chair
or Vice-Chair in his/her absence or their designee shall communicate with the
Secretary or with third parties on behalf of the Regional Committee.
Article XIV: Parliamentary Authority
On items not covered by these By-Laws, the New Robert's Rules of Order
shall be the final authority.