About the WCMA
Constitution and By-Laws

About the WCMA
Our Profession in Wisconsin - Joining WCMA - Executive Board Officers - WCMA Committees - Constitution and By-Laws - ICMA Code of Ethics

ARTICLE 1. NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the Wisconsin City/County Management Association.

ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE:

The purposes of the Association are to increase the proficiency of city, village, town, and county managers and administrators; to strengthen the quality of local government through professional management; and to accept charitable donations and contributions used exclusively for the educational improvement of local government managers and administrators.

ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP:

Section 1. Categories of Membership.

The Association shall include Corporate and Noncorporate Members. Corporate Members are designated Full Members (including Life Members) and Associate Members. Noncorporate Members are designated Affiliate Members, Honorary Members and Student Members. The privilege of voting is limited to Corporate Members.

Section 2. Corporate Membership: Eligibility.

For the purpose of deciding eligibility for Corporate Membership, the Executive Board shall establish a set of standards that define whether the position held by the full-time administrative head of a local government has the level of independence, authority, and responsibility necessary to function in a professional manner.

Section 3. Corporate Membership: Full Members.

1. Qualifications. Any person whose professional conduct conforms to the Code of Ethics of the Association (see Article 9) is eligible to be a Full Member if that person meets the qualifications in either subsection i or subsection ii, as follows:
   
   
   1. The person serves -- and has served in such capacity for a least three years, two of which were continuous in the same local government -- as the full-time administrative head of a local government in a position operating in accordance with Section 2 of this Article. Graduation from a university of recognized standing, or two years as an Associate Member, or five years in a responsible public administrative position shall be considered equivalent to one year of active practice.
   2. The person serves -- and has served for at least three years, two of which were continuous in the same local government -- as a full-time administrative assistant, assistant city/county manager, assistant director of a council of governments or a state association of local governments, or assistant administrator, however designated, having significant general administrative responsibility in a local government position operating in accordance with Section 2 of this Article, and was appointed to that position by the city or county manager or chief administrator. The application shall be accompanied by a certification by the employing chief administrative officer that the applicant has significant general administrative responsibilities oriented toward a career in local government management. Graduation from a university of recognized standing, or two years as an Associate Member, or five years in a responsible public administrative position shall be considered equivalent to one year of active practice.
   Upon receipt of the application and dues, the Executive Director shall publish notice of such application in the WCMA newsletter. If no written objection to the applicant’s qualifications has been received the Executive Director shall admit the applicant to membership. In the event that any Corporate Member shall file with the Executive Director a written objection to the applicant’s qualifications within the sixty-day period, the application shall be submitted to the Executive Board. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the eligible voting members of the Executive Board shall be necessary for the applicant to be admitted.
2. Life Members. Upon retiring from active service with a local government, any Full Member who has completed twenty-five years of membership and, for those same twenty-five years, has been eligible to be an officer of the Association shall become a Life Member. Also, any Full Member who has been eligible to be an officer of the Association for at least fifteen years and retires from active service with a local government at age sixty-five or older shall become a Life Member. In addition, any Full Member who has retired from active service with a local government and who, in the opinion of the Executive Board, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the profession may be granted a Life Membership by vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4. Corporate Membership: Associate Members.

1. Qualification. Any person who meets all qualifications for Full Member except the length-of-service requirement is eligible to apply for Associate Membership.
2. Application. The application for Associate Membership shall bear the endorsements of two Corporate Members and shall be accompanied by payment of the proper dues. Upon receipt of the application and dues, the Executive Director shall publish notice of such application in the WCMA newsletter. If, sixty days following such publication, no written objection to the applicant’s qualifications has been received from a Corporate Member, the Executive Director shall admit the applicant to membership. In the event that any Corporate Member shall file with the Executive Director a written objection to the applicant’s qualifications for Associate Membership within the sixty-day period, the Executive Director shall investigate the applicant’s qualifications. If the Executive Director finds that the application for Associate Membership should be denied, he or she shall notify the applicant to that effect. If the Executive Director finds that the applicant is qualified, the Corporate Member who made the objection shall be so advised. Either the applicant or the Corporate Member may appeal the decision of the Executive Director to the Executive Board. The Executive Board’s decision is final.

Section 5. Corporate Membership: Continuity.

Any Corporate Member who leaves active service with a local government may retain his or her status as a Corporate Member provided he or she continues to pay dues, except that dues payment may be waived by the Executive Director for any Corporate Member who is unemployed as a result of resignation or removal from his or her position with a local government. General policies governing waiver of dues shall be established by the Executive Board. Nothing in this Section 5 however, shall limit the rights of the Executive Board to take action as provided in Article 9, if the Corporate Member has violated the Code of Ethics.

Section 6. Noncorporate Membership: Affiliate Members.

Any person not eligible to apply for membership as a Corporate Member shall be eligible to apply for this classification.

Section 7. Noncorporate Membership: Honorary Members.

The basis for Honorary Membership is distinguished public service; however, no person who is eligible to be a Corporate Member shall be elected an Honorary Member. An Honorary Member shall be proposed by a Corporate Member and shall be elected upon a three-fourths vote of all eligible voting members of the Executive Board and a majority vote of the Corporate Members present at an annual conference (see Article 8). The election of an Honorary Member shall be canceled if acceptance of the membership is not received within six months after the candidate has received notice of his or her election.

Section 8. Membership: Nontransferability.

Membership is not transferable; membership is in the name of the individual and shall not attach to the position.

Section 9. Student Members.

Any person enrolled in an academic program at any college or university pursuing a degree in public administration, public finance, political science or related field of study is eligible for a student membership in the Association.

Section 10. Eligibility.

All questions on the eligibility of any person for membership in any grade shall be referred to and determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES:

Section 1. Officers.

The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, secretary/treasurer, Executive Director, and such other officers as may be authorized from time to time by the corporate membership. All officers shall be corporate members of this Association and shall have had at least one year's experience as the chief administrator of a municipality, county, or a council of governments except that the president shall have had at least three year's experience in such position or positions. The term of all offices shall be one year, or until their successors are elected, and have qualified. If any officer retires from corporate service and retains residence within the state, the officer may be permitted to finish the term of office by majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board; otherwise the resulting vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Board within 30 days after such vacancy occurs.

Section 2. Executive Board.

The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President and five Members elected at-large, one of which shall be a member of the assistant’s group. Only corporate members are eligible to serve on the Executive Board.

Section 3. Appointments.

The President shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, Regional Coordinators, an Ethics Committee, Membership Committee and such other standing committees as the majority of the Executive Board may deem advisable.

Section 4. Executive Director.

The Executive Director shall administer the affairs of the Association, subject to the provisions of the Constitution and to such policies as the Executive Board may adopt. He/she shall annually prepare a budget for the Association and, upon its approval by the Executive Board, shall have the authority to disburse the sums appropriated. He/she shall be responsible for any moneys of the Association that come into his/her possession; for the keeping of the accounting records; and for preparation of such financial statements and reports as the Executive Board may require.

ARTICLE 5. RESIGNATIONS:

Section 1. Resignation of Members.

Any member may resign his or her membership by written notice to the Executive Director.

Section 2. Expulsion of Members.

The Executive Board may upon the written request of four or more corporate members expel any member of the Association for just cause. The Executive Board shall consider the request and the reasons and if there appears to be sufficient reason for expulsion, shall advise the accused member of the charges and may suspend the accused during the period of the Executive Board's investigation. The accused may present a written defense that shall be considered by the Executive Board. Within sixty days after notifying the accused member of the charges, by registered or certified mail, the Executive Board must make a decision and notify, in writing, the accused of the Executive Board's decision.

Members who have been expelled by the Executive Board may appeal their expulsion to the general membership by notifying the President of their intent within 30 days of their expulsion by the Executive Board. Appeals shall be submitted to all corporate members by the President by letter ballot, e-mail ballot, or by ballot at an annual meeting. Voting on an appeal shall take place within sixty days after its receipt by the President. The ballot shall contain the statement of charges and a statement by the expelled member. A two-thirds majority vote of all corporate members shall be required to restore an expelled member to membership.

ARTICLE 6. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:

Section 1. Annual elections.

At each annual meeting held in June of each year the corporate members of the Association shall elect, by ballot, a President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and five At-Large Members to the Executive Board, including at least one member of the Assistants’ group.

Section 2. Nominations.

Nominations shall be made by a nominating committee of not less than three members, appointed by the President, with the approval of the majority of the Executive Board.

Section 3. Geographic distribution of at-large members.

In the nomination of the five At-Large Members, the nominating committee shall take into account geographic distribution.

Section 4. Nominations from the floor.

At the time the nominating committee makes the nomination for each office, additional nominations shall be permitted from the floor.

ARTICLE 7. DUES:

Section 1. The annual dues of corporate members shall be 0.15% of the members current year salary but not less than sixty dollars ($60.00) or more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per year; dues of affiliate members shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00) per year; dues for university professors, academics and student members shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) per year; honorary and life members shall be exempt from dues.

Section 2. Any corporate member whose dues are in arrears for a period of six months shall be suspended from membership and notified by the Executive Director in writing of the suspension.

Article 8. MEETINGS:

Meetings of this association shall be held at least semi-annually, the time and place of such meetings to be determined by the Executive Board, provided, however, that the annual meeting shall be held during the months of May, June, or July. Notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be sent by the Executive Director to all members not less than ten (10) days in advance of the date of such meetings.

Article 9. CODE OF ETHICS

The Association hereby adopts the Code of Ethics of the International City/County Management Association. Upon appointment as a member of this Association, the member agrees to adhere to and abide by the ICMA Code of Ethics. Failure to do so or violation of the Code of Ethics may result in a private censure, public censure or expulsion from the Association after a thorough investigation by the Association Ethics Committee and upon action by a two thirds vote of the Executive Board on any recommendation presented by the Ethics Committee. The Association shall carry liability insurance as a means of protection in the event of any legal action as a result of any investigation, expulsion or action of the Association.

ARTICLE 10. AMENDMENTS:

The constitution may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the corporate members of the Association present at an annual meeting, or five corporate members of this Association may, by petition to the Executive Director, initiate a desired change which shall become effective upon the ratification by a two-thirds majority of corporate members voting by ballot. The Executive Director shall inform the corporate members, of the date when all ballots must be returned. Ballots shall be tabulated by two members of the Executive Board, as designated by the President, not later than sixty days from the date that the ballot is submitted to the members.

ARTICLE 11. DISSOLUTION OF ASSOCIATION:

The Wisconsin City/County Management Association may be dissolved by a three-fourths vote of corporate members. In the event the Wisconsin City/County Management Association is dissolved, all remaining assets after all liabilities have been satisfied shall be distributed to either an institution of higher education to educate and train municipal managers/administrators or they shall be distributed to one or more local governments in Wisconsin, who shall use such assets exclusively for a public purpose.

If for any reason, the assets of the Association are not disposed of in a timely manner, the assets shall be disposed of by the circuit court of the county in which the Association’s main office was located immediately prior to its dissolution. The circuit court shall distribute the assets to any organization that qualifies under and shall use the assets for any purpose within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

ARTICLE 12. ADOPTION:

This constitution shall be in full force and effect from and after its approval by the majority of those eligible and exercising corporate membership.

BY-LAWS

Article 1. The duties of the officers of this Association shall be such as by general usage are indicated by the title of office. The President shall appoint such committees as may be necessary. The Executive Board shall act in the capacity of directors, and shall supervise and control the affairs of the Association, when the Association meetings are not in session.

Article 2. The Executive Director shall transact the necessary financial business of the Association and shall keep a complete record of all transactions, which shall be submitted for auditing at the annual meeting. The Executive Director shall keep a record of the minutes of all meetings, give proper notice of meetings to the membership and perform such other duties as may be delegated to the Executive Director by the Executive Board.

Article 3. At the annual meeting of the Association, the order of business shall be as follows, but may be suspended by a majority vote of the corporate members present: (1) Report of the Executive Director; (2) Report of the Executive Board; (3) Appointment of Committees; (4) Reports of Committees; (5) Election of Officers; (6) Unfinished Business; (7) New business; and (8) Adjournment.

Article 4. Corporate members are eligible to vote at any general meeting of the Association. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

Article 5. The fiscal year shall date from January 1 through December 31. Dues shall be payable January 31st of each year.

Article 6. These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at the annual meeting.