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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07232002 - C86 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Economic Opportunity Council Costa GATE: July 23, 2002 County SUBJECT: Approval of Amended EOC By-Laws SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Approve the amended Economic Opportunity Council By-Laws, which are attached as Exhibit A, and which were unanimously adopted by the Economic Opportunity Council on June 13, 2002. BACKGROUND: The Economic Opportunity Council consists of fifteen members, divided equally among three "sectors," as follows: (a) Public Sector, consisting of the members of the Board of Supervisors or their individually appointed delegates; (b) Low Income Sector, consisting of representatives of the low income population; and I (c) Private / Non-Profit Sector, consisting of representatives of the private sector, non-profit organizations or public service agencies. The Council has long been interested in alternate memberships, primarily as a method of broadening representation and participation and of facilitating the development of a pool of CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: RYES SIGNATURE: -- __---------------_---—----—__..----_---__..__........_ ---_------------__.--..__._—--------------_---------__--- _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): i1 iam Gram-Reefer,Chair,Economic OppAuni y G missson ACTION OF BOARD ON July 23, 2002 APPROVE A$RECOMMENDED_ --- OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT } AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED IU1 23, 2002 CONTACT: JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CC: CAO Beatrice Liu,Dep County Counsel Tony Colone,CSD Dlr or BY_. '� { / DEPUTY July 23,2002 Board of Supervisors Approval of Amended EOC By-Laws Page 2 experienced and proven potential members (and only secondarily as a means of avoiding occasional quorum concerns). Late last year it requested an opinion from County Council as to the legality of using alternates. That opinion, dated January 26, 2002, concluded that: "the EOC may amend its by-laws to provide for alternates, subject to Board of Supervisors approval." During February through early May, the Council, acting initially through its Rules Committee, considered issues related to alternates, By-Law changes that wound be needed to accommodate them, and certain other suggested By-Law amendments. That work was aided by recommendations in the County Counsel opinion, and by samples of the by-laws of other community action boards and the governing documents of other County advisory agencies. On May g, 2002, the Councilunanimously adopted proposed amended ECSC By-Laws, subject to review by County Counsel and approval by the Board of Supervisors. County Counsel's office then recommended clarifying changes, which were incorporated, and on June 13, 2002, the Council unanimously adopted the revised amended EOC By-Laws that are attached, subject to Board approval. AMENDMENTS REGARDING ALTERNATES The Council determined that the By-Laws should be amended to authorize one alternate for the Low Income Sector and one for the Private/Non-Profit Sector. In the future, based on experience, the Council may consider increasing the number of alternates for each of those sectors. It concluded, however, that alternates would not be appropriate for the Public Sector, principally because the Supervisor-appointed delegates who compose that sector are themselves alternates for the Supervisors. The Council also determined that: ■ An alternate should not "automatically" fill a membership vacancy in her/his sector. As explained in the County Counsel's January 26t' opinion, automatic ascension to full membership would be inconsistent with the County's notice-of-vacancy and appointment procedures for "Maddy Book" committees. (The alternate certainly could, and in most instances probably would, be the person appointed under these procedures.) ■ Even when not voting or otherwise serving in place of an absent or disqualified member, an alternate should be able to contribute to Council discussions and serve on committees. ■ Time served as an alternate should not count toward the maximum time a person is permitted to serve as a member. ■ There should be a minimum attendance requirement for alternates, although it should be less demanding than that for members. OTHER AMENDMENTS The Council also adopted By-Law amendments not involving alternates, as follows: • The number of unexcused absences that could result in termination was changed from 50% during twelve months (e.g., five or six meetings per year) to three consecutive regular meetings or more than four regular meetings during any twelve-month period. • The provision about the maximum consecutive terms a person may serve on the EOC was clarified to eliminate confusion and inconsistency that can result when individuals are appointed to fill the unexpired terms of members who resign or are removed. • To preserve organizational memory, promote continuity and avoid disruption by reason of a disproportionate number of terms expiring at the same time, a provision was added to permit a one-time adjustment of terms. July 23, 2002 Board of Supervisors Approval of Amended EEC By-Laws Page 3 • Language permitting an EOC committee to be structured without Low Income Sector membership was deleted. • Finally, non-substantive changes in wording throughout the document were adopted for clarification or consistency. ATTACHMENTS The revised EOC By-Laws, as adopted on June 13, 2002, are attached as Exhibit A. Those portions of the revised By-Laws that contain substantive changes are set out in Exhibit B, with strikeovers indicating deletion of "old" language and italics indicating "new„ language. Economic Opportunity Council Of Contra Conte County By-Laws Approved June 20,2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I Name ARTICLE II Authority ARTICLE III Offices ARTICLE IV Membership A. Public Sector B. Low-income Sector C. Private/Non-Profit Sector ARTICLE V Economic Opportunity Council Members SECTION 1. Term of Office SECTION 2. Termination for Absences SECTION 3. Vacancies SECTION 4. Conflict of Interest Cade SECTION S. Alternates ARTICLE VI Powers of the Economic Opportunity Council ARTICLE VII Officers SECTION 1. Officers SECTION 2. Chairperson SECTION 3. Vice-Chairperson SECTION 4. Secretary SECTION S. Election of Officers SECTION 6. Vacancies ARTICLE Vill Administration and Staff SECTION 1. Responsible to the director SECTION 2. Director 9 EXHIBIT A ARTICLE IX Meetings SECTION 1. Regular Meetings SECTION 2. Annual Meeting SECTION 3. Special Meetings SECTION 4. Closed Sessions SECTION 5. Quorum SECTION 6. Voting SECTION 7. Proxy Voting SECTION 8. Agenda SECTION 9. Public Comment SECTION 10. Minutes ARTICLE X Committees SECTION 1. Composition SECTION 2. Executive Committee SECTION 3. Powers of the Executive Committee SECTION 4. Meetings of the Executive Committee SECTION S. Standing Committees SECTION 6. Quorum SECTION 7. Reports ARTICLE XI Amendments SECTION 1. Amendment of By-Laws SECTION 2 Notice of Amendment ARTICLE X11 Public Access to EOC Records ARTICLE XIII Dissolution 2 EXHIBIT A By-Laws of the Economic Opportunity Council of Contra Costa County ARTICLE 1. Name The name of this Organization shall be the Economic Opportunity Council of Contra Costa County("EOC"). ARTICLE 11. Authority The Economic Opportunity Council of Contra Costa County is organized under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended, and the Community Services Administration Act of 1974, as amended, the Community Services Block Grant Act of 1981, as amended and the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1598, as amended. It is a duly constituted Community Action Advisory Board and the Advisory Board to the Community Services Department of Contra Costa County. ARTICLE III. Offices The principle offices for the transaction of business shall be located at a place in the County of Contra Costa, State of California, as the members of the EOC may from time to time designate. Other offices for the delivery of program services may be established as the need arises at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. ARTICLE IV. Membership The EOC shall consist of fifteen (15)members, divided equally among three sectors, as follows: A. Public Sector The five Public Sector members of the EOC shall be the five members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Each Supervisor may appoint a delegate to serve and vote in his or her place. Delegate appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. B. Low-income Sector The five Low Income Sector members of the EOC shall be representatives of the low income population and may be from community based organizations, Family and Children's Services Division clients, or the general public. They shall be appointed by the EOC. To be appointed, a person must reside in Contra Costa County and must(a) meet federal or state poverty guidelines or(b) reside in a low-income 3 EXHIBIT A community. Low Income Sector appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the ECIC may appoint one alternate Low Income Sector member, who shall serve and vote in place of a Low Income Sector member who is absent from, or who disqualifies himself or herself from participating in, a meeting of the EOC. To be appointed, this alternate must meet the requirements stated above for regular Low-income Sector members. Any alternate appointment must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. C. Private/Non-Profit Sector The five Private/Non-Profit Sector members shall be representatives of and from the private sector, non-profit organizations or public service agencies(excepting Contra Costa County government agencies). They shall be appointed by the EOC. To be appointed a person must be affiliated with a private sector or non-profit organization or a public service agency located within Contra Costa County. Private/Non-Profit Sector appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the EOC may appoint one alternate Private[Non-Profit Sector member, who shall serve and vote in place of a Private/Non-Profit Sector member who is absent from,or who disqualifies himself or herself from participating in, a meeting of the EOC. To be appointed, this alternate must meet the requirements stated above for regular Private/Non-Profit Sector members. Any alternate appointment must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. ARTICLE V. EOC Members SECTION 1. Term of Office A. The term of office for each member of the EOC shall be two(2)years, except for the Board of Supervisor members, and except as specified in paragraph "C"of this Section 1. Members of the Board of Supervisors who choose to serve personally on the EOC may serve terms that are equal in duration to their term as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Low Income Sector and Private/Non Profit Sector members may seek reappointment to another term by submitting an application to the EOC. Terms on the EOC shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. Should any position become vacant during its term, the person appointed to fill that position shall serve for the unexpired portion of that term. B. No member of the EOC shall serve more than three(3)consecutive full terms, except for Board of Supervisor members who choose to personally serve on the EOC. None of the following shall count toward that three-term maximum: (a)service as an alternate; (b)service as a member in a term shortened per paragraph "C"of this section 1; or(c) service as a member appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy. 4 EXHIBIT A C. Beginning July 9, 2404, no more than three(3)of the member positions in each Sector, and no more than eight(8) of all positions, shall end during any one year. To accomplish this, prior to July 1, 2004, the EOC may appoint new members and reappoint members to shortened terms of one rather than two years, provided that any person who is a member on June 30, 2002, shall not thereby be deprived,without her or his consent, of the opportunity to serve another two years. If any Board of Supervisors member personally fills a Public Sector member position, this paragraph "C"will not apply to that position. SECTION 2. Terrnination for absences Any member who incurs unexeused absences in three consecutive regular meetings, or more than four of the regular meetings of the EOC during any twelve-month period, shall automatically be terminated as a member. Any alternate who incurs unexcused absences in fifty(54) percent or more of the regular meetings of the EOC during any twelve-month period shall automatically be terminated as a member. An absence may be excused by the Chairperson of the EOC if he or she determines it is due to illness, the performance of other EOC duties, unexpected travel difficulties, or other good cause. The Chairperson shall inform the EOC, during regularly scheduled meetings, of absences that have been excused. Members who have been called out of order under Robert's Rules of Order and removed from a meeting will be considered absent without excuse from the meeting from which they have been removed. Other than to vote for an alternate member as provided for in these by-laws, no member other than a County Supervisor has the authority to designate a person to attend a meeting of the EOC on his or her behalf. SECTION 3. Vacancies The Executive Committee will act as the Membership Committee. Staff to the EOC will assist with recruitment to fill any vacancies that occur on the ECIC. Staff will provide applications received for the Membership Committee's review. All interested applicants, whether for new posts or for renewal, must submit timely applications for the bi-annual filling of positions. The Membership Committee may fill other vacancies on an "as needed" basis. This section does not pertain to the appointees of the Board of Supervisors. SECTION 4. Conflict of Interest Code All members, alternates and designated staff shall comply with the Contra Costa County's Conflict of Interest Code including the filing of the annual Statement of Economic Interest(Form 700). SECTION 5. Alternates An alternate, when serving in place of a member who is absent from, or who disqualifies himself or herself from participating in, a meeting shall have the rights and obligations of, 5 EXHIBIT A and may be counted as, an EOC member. An alternate may participate in discussions at meetings of the EOC or an EOC committee even though not serving in place of an absent or disqualified member. ARTICLE VI. Powers of the Economic Opportunity Council SECTION 1. Powers of the EOC A. To participate in, and advise the Board of Supervisors regarding the selection of the Director. B. To exercise all powers delegated to it by the Board of Supervisors. C. To hold public hearings to determine overall program goals for the EOC. D. To review fiscal and programmatic reports submitted by staff and the performance of Community Services Block Grant contractors and the Weatherization program services. E. To select its officers and appoint members to EOC Committees. F. To make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on all program proposals and budgets related to Community Services Block Grant and the Weatherization program. G. To require and receive budget and other reports prepared by staff every other month along with an Annual Report in September. ARTICLE VII. Officer SECTION 1. Officers The officers of the EOC shall be the Chairperson,Vice-Chairperson and Secretary. The officers shall serve a term of two years(except for the Secretary) unless re-elected. Each officer, except for the Secretary, is limited to two consecutive terms in each position. SECTION 2. Chairperson The chairperson shall: (1) preside at all business meetings, (2) have general supervision over all business conducted, (3)execute, in the name of the EOC, all EOC-authorized actions, except those actions authorized by the EOC to be carried out by other EOC members or by staff, (4)appoint chairpersons for EOC committees, and (5) have such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him/her by the EOC. SECTION 3. The Vice-Chairperson The Vice-Chairperson shall, in the absence or inability of the Chairperson to act, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the chairpersons to act, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Chairperson. He/she shall serve on a standing committee as assigned by the Chairperson. He/she shall also have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the EOC. 6 EXHIBIT A SECTION 4. Secretary The Secretary shall be the Director of the Community Services Department or his/her designee, and shall be a non-voting ex-officio member of the EOC. He/she or designated staff shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the EOC. He/she shall also prepare and distribute all agendas including staff reports, be custodian of the EOC's records, and keep a register of the mailing addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of each member. SECTION 5. Election of Officers The elective officers of the EOC are the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Both officers shall be elected at the first regular meeting in July of each election year. A majority of members present constituting a quorum is required to elect. SECTION 6. Vacancies Should any elective office become vacant, the EOC shall elect a successor from its membership at the next regular meeting, and such election shall be for the unexpired term of said office. ARTICLE Vill. Administration and Staff SECTION 1. Responsible to the Director All paid staff and volunteers of the Community Services Department are responsible to the Director. SECTION 2. Director A. Selection The Director of the Community Services Department shall be appointed by the Board of supervisors in accordance with Contra Costa County personnel policies after the EOC has participated in the selection process. B. Duties Supervises the daily operations of the Community Services Department and provides staff support to the EOC. ARTICLE IX. Meetings SECTION 1. Regular Meetings The regular meetings of the EOC shall be held monthly at a time and location convenient for the members and the general public. The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Committee, may cancel a meeting if there is no business to warrant a meeting. All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert"s Rules of Order. Members who fail to comply with the Robert's Rules of Order may be found out of order by the Chair and removed from the meeting, it is the duty of the Chair to enforce on all occasions the observance of order and decorum among the members, deciding all questions of order (subject to an appeal to the EOC by any two members) unless when in doubt he or she prefers to submit the question for the decision of the EOC. 7 EXHIBIT A SECTION 2. Annual Meeting The Annual meeting shall be the regular meeting following the July meeting and shall be for the purpose of installing officers, receiving reports of officers and Committees, and or any other business that may arise. SECTION 3. Special Meetings A special meeting may be called at any time by the Chairperson or by a majority of the members of the EOC in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act(public meeting law) and County Better Governance Ordinance. SECTION 4. Closed Sessions The EOC may hold closed sessions provided they are agendized and held in accordance with both the Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance. SECTION 5. Quorum A quorum for all meetings shall be one more than half of the current membership of the EOC. SECTION 6. Voting Voting on resolutions and on other such matters as may be requested by a majority of the members of the EOC shall be by voice vote, unless a roll-call vote is requested by any member or unless the voice vote is unclear. When a roil-call vote is held,the ayes, nays, and abstentions shall be entered into the minutes of the meeting. SECTION 7. Proxy Voting No proxy voting is permitted. SECTION 8. Agenda The agenda shall comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance. SECTION 9. Public Comment Public comment shall be provided in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance. SECTION 10. Agenda and Minutes A copy of the agenda with minutes of the previous meeting shall be mailed to each member prior to the next meeting. All members of the public requesting the minutes of a meeting shall do so in writing to the Secretary and may be required to pay the prevailing copying and mailing rates. ARTICLE X. Committees SECTION 1. Composition All Committees, whether standing or ad hoc, shall have at least one Low-income member. 8 EXHIBIT A SECTION 2. Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the Secretary and the Chairpersons of all standing Committees. At least one member representing the low-income sector of the EOC must be on the Executive Committee, SECTION 3. Powers of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall have such powers and duties as designated by the EOC. SECTION 4. Meetings of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall meet at times and places called by the Chairperson. Notice of such meetings shall be in accordance with applicable public meeting law(Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance). SECTIONS. Standing Committees The FOC shall establish the following standing committees: Executive, Program Development, and Rules. In addition, the EOC may establish and appoint members to standing and ad hoc committees as the need arises. The Chairperson shall be an ex- officio member of all Committees. The purpose of Committees shall be to investigate, study, consider, and report to the EOC. Committees shall meet upon call of the Committee Chairperson who shall dive notice of the time and location of the meeting in accordance with applicable public meeting law(Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance). Each Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings. The Secretary shall make arrangements to provide staff support to each committee when requested. No Committee shall issue any public statement without obtaining prior approval from the EOC. SECTION 6. Quorum A quorum for the transaction of Committee business shall be one more than half of the membership of the Committee. SECTION 7. Reports The EOC will review all Committee reports that require action. Any Committee member or members of the EOC may file a minority report. ARTICLE X1. Amendments SECTION 9. Amendment of By-Laws These by-laws shall be amended by two-thirds vote of current membership of the EOC on advance written notice. SECTION Z. Notice of Amendment Notice of proposed by-law amendments shall be presented in writing at a regular meeting of the EOC for open discussion. The proposed amendments shall be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the EOC. The agenda for the meeting at which the proposed 9 EXHIBIT A amendment is to be voted upon shall contain an item entitled"Proposed By-Law Amendment." ARTICLE XII. Public Access to ECIC Records SECTION 1. Public Access to EOC Records The EOC shall make available to the general public all records as required by the Ralph M. Brown Act and the County Better Government Ordinance. ARTICLE XIII. Dissolution Dissolution of the EOC shall be effected in accordance with applicable law. 1 EXHIBIT A SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS OF THE EOC BY-LAWS (Deletions indicated by strickovers. Additions indicated by italics.) ARTICLE IV. Membership All fnembere shall be elerted iR eemplianGe with these by laws. The full numbeF The EOC shall consist of fifteen (15) members, divided equally among three sectors, as follows: A. Public Seector Five ef I',-membem of this GQUAGil Shall be fmm thee teF. The EGG. The Bowd of Supewisem must approve delegate app9intnNm#r'-. The five Public Sector members of the EOC shall be the five members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Each Supervisor may appoint a delegate to serve and vote in his or her place. Delegate appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. S. Low-Income Sector Rye of the membws of this Gouneil shall be FePF9GeAtatiVSS of the kw,�- 4Lew iArePAA-me p defined by there by laws, may be pefeans who(a) me-et feder-al oF cAate of SupeFyisem-appfGval- The five Low Income Sector members of the EOC shall be representatives of the low income population and may be from community based organizations, Family and Children's Services Division clients, or the general public. They shall be appointed by the EOC. To be appointed, a person must reside in Centra Costa County and must(a) meet federal or state poverty guidelines or(b) reside in a low-income community. Low Income Sector appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the EOC may appoint one alternate Low Income Sector member, who shall serve and vote in place of a Low Income Sector member who is absent from, or who disqualifies himself or herself from participating in, a meeting of the EOC. To be appointed, this alternate must meet the requirements state above for regular Low-Income Sector members. Any alternate appointment must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. C. Private/Non-Profit Sector Five of the membe— -1 this GewnGil shall private serAeF, Ron EXHIBIT" B 1 and then to 19eard of Sup I AFal-. The five PrivatelNon-Profit Sector members shall be representatives of and from the private sector, non-profit organizations or public service agencies(except Contra Costa County government agencies). They shall be appointed by the ECIC. To be appointed a person must be affiliated with a private sector or non-profit organization or a public service agency located within Contra Costa County, PrivatelNon-Profit Sector appointments must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, the EOC may appoint one alternate PrivatelNon-Profit Sector member, who shall serve and vote in place of a Privat&ftn-Profit Sector member who is absent from, or who disqualfes himself or herself from participating in, a meeting of the ECIC. To be appointed, this alternate must meet the requirements stated above for regular PrivatelNon-Profit Sector members. Any alternate appointment must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. ARTICLE V. mil EOC Members SECTION 1. Term of Office A. The term of office for each member of this CeuAGil the EOC shall be two(2) years, except for the Board of Supervisor members, and except as specified in paragraph "C"of this Section 1. by submitting app"Gation fGF Fene!Wa! to the EGG. Members of the Board of Supervisors who choose to serve personally on the EOC may serve terms that are equal in duration to their term as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Low Income Sector and Private/Nan Profit Sector members may seek reappointment to another term by submitting an application to the ECIC. Terms on the EOC shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. Should any position become vacant during its term, the person appointed to fill that position shall serve for the unexpired portion of that term. B. No member of this Gil the EOC shall serve more than three (3) consecutive full terms, except for Board of Supervisor members who choose to personally serve on the EOC. None of the following shall count toward that three-terra maximum:(a)service as an alternate; (b) service as a member in a term shortened per paragraph "C"of this section 1; or(c) service as a member appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy. C. Beginning July 1, 2004, no more than three(3) of the member positions in each Sector, and no more than eight(8) of all positions, shall end during any one year. To accomplish this, prior to July 1, 2004, the EOC may appoint new members and reappoint members to shortened terms of one rather than two years, provided that any person who is a member on June 30, 2002, shall not thereby be deprived, without her or his consent, of the opportunity to serve another two years. If any Board of Supervisors member personally fills EXHIBIT B 2 a Public Sector member position, this paragraph "C will not apply to that position. SECTION Z. Termination for Absences A. AbeenGee Any member incurs unexcused absences in three consecutive regular meetings, or more than four of the regular meetings of the EOC during any twelve-month period, shall automatically be terminated as a member. Any alternate who incurs unexcused absences in fifty(50)percent or more of the regular meetings of the ECIC during any twelve-month period shall automatically be terminated as a member. An absence may be excused by the Chairperson of the EOC if he or she determines it is due to illness, the performance of other EOC duties, unexpected travel difficulties, or other good cause. The Chairperson shall inform the EOC, during regularly scheduled meetings, of absences that have been excused. Members who have been called out of order under Robert's Rules of Order and removed from a meeting will be considered absent without excuse from the meeting from which they have been removed. Other than to vote for an alternate member as provided for in these by-laws, Uno member other than a County Supervisor has the authority to designate analternate a person to attend a meeting of the EOG on his or her behalf. SECTION 5. Alternates An alternate, when serving in place of a member who is absent from, or who disqualrhes himself or herself from participating in, a meeting shall have the rights and obligations of, and may be counted as, an EOC member An alternate may participate in discussions at meetings of the EOC or an ECIC committee even though not serving in place of an absent or disqualified member. ARTICLE X. Committees SECTION 1. Composition All Committees, whether standing or ad hoc, shall a#empt to have at least one Low- Income member. EXHIBIT B 3