RULES GOVERNING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE TOWN OF SHARON, CONNECTICUT
(Approved on March 30, 2020)
ARTICLE I - DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE
Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the Sharon Democratic Town Committee (hereinafter “SDTC” or “Town Committee”).
Section 2. The goals of the SDTC are:
· To encourage voters to register as Democrats.
· To identify and support Democratic candidates for elected office in municipal, state and federal elections.
· To suggest the best possible Democratic candidates to fill vacancies on municipal boards and commissions.
· To nominate and endorse delegates to state and district Democratic conventions.
· To promote the positions, interests and principles of the Democratic Party in our community.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERS
Section 1. The SDTC shall consist of twenty-five (25) members who shall be voters registered as Democrats residing in the Town of Sharon. The SDTC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sex or sexual orientation, age, physical ability or socio-economic status.
Section 2. Members are expected to attend meetings of the SDTC and to participate in its work. Members who, without prior notice to the Chairperson, fail to attend four successive regular meetings shall be notified that they will be deemed to have resigned from the SDTC unless they respond to said notice and commit to attend meetings.
Section 3. No dues may be required for SDTC membership.
Section 4. In each even-numbered year, the SDTC shall set a January date (no earlier than 56 days and no later than 49 days) before the first Tuesday in March for a caucus to select SDTC members. Nominations may be made from the floor of the caucus. Voting shall be open and not by secret ballot. The SDTC shall publish a notice of the time, place and purpose of this caucus at least seven (7) but no more than fifteen (15) days before the caucus in a newspaper of substantial circulation in Sharon and by posting the same in the office of the Town Clerk. The SDTC shall notify all SDTC members of the time, place and purpose of the caucus at least seven (7) days before the caucus. If needed, a primary shall be held on the first Tuesday of March in each even-numbered year for the election of members of the Town Committee.
Section 5. Members of the SDTC shall serve for a term of two (2) years, commencing on the day following the day established for holding a primary for the election of said SDTC members and ending on the day established for the holding of a primary for the election of the members of the succeeding SDTC. There shall be no limit to the number of terms a member in good standing may serve.
Section 6. Any member of the SDTC may be removed from the Town Committee upon proof of neglect of duties or for other good cause as may be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of SDTC members attending a meeting at which notice of this agenda item has been circulated at least seven (7) days in advance.
Section 7. Any vacancy on the SDTC, arising from any cause, including failure to elect, may be filled by the SDTC by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any meeting.
Section 8. The SDTC may, by majority vote of those present and voting at a meeting in which notice of this agenda item has been circulated at least seven (7) days in advance, increase or decrease its membership, provided that all new members shall continue in office only until the next date for election of SDTC members.
Section 9. All elected or appointed officials serving the Town of Sharon who are currently enrolled in the Democratic Party shall be invited to become ex officio members of the SDTC. This provision shall not prevent any said officeholder from being elected as a full member of the SDTC in accordance with Article II herein. Ex officio members will be welcome at events and meetings but will not have a vote. If they so choose by sending a written request to the Chairperson, they will be listed on the DTC roster as ex officio members and receive all correspondence sent to SDTC members.
Section 10. The SDTC may elect emeritus members whom the Committee wishes to recognize for their leadership and commitment to the SDTC. Emeritus members will be elected for life by majority vote of current SDTC members present and voting at a meeting in which notice of this agenda item has been circulated at least seven (7) days in advance. Emeritus members will be welcome at events and meetings but will not have a vote. If they so choose by sending a written request to the Chairperson, they will be listed on the DTC roster as emeritus members and receive all correspondence sent to SDTC members.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section 1. Not more than thirty (30) days following the day fixed for the holding of a primary for the election of SDTC members, the Chairperson of the SDTC in office immediately prior to the day of said primary shall call a meeting of the newly elected SDTC members and include as an agenda item the election from the SDTC of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, a Deputy Treasurer and such other officers as may be deemed advisable.
If such Chairperson fails, for any reason, to call such a meeting within the prescribed period, it shall be the duty of the Vice Chairperson serving concurrently with the Chairperson to do so. If for any reason, said meeting is not called as prescribed, it shall be the duty of the State
Central Committee members in the district to do so. The notice of such meeting called either by the Vice Chairperson or the members of the State Central Committee shall be issued to each newly elected SDTC member within 48 hours of the need to do so, regardless of any party rule about the time of notification to SDTC members.
Section 2. The Chairperson and officers of the SDTC shall be elected from within the membership of the SDTC.
Section 3. In the event that a vote results in a tie, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the vote of the Chairperson then in office. This provision shall not affect the right of the Chairperson to cast any vote as a member of the SDTC to which he or she is otherwise entitled.
Section 4. Officers so elected shall hold office during the term of the SDTC electing them and may serve consecutive terms.
Section 5. Within one week after the election of SDTC officers, the Corresponding Secretary shall file with the Town Clerk and the Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee a list of names and addresses of the officers and members of the SDTC and the name and address of the Democratic Registrar of Voters.
Section 6. Any officer of the SDTC may be removed from office upon proof of neglect of duties or for other good cause as may be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of SDTC members attending a meeting in which notice of this agenda item has been circulated at least seven (7) days in advance.
Section 7. If there is a vacancy in any office of the SDTC arising from any cause, the SDTC shall fill the same by a majority vote of the members of the SDTC present and voting at a meeting in which notice of this agenda item has been circulated at least seven (7) days in advance. In the event that a vote results in a tie, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the vote of the Chairperson or the Acting Chairperson, as the case may be, but this provision shall not affect the right of the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson to cast any vote as a member of the SDTC to which the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson is otherwise entitled.
Section 8. The Chairperson shall be responsible for calling meetings of the SDTC and shall preside over meetings of the Town Committee. The Chairperson shall notify members of the SDTC and provide them with an agenda no fewer than seven (7) days before the date of a meeting. The Chairperson shall be an ex officio member of any subcommittee formed. Unless expressly delegated to others, the Chairperson shall be authorized as the sole spokesperson for the SDTC.
Section 9. The Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in his or her absence and perform other duties as agreed to by both the Vice Chairperson and Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson may, but is not required to coordinate efforts to recruit candidates for open positions on Town boards, commissions and the SDTC, including establishing a Nominating subcommittee, if so approved by majority vote of SDTC members.
Section 10. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the management of SDTC funds and shall provide the members at each regular meeting of the SDTC with an account of Town Committee funds. The Treasurer shall maintain all records related to his/her responsibilities. The Treasurer shall be familiar and comply with all regulations required by the Connecticut Democratic Party, and with state and federal campaign and political finance law in all particulars. The Treasurer shall preside over meetings in the absence of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
Section 11. The Deputy Treasurer shall assume the Treasurer’s responsibilities in his or her absence.
Section 12. The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the full SDTC and deliver to the Chairperson a copy of those minutes. If the Recording Secretary is absent, the Chairperson shall appoint a replacement for that meeting. Minutes will be distributed to the membership by the Chairperson.
Section 13. The Corresponding Secretary shall maintain copies of all SDTC correspondence and records, except those maintained by the Treasurer, maintain a current roster of all SDTC members and their contact information, and attend to such correspondence and public communication as the Chairperson may require. The Corresponding Secretary shall preside over meetings in the absence of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Treasurer.
ARTICLE IV - SUBCOMMITTEES
Section 1. Subcommittees of permanent or limited duration may be established to address specific purposes as necessary by a majority vote of those present and voting at any regular or special meeting.
Section 2. Each Subcommittee shall elect a Chairperson from among its members and a Clerk to keep a record of its proceedings. The Chairperson of each Subcommittee shall make a report of that Subcommittee’s activities to the full SDTC at regular meetings when the Subcommittee is active.
Section 3. Sharon residents who are not SDTC members may work with and serve as members of any Subcommittee by a majority vote of Subcommittee members.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings of the Town Committee may be held monthly at the call of the Chairperson, with no fewer than six (6) meetings being held in any calendar year.
Section 2. No business may be conducted at any meeting of the SDTC without a quorum present. A quorum shall consist of two-fifths (2/5) of the membership.
Section 3. All full SDTC meetings shall be open to the public.
Section 4. All votes shall be taken by open ballot.
Section 5. Special meetings of the SDTC may be called as needed by the Chairperson. Special meetings may also be called upon written request, signed by no fewer than five (5) members of the Town Committee and presented to any officer thereof via email or other means. Upon receipt of such request, the officer shall notify the Corresponding Secretary to give at least seven (7) days’ notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting to all members.
Section 6. The order of business at regularly scheduled SDTC meetings shall be as follows:
· Reading and approval of Agenda, allowing for adding, deleting or shifting of the order of items before approval; Minutes of the previous meeting; Treasurer’s Report; Subcommittee Reports, if any; Reports from Town boards and commissions, if any; Unfinished Business; New Business; and Adjournment.
· Other business may be placed on the agenda of a regular meeting by either the Chairperson or a majority present and voting at the meeting.
Section 7. Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall be applicable, controlling, and conclusive on all parliamentary issues except as herein otherwise provided.
ARTICLE VI - ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES; NOMINATION OF TOWN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS
Section 1. The enrolled members of the Democratic Party in the town of Sharon, at a caucus called for the purpose shall, by majority vote of such enrolled members present and voting, select party-endorsed candidates for each town office, for SDTC members, and for delegates to conventions. Notice of the time, place, and purpose of any such caucus shall be given to all enrolled Democratic voters of the town of Sharon at least seven (7) days in advance of the caucus by publication of the same in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the town, and by posting the same in the office of the Town Clerk. The time of any such caucus shall be fixed so as to permit compliance with the provisions of the Election and Primary Law. The Chairperson and Recording Secretary of the SDTC, or their designees as determined in advance and communicated in writing to the SDTC, shall be the temporary Chairperson and Secretary of all such caucuses and shall preside until the meeting has selected a permanent Secretary and Chairperson. The caucus shall be conducted in conformity with the provisions of Section 9-396 of the Election and Primary Law.
Section 2. The party-endorsed candidates for delegates to each convention shall be by full slate composed of a number of persons equal to the number of delegates to which the town is entitled under the state rules of the Democratic party, and such slate shall be endorsed as a unit. Each delegate shall in writing designate an alternate delegate or a proxy to act for him or her in case of absence.
Section 3. Candidates for town office chosen as provided in Section 1 above shall run in the primary for such office as party-endorsed candidates if no valid opposing candidacy has been filed for nomination to such office by 4 p.m. on the twenty-first (21st) day preceding the day of the Democratic primary for SDTC members.
Section 4. Candidates for the SDTC chosen as provided in Section 1 above shall run in the primary for the SDTC as party-endorsed candidates and shall be deemed elected as members of the SDTC if no valid opposing candidacy has been filed for SDTC membership by 4 p.m. on the twenty-first (21st) day preceding the day of the Democratic primary for SDTC members.
Section 5. The slate of candidates for delegates to a convention chosen as provided in Sections 1 and 2 above shall run in the primary for delegates to such conventions as the party-endorsed slate, and said slate shall be deemed elected as the delegates to such convention if no valid opposing candidate by complete slate including persons other than party-endorsed candidates has been filed by 4 p.m. on the twenty-first (21st) day preceding the day of the Democratic primary for delegates to such convention.
Section 6. If for any reason the caucus fails to make sufficient endorsements of
candidates for town office, SDTC members, or delegates to conventions, the provisions of Sections 9-418, 9-419 and 9-20 of the Election and Primary Law, as the same shall be amended from time to time, shall govern.
Section 7. The Presiding Officer of the caucus shall certify to the Town Clerk the names and street addresses as they appear on the last completed enrollment list in the Town of Sharon, of the party-endorsed candidates selected as provided in Sections 1 and 2 above, the title of the office or position as committee member or delegate for which each such person is endorsed, and the date upon which the primary is to be held.
Section 8. Each party endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the nomination of candidates for municipal office or for the election of SDTC members or delegates to conventions shall be made within the time frame established by the Connecticut General Statutes and, in the absence of such time frame, not earlier than the forty-ninth day nor later than the thirty-fifth day preceding the day of the primary, and shall be certified to the Town Clerk by the Chairperson or Presiding Officer of the caucus by 4 p.m. the thirty-fourth day preceding the day of the primary.
Section 9. In the event that a vote on the selection of a party-endorsed candidate results in a tie, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the vote of the Permanent Chairperson of the caucus, but this provision shall not affect his or her right to cast any vote, as a member of the caucus, to which he or she is otherwise entitled.
Section 10. If a party-endorsed candidate chosen as provided in Sections 1 and 2, prior to twenty-four (24) hours before the opening of the polls at the primary dies, or, prior to ten (10) days before the day of the primary, withdraws his or her name from nomination, or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office or position for which he or she is a candidate, an endorsement may be made to fill such vacancy by the SDTC, by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a special meeting called for that purpose where notice is given at least 24 hours in advance. The SDTC Chairperson may cast a vote on such endorsement to break a tie, but this provision shall not affect his or her right to cast any vote as a member of the SDTC to which he or she is otherwise entitled. The Recording Secretary of the SDTC shall immediately certify the endorsement to fill such vacancy to the Democratic Registrar of Voters. No candidate shall be deemed to have withdrawn until a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate is filed with the Town Clerk.
Section 11. The nominations of the Democratic Party to all offices and the election of members of the SDTC and all delegates to conventions shall be made as provided in the Primary Law. Whenever a primary for nomination to town office or for election to the SDTC or for a delegate to a convention is to be held, the choice shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast.
Section 12. If a nomination has been made for a Town office and the nominee thereafter but prior to 24 hours before the opening of the polls on the day of the election dies, withdraws his or her name, or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for which he or she has been nominated, a nomination to fill the vacancy may be made by majority vote of the SDTC present and voting, at a special meeting called for that purpose where notice is given at least 24 hours in advance. The SDTC Chairperson may cast a vote on such nomination to break a tie, but this provision shall not affect his or her right to cast any vote as a member of the SDTC to which he or she is otherwise entitled. In the case of a withdrawal, said nomination shall not be valid until the candidate who has withdrawn has filed a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the Secretary of the State and also has filed a copy with the Town Clerk. The SDTC Chairperson shall certify the nomination to fill a vacancy due to death or disqualification and shall include a statement setting forth the reason for such vacancy.
Section 13. It shall be the duty of the SDTC Chairperson to send to the Secretary of the State Central Committee a list of the delegates to each convention duly chosen, properly attested by the Democratic Registrar of Voters. Such list shall be mailed or delivered not later than the day following the day fixed for the holding of primaries to elect delegates to conventions.
Section 14. Whenever the SDTC is officially notified that a Democratic Party vacancy exists in an elective or appointed Town office, the SDTC shall recruit a single candidate to fill that position. The SDTC by majority vote of members present at a meeting where this is an agenda item shall allow nominations from the floor before endorsing a single candidate to fill that Town office and certify that endorsement to the proper Town official in timely fashion.
ARTICLE VII – CAUCUSES
Section 1. Caucuses may be called for the purpose of amending these rules or for any other lawful purpose by a majority vote of the SDTC, or, except as hereinafter provided, by not less than ten (10) percent of the registered Democratic voters in the Town of Sharon. If the
caucus is called by vote of the SDTC, it shall be signed by the SDTC Chairperson. If it is called by not less than ten (10) percent of the registered Democratic voters, it shall be signed by such voters.
Section 2. Notice of time, place and purpose of any such caucus shall be given to all registered Democratic voters of the Town of Sharon at least seven (7) days but not more than fifteen (15) days in advance of any such caucus by publishing such notice at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Sharon and by posting such notice in the office of the Town Clerk.
Section 3. The SDTC Chairperson and Recording Secretary, or their designees as determined in advance and communicated in writing to the SDTC, shall be the temporary Chairperson and Secretary of all caucuses and shall preside until the meeting has selected its permanent Secretary and Chairperson.
ARTICLE VIII - DEFINITIONS
Section 1. As used in these rules, “Town Office” means any office for which only the electors of Sharon may vote and includes the office of each elective public official of Sharon, justice of the peace, state representative and judge of probate. The other terms used in these rules shall have the same meanings as in The Primary Act. “Primary Act” refers to the state Primary Law, Public Act 1518 of 1957, as the same may be amended from time to time.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The SDTC may amend these rules
· by a majority vote at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose;
· at a meeting called in the same manner as a caucus for selecting party-endorsed candidates as herein provided;
· by a caucus of enrolled Democratic voters of the Town of Sharon called by the SDTC Chairperson upon the filing of a petition signed by at least five (5) percent of enrolled Democratic voters with the Democratic Registrar of Voters. The Chairperson, or in the event of his or her failure to act, the Vice Chairperson shall call such caucus to take action on said petition within twenty (20) days upon filing of said petition with the Democratic Registrar of Voters.
ARTICLE X - FILING OF LOCAL RULES OR AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Within seven (7) days after rules or amendments to rules are adopted by the SDTC, duplicate copies signed by the SDTC Chairperson and Recording Secretary shall be filed with the Secretary of State, with the Town Clerk, and with the Secretary of the State Central Committee and shall become effective sixty (60) days after such filing.
ARTICLE XI - PROVISIONS
Section 1. If any provision of these rules is found to be in conflict with the Party
Rules, or the provisions of any law, the provisions of the Party Rules or
such law shall govern.
THE FOREGOING AMENDED RULES WERE ADOPTED BY THE SHARON DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE AT A DULY WARNED MEETING HELD ON MARCH 30, 2020 AT THE TOWN HALL, SHARON, CT.