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	Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Services Council

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ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization is the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Council is to coordinate emergency medical services in the three Southern Tier Counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben. In pursuit of this purpose, the functions of the Council are:

1. To determine what emergency medical care resources (manpower, facilities, and operations) exist within the Southern Tier Region, and to maintain an accurate index of these resources.
2. To determine is these resources meet local, state and national standards and are sufficient in quantity and quality to meet the region's total emergency medical care needs.
3. To develop and maintain a program for evaluating the quality of the system's performance at all levels.
4. To act as liaison among emergency medical services agencies within the region and between these agencies and other organizations outside the region.
5. To initiate, coordinate and evaluate educational and training programs in emergency medical care for basic and advanced levels of prehospital care providers, nurses, physicians, public safety personnel, and the general public.
6. To make determinations of public need for the establishment of new or expansion of existing ambulance services, or ALS first response services.
7. To work collaboratively with the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (STREMAC) to fulfill its responsibilities as defined in the New York State Public Health Law.
8. To act in accordance with New York State Public Health Law.

ARTICLE III. RELATIONSHIPS

Section 1: The Council, in carrying out its responsibilities and Article 30 functions, relies on the Staff of STREMS, Inc. (the designated EMS Program Agency), which acts at the direction of the Council based upon the Council's current NYS Contractual agreement.

Section 2: The Council recognizes the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee as its only Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee as defined in New York State Public Health Law.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: The Council shall have a membership of thirty (30) persons. The members may be drawn from the three counties concerned in rough reflection of population: twelve (12) members from Chemung County, six (6) members from Schuyler County, and twelve (12) members from Steuben County. At least one-third of the Council membership will be representative of ambulance services. The remainder of the Council membership will consist of a member of each County Legislature (selected by the County Legislature), or a designee selected by the Legislature. Other representation may consist of but not be limited to, representatives of existing local emergency medical care committees, physicians, nurses, hospitals, health planning agencies, fire department emergency and rescue squads, public health officers, the general public and the Chair of the STREMAC.
Final action on Council membership will be made by approval of a two-thirds vote of the membership present upon nomination by the Executive Committee.

Section 2: The term of office of Council members shall be four years with not more than half the terms expiring in any given year. A member who has fulfilled the conditions of membership as outlined in the current Council policies will be eligible for reappointment. If a member should resign prior to the end of his/her term, they shall submit their resignation in writing to the Chairperson. The vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of that term upon nomination by the Executive Committee, and two-thirds approval vote of the members present.

Section 3: When a member's term expires, and the member is not reappointed, a replacement member shall be elected from one or more nominations submitted by the Executive Committee at least two months prior to the November meeting, and made public to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the November meeting. The terms of members will be reviewed and the membership list updated according to Council policy.

Section 4: Attendance: Refer to Current Council Policy.

Section 5: Subject to Section 4 above, a member may name one or two predesignated alternates empowered to act on his behalf when the member is absent from a Council or committee meeting. The alternate(s) must be nominated by the Executive Committee and approved by the Council. Such alternates shall be considered seated members of the Council in the absence of the member.

Section 6: Vacancies in Council membership resulting from action under Section 4 may be filled with a member from the same county, upon nomination by the Executive Committee and two-thirds approval vote of members present at the next regular meeting of the Council.

Section 7. Emeritus Members: Anyone who has been a member in good standing for 20 years may be invited to remain as a Member Emeritus, upon recommendation of the Executive Committee and approval of a majority of the Council membership.
     Emeritus members shall be welcome at all meetings of the Council and its committees; shall receive all notices, minutes, and reports of Council meetings, if they are desired; and shall be free to participate in all transactions thereof but shall be without voting privileges at meetings of the Council. There shall be no attendance requirements of Emeritus members.
     Emeritus membership shall not preclude one from being eligible to serve as a regular member's alternate. When serving as an alternate, an emeritus member will be accorded all the rights and responsibilities as any other alternate.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of the Council shall be Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. They shall be nominated no later than the October meeting, and elected at the November meeting by a majority of the seated Council members. They shall serve terms of two years or until their successors have been duly elected and seated. They shall be seated upon taking the oath of office, which shall occur at the close of the meeting wherein the election takes place. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson may be re-elected to succeed themselves.

Section 2: The Chairperson shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Council. S/he shall conduct all meetings in accordance with the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the latter's absence. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairperson, the Vice chairperson will become Chair and a new vice Chair will be elected upon one or more nominations presented by the Executive Committee, to fill out the unexpired term.
The functions of secretary will be performed by STREMS, Inc., (the designated Program Agency) staff, on behalf of the Council, under its direction and supervision.

Section 3: Review of an officer's functions will be made by the Executive Committee upon receipt of written complaint of any member of the Council. Any officer may be removed from office by the following process: A motion to remove the officer must be brought to the Council from the Executive Committee. The Council must approve the motion to remove from office by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the seated Council members.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

Section 1: The Council shall meet at least quarterly, on dates to be determined by the Chairperson. The meetings shall be held at a location convenient to the membership, to be determined at the November meeting, but the Chairperson shall retain the right to determine other locations.

Section 2: The presence of a majority of the Council's seated membership shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3: There shall be minutes for all Council meetings, and all Committee meetings, which will be distributed to all Council members.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1: The Council shall select and empower an Executive Committee to act with full authority in its behalf between regular meetings of the Council. The Council shall be informed of all Executive Committee actions at the next regular meeting of the Council.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Council Chairperson, Council Vice Chairperson, the committee chairpersons, and not more than three at large members to be elected by the Council. The Council Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and committee chairpersons shall serve for as long as they hold those offices.

Section 2: Council members shall be appointed to committees of the Council by the Chairperson.

Section 3: Other committees and working groups, as needed for the effective discharge of the Council's responsibilities, may be appointed by the Chairperson. Chairpersons of the respective committees and working groups will be appointed by the Chair.

Section 4: Non- Council members may be appointed to committees (except the Executive Committee) by the chairperson of the Council. The number of non-Council members on a committee shall not exceed one-third of the total committee membership.

Section 5: A quorum for each committee, shall be a majority of the seated Council committee members appointed to that committee. Meeting announcements will normally be sent to all committee members five (5) business days in advance of committee meetings.

Section 6: At committee meetings, non-Council committee members may vote on resolutions but cannot move or second resolutions.

Section 7: The Council shall establish and empower the Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee, with all the authority and responsibilities as defined in New York State Public Health Law. Because of the unique relationship between the Council and the STREMAC, the STREMAC is further defined by the following:

A. Relationships
(1): The STREMAC recognizes The Southern Tier Regional EMS Council as the agency responsible for coordinating EMS in this region, and will cooperate with the Council in working toward the improvement of emergency medical care in the Southern Tier.
(2): STREMAC, in carrying out its responsibilities and functions, relies on the Staff of STREMS, Inc., which acts at the direction of the STREMAC Chair.
(3): The STREMAC shall nominate to the State Commissioner of Health a physician with demonstrated knowledge and experience in emergency medical services to serve the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) for a term of two (2) years. This physician may succeed him/her self in office.

B. Preserved Independent Functions
(1): The STREMAC shall have the authority and right to implement independent rules of operation and governance that define its membership, officers, meetings, subcommittees, code of ethics, conflicts of interest, and methodology of amending its rules of operation and governance.
(2): The Council shall have no authority in these preserved independent functions but shall be informed of any change in the preserved independent functions.

C. Non-Voting Members:
There shall be four EMS provider representatives, appointed by the chair of the Southern Tier Regional EMS Council. Course sponsor Medical Directors and Agency Medical Directors shall also be non-voting members of the STREMAC. EMS provider representatives shall serve a term of two (2) years and may be reappointed to succeed themselves. The Medical Directors shall serve for as long as they hold that position.

ARTICLE VIII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

Section 1: The Council has the obligation to act for the public good in all actions and through the voting process. Such actions should be for the public good and not motivated for private gain. Potential conflicts of interest are to be declared prior to any action. Action on a matter, which may be or could be perceived to be motivated for private interests shall constitute a conflict of interest.
     Members shall not vote on any issue or question in which that member has direct personal or pecuniary interest. Where a member may have the slightest uncertainty as to whether a conflict of interest exists, full disclosure of the matter should be made to the Council and the Council will render a determination by affirmative vote.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

Section 1: In order to amend these Bylaws, with the exception of Article VII, Section 2, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the membership at any regular meeting of the Council. The proposed amendment shall be adopted, or rejected, at the next regular meeting by a majority vote of the seated membership.

Section 2: In order to amend Article VII, Section 2, the proposed amendment will first be submitted to the STREMAC membership. The proposed amendment shall be adopted, or rejected, by a majority vote of the voting membership of the STREMAC. If the STREMAC vote is to adopt the proposed amendment, then the amendment will be submitted to the Council for action as above. If the STREMAC vote is to reject the proposed amendment, the proposed amendment cannot be brought to the Council for action.

ARTICLE X. ENTRY INTO EFFECT

In order to approve these Bylaws they shall be presented to the membership at any regular meeting of the Council. The proposed Bylaws shall be adopted or rejected at the next regular meeting by a majority of the seated membership.

ARTICLE XI. ATTACHMENTS

The Council shall operate under these bylaws as well as current Council policies.

ARTICLE XII. BYLAW REVIEW

These Bylaws shall be reviewed periodically by a committee appointed by the Chairperson of the Council. The committee will ascertain that a compatible relationship is maintained between these Bylaws and Article 30, and other appropriate laws and regulations of New York State.

1/11/07

     Amended 5/19/88. Changes: Article V, Section 1; Article VII, Section 2; Additions: Article VI, Section 4; Article VI, Section 5.
     Amended 2/16/89. Changes: Article IV, Section 5; Article V, Section 1; Article VII, Section 2.
     Amended 10/18/90. Changes: Article VII, Sections 2 & 3.
     Amended 10/17/96. Changes: Article II, add Section 11; Article III, add Section 5; Article V, Section 1; Article VII, Section 2; Article VIII, Section 1, add Section 2
     Amended 3/9/06. Added Article IV, Section 7, Emeritus Members.
     Amended 1/11/07, added new Article VIII, Conflict of Interest; renumbered articles following it.