MWMC

The Maryland Water Monitoring Council (MWMC) was established by the Department of Natural Resources in 1996 in response to needs identified and supported by consensus of the water monitoring community at the First Annual Conference of the Council. MWMC seeks to foster cooperation among groups involved in all types of water monitoring activities. The MWMC is interested in physical, chemical, and biological monitoring, as well as the evaluation of those land use factors that affect changes in aquatic habitat quality and quantity. MWMC intends to work closely with the National Water Quality Monitoring Council as it develops a strategy for improving water quality monitoring in the United States.

The name of this organization shall be Maryland Water Monitoring Council hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as MWMC.

MWMC will serve as a statewide collaborative body to help achieve effective collection, interpretation, and dissemination of environmental data related to issues, policies, and resource management involving water monitoring. MWMC shall address the full range of aquatic resources, including ground and surface waters, freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments, and associated watershed resources in Maryland.

3.1 General Membership on MWMC will be open to individuals from agencies, organizations and groups with responsibility for, or participation in, water monitoring activities.

4.1. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of MWMC shall be held at such time and place as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

4.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of MWMC may be called by the Board of Directors.

5.1. General Powers. All powers of MWMC shall be vested in a Board of Directors. The board shall manage the affairs of MWMC.

5.2. Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of 21 Directors representing the following categories:

• State Agencies (4 representatives - at least one each from the Department of Natural Resources and Department of the Environment)
• Local Agencies (4 representatives)
• Federal Agencies (2 representatives)
• Volunteer Groups-Environmental Organizations (2 representatives - one of which has statewide affiliation)
• Academia (2 representatives)
• Intergovernmental organizations (I representative)
• Consultants and Industry (2 representatives)
• At-large (4 representatives)

5.3. Terms of Office. Directors shall serve for a term of three years, the terms of no more than one-third of the members expiring in any given year to allow for stability and continuity in the leadership. The terms of office shall begin immediately following the effective date of appointment. Directors shall serve no more than two consecutive terms, but can be reappointed following one term off-board.

5.4. Manner of Selection. Board members of MWMC shall be appointed by the Secretary of Natural Resources. Nominees for appointment to the Board shall be provided to the Secretary by the Board.

5.5. Alternates. Directors shall designate alternates to represent them in their absence.

5.6. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring on the Board will be filled by appointment by the Secretary of Natural Resources to serve out the remainder of the term of the vacating Director. The replacement Director shall represent the category represented by the leaving Director. The name of a nominee to replace a Director will be chosen by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Directors remaining in office.

5.7. Resignation: Removal. Any director may resign from the Board at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Chair and to the Secretary of Natural Resources. Failure of a member or the designated alternate to participate in more than three consecutive meetings of the Board shall constitute grounds for requesting the Secretary to replace the member.

6.1. Titles. The officers of MWMC shall be a Chair, a Vice-chair, a Treasurer, and any other officers as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

6.2. Election and Term. All officers of N4WMC shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors at its annual meeting. These officers shall be elected from among the members of the Board and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board, subject to removal or resignation prior thereto. Officers shall serve no i-nore than two consecutive terms.

6.3. Resignation, Removal, and Vacancy. Any officer may resign from office at any time by giving written notice to the Chair or the Board of Directors. Any officer may be removed, for good cause shown, by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in an office by reason of resignation, removal, or the creation of a new office may be filled for the unexpired term thereof by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors.

6.4. Chair. The Chair shall serve as chairperson of the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings thereof. The Chair may enter into all contracts and agreements in the name of N4WMC, subject to such limitations as the Board by resolution may prescribe.

6.5. Vice-chair. The Vice-chair shall exercise the powers of the Chair in the event of the Chair's absence or inability to perform. The Vice-chair shall also have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chair.

6.6. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and securities belonging to MWMC and shall receive, deposit, or disburse the same under the direction of the Board; provided, however, that the Board may appoint a custodian or depository for any such funds or securities. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee and perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer.

6.7 Executive Secretary. The Department of Natural Resources shall provide staff support to serve MWMC in the role of executive secretary. The Executive Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the Board, shall keep accurate records of all meetings of the Board of Directors and perform other duties incident to the office of Secretary.

7.1. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall hold an annual meeting for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

7.2. Regular Meetings. The time and place of all regular meetings of the Board shall be as designated by a majority of the Board or in consultation with the Chair.

7.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be called by the Chair or upon request of a majority of the Board.

7.4. Quorum and Votin. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

7.5. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if consent in writing or by electronic communications, setting forth the action so taken, shall be obtained by a majority of the members of the Board.

8.1. Committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power to establish,and dissolve standing and ad hoc committees. Committee chairs shall be appointed by the Board. Terms of service are not time limited. Committee Chairs shall have the authority to establish ad hoc groups as necessary to fulfill their charge.

8.2. Standing Committees. MWMC has the following standing committees:

a) Planning Committee. This group will advise the Council on designing and implementing processes to facilitate communication and collaboration of the monitoring community in Maryland.
b) Monitoring Methods Committee. This aroup will promote and coordinate the collection of comparable water quality related data.
c) Environmental Indicators Committee. This group will develop recommendations on which environmental indicators are useful and relevant to various management objectives and public concerns. The indicators that are recommended will be appropriate for assessing water resources by ecological and physiographic regions of Maryland.
d) Data Management Committee. This group will explore all existing data management procedures employed in Maryland and develop recommended protocols for data management and quality assurance.
e) Assessment & Reporting Committee. This group will identify and promote the use of appropriate analysis procedures and the presentation of findings in both technical and non- technical formats.
f) Nominating Committee. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall be a Board Member. The primary responsibility of this committee shall be to evaluate potential Board members. Based upon recommendations from this committee, the Board will forward the names of members to the Secretary of Natural Resources for appointment to the Board.
g) Finance Committee. The Chair of the Finance Committee shall be a Board Member. The Committee shall keep the financial status of MWMC under continuous review and shall report at each Board of Directors meeting. At least one month prior to the Annual Meeting of MWMC, the Finance Committee shall prepare, for presentation, a financial statement which summarizes the financial operations of MWMC for the fiscal year immediately preceding and which includes income and expenses in detail and a balance sheet.

9.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of MWMC shall be as determined by the Board by appropriate resolution and may be changed from time to time by the Board, subject to the provisions of applicable federal and state laws.
9.2. Checks. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money shall be signed by such Council members as the Board shall from time to time designate.

These bylaws may be amended, repealed, or modified by a majority vote of the Board. Notice of the proposed amendment, repeal, or modification shall be included in the notice of the meeting at which the proposal is to be considered.

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned Chairperson of the Maryland Water Monitoring Council hereby certifies that the above is a true and correct copy of the bylaws of MWMC duly approved by its Board of Directors on 11/4/96

________Emery T Cleaves________
Chairperson of the Board of Directors

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