Council of the Local
Council and Duties of Council
7.1
There shall be a Council of the Local whose Membership shall consist of the Members of the Executive of the Local and Council Representatives elected or appointed from the electoral units of the Local, as such units are defined in the Bylaws of the Local.
7.2
Council shall be responsible to oversee the affairs and determine the Policy of the Local, subject to direction from Members obtained in accordance with Articles 4.5 and 4.6, and subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local and the Society. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Council shall have the power to interpret the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local, to adopt a budget for the Local and to set Required Membership Fees subject to any requirement for approval by Members as set out in the Bylaws of the Local, to appropriate money, and to appoint Standing Committees or ad hoc committees of the Local.
7.3
Council shall conduct its business at Meetings of Council duly called in accordance with the Bylaws of the Local, or by other means authorized by the Bylaws of the Local.
7.4
Council is authorized to delegate any of its powers to the Executive, or to one or more Members of the Executive or Council Representatives, as it sees fit. Council is authorized to approve the hiring of staff to assist in carrying out the affairs of the Local, and to supervise and direct the work of any such staff or delegate such duties.
Council Representatives
7.5
Subject to any limitations on Membership rights set out in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local, and subject to any limits on consecutive terms contained in the Bylaws of the Local, any Member of the Local is eligible to sit on Council as a Council Representative. The term of a Council Representative shall be defined in the Bylaws of the Local.
7.6
Council Representatives are the official representatives of their electoral unit on Council in all matters pertaining to the affairs of the Council Representatives are responsible to: communicate the wishes of Members in their electoral unit to Council; report on the activities of the Local to Members in their electoral unit; encourage participation by Members in the activities of the Local; and other such duties as determined by Council or as stated in the Bylaws of the Local.
7.7
Council Representatives shall act in the best interests of the Local, shall declare any actual or possible conflicts of interest, and shall use their best efforts to perform duties assigned under the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the Local.
7.8
Any Council Representative who reasonably believes that business of the Local is being conducted contrary to the Constitution, Bylaws or Policies of the Local, or that another Member of the Local is acting contrary to the Constitution, Bylaws or Policies of the Local, shall disclose the concern to either the Council or the Executive, which shall conduct such investigation and take such action as appropriate. A Council Representative making such disclosure shall not be subject to repercussions.
7.9
Council Representatives shall serve their term unless removed from office or a vacancy occurs in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Local.
Vacancies on Council
7.10
Vacancies on Council Representative positions, as defined in the Bylaws of the Local, may be filled in accordance with the Bylaws of the Local.
7.11
Council is empowered to act notwithstanding any vacancy on Council. Decisions of Council are not invalid by virtue of an irregularity in the election or appointment of any Member of Council.