Bylaws
All active members of the Maple Street Community Garden must read the following guidelines and bylaws by selecting the box at the bottom of the page and clicking submit.
ARTICLE I: MISSION
The mission of the Maple Street Community Garden is to foster community and cultivate a peaceful and joyous place to serve everyone - of any age, gender, race, class, ethnicity, religion, and immigration status.
ARTICLE II: HOURS
Garden hours and policies will be posted on the website and by the garden gate.
MSCG will be open to the public at least 20 hours per week as required by GreenThumb and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
ARTICLE III: GARDEN USE AND POLICIES
MSCG is an inclusive neighborhood space. We strive to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone who comes into the garden. Members and visitors will constructively confront and stop any behavior or language that is contrary to this policy.
SMOKING AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL ARE FORBIDDEN
MSCG follows rules as set out by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation in terms of alcohol and smoking. Neither is permitted on the grounds of 237 Maple Street.
NO PETS ARE ALLOWED IN THE GARDEN
PLOTS ARE COMMUNAL
All plots are currently communally managed. Crops are planted and maintained by members, according to the design and gardening practices approved by the Board, with the guidance of the Master gardener, if any.
We adhere to organic growing practices. Chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers must not be used anywhere in the garden. Chemically treated wood must not be used for garden beds.
Anyone may harvest from the communal plots. We ask that you only take what you need for your personal consumption.
An organization or individual who desires to use a plot for a special purpose or project may request to manage a plot for the upcoming gardening season. Such a request must be made in writing to the Garden by Jan. 10th. A special committee, the Plot Allotment Committee, consisting of volunteers and including at least 2 members of the Board, will read through the applications and make recommendations to the next General Meeting where a final decision, by vote of the members present, will be made.
At least half of the plots available for gardening in the upcoming season must remain as communally managed plots. The Plot Allotment Committee, taking into account the merits of the applications and the needs of both the garden and the community, may recommend to allot less than half of the remaining available garden plots to individuals and/or organizations.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Individuals who wish to join as members must:
Sign an agreement to abide by these bylaws;
Pay an annual membership fee ($20/individual and $30/household);
Serve on one or more of the committees; and
Attend a minimum of 2 membership meetings per year.
Sliding scale fee is available upon request. For anyone in need, fees can be waived.
REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Failure to comply with bylaws and membership requirements can result in revocation of membership.
ARTICLE V: MEETINGS, DECISION-MAKING, FUNDRAISING AND COMMITTEES
MEETINGS
General Meetings will be held on the first Saturday of February, April, June, August, October and December from 1-3 pm at the garden unless otherwise specified. General Garden meetings are held bimonthly (every other month) and are facilitated by two (2) volunteer members on a rotating basis. Responsibilities include creating an agenda in consultation with the Co-Secretaries, keeping meeting notes, and managing the conversation space during the meeting.
Committee and other meetings will be held as necessary.
DECISION-MAKING
All major decisions are made at general meetings. In the event that decision needs to be made in between general meetings, the Board of Directors will make time-sensitive decisions.
Voting will take place at the membership meetings. A quorum of 10 percent of members in good standing, and no fewer than 5 such members, must be present at a membership meeting for a vote to take place, and 50 percent of the board must also be present for a vote to take place. Only members in good standing may vote. A simple majority will decide the vote, except in the case of votes to remove an officer, in which case a quorum of no fewer than ten members is required and a two-thirds majority is needed to decide the vote.
FUNDRAISING
Any person can bring up a grant opportunity or other fundraising ideas to the general meeting and/or Board of Directors. Any garden member can participate in the grant application process but all applications are to be overseen by garden leadership.
COMMITTEES
Current committees include: Gardening, Compost, Uprooting Racism Task Force, Community Outreach, Arts + Events, and Finance.
If a grievance is reported, a grievance committee will be formed.
Additional committees may be formed by proposal at the membership meeting and approval by a general vote.
Committees will meet as necessary. They will provide updates as required by the board, but at a minimum will update the board at membership meetings.
ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
ELECTIONS
Elections shall be held at the October meeting with new officers taking office in the December meeting. The two Co-Secretaries and the Treasurer will serve for terms of one year. In the case of resignation, or if there is a membership vote to remove an officer, interim elections will be held.
A vote to remove an officer must be taken at a membership meeting and requires approval by a two-thirds majority of those present.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is comprised of two Co-Secretaries, Treasurer and the Chairs of the Committees. The positions of the two Secretaries and the Treasurer are elected.
RESPONSIBILITY OF CO-SECRETARIES
The Co-Secretaries are jointly responsible for the general management of the garden, overseeing the committees, maintaining membership records and ensuring all new members sign the current bylaws.
RESPONSIBILITY OF TREASURER
The treasurer is responsible for all distributions and collections for the garden, maintains accurate records of financial matters, and serves as signatory for the garden bank account which is at Carver Federal Savings Bank located at 1009 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11225.The treasurer will provide a quarterly summary of the garden's financial status to the general membership.
Authorized signatories for check signing purposes will be the treasurer and any other selected garden member. All checks from the garden must be signed by two officers. No two signatories shall be of the same household.
The treasurer must receive approval through voting from garden membership on transactions over $500. Itemized receipts must be presented to the treasurer in advance of reimbursement.
COMPENSATION
No director or officer of the garden shall receive any money from the garden or any pecuniary profit from the operations thereof, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of services.
ARTICLE VIII: GRIEVANCES
Members are expected to be respectful of each other and are encouraged to resolve disagreements through dialogue, both with each other and at membership meetings.
Several members of the garden community have been trained in mediation and are able, if both parties agree, to serve as a neutral third party in the effort to help people talk through their differences. Anyone may solicit help or guidance from a mediator.
If a garden member wishes to raise a formal grievance, they may submit it to the secretary in writing. The secretary will assemble a grievance committee consisting of 5 randomly selected members and at least two board members. The grievance committee will review the grievance, hold an in-person meeting with the grievant if requested and issue a recommendation within 30 days.The recommendation will be discussed at the subsequent membership meeting.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
Upon request of a garden member and a majority vote, a proposed change to bylaws will be considered. The proposed change will be circulated in writing or electronic text to members and a vote at the subsequent garden meeting will be held. A vote to change the bylaws requires a two-third approval.