Reopened NPU-S bylaws effort

After bringing the (proposed) revised NPU-S bylaws to the July NPU-S meeting and to assorted neighborhood associations, several people have suggested clarifications and changes, and others wrote in with questions.

Given the level of interest shown in the bylaws update, and given that the bylaws must be submitted to the City by September 30th, the Executive Committee has signed off on a plan to reopen the update effort in a timely manner.

Briefly, we will hold a special bylaws meeting to put together a ballot of proposed changes.  They will then be voted on at the September General Meeting. This way, each change can be considered by the entire Body, instead of presenting a completed work for an up-or-down vote.

Here are the details:

• The bylaws meeting will be held September 7, from 11am to 1pm, at the Outdoor Activity Center (1441 Richland Rd).  If you cannot make it in person, you can participate either online  at https://meet.google.com/mrr-esmf-jgn or by calling in on the conference line at 314-474-2124‬ PIN ‪323 519 045‬#.
• The goal of the meeting is not to come up with a finished set of bylaws. Instead, the goal will be to create a ballot of proposed changes to the bylaws, along with explanatory text for each proposal. 
• The ballot will be published on social media and distributed to the neighborhood organizations ahead of the September 19th General Meeting. 
• At the September meeting, the Body will participate in a "vote-a-rama" on the ballot items. 
• Each proposal will be brought up for a tightly limited debate; then the ballots will be collected and counted. 
• In accordance with City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, "there shall be no restrictions upon a resident's right to vote on the approval or disapproval of the bylaws". (https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIICOORANDECO_PT6BUPL_CH3PL_ARTBNEPL_S6-3016BY)
• Winning proposals will be incorporated into the NPU-S bylaws and submitted to the City by the September 30 deadline.

This approach should offer a good balance between speed, openness, and flexibility. We are grateful for the renewed interest that the community has shown in this fundamental topic.