What are bylaws and Why are they important?

“In general, bylaws should define the basic rights and responsibilities members have in voting and capitalizing the co-op and the basic responsibilities of directors and management. Bylaws should be flexible enough to deal with changing business and market conditions and the general procedures that will be followed to make organizational decisions (not operational decisions). Bylaws should define the co-op’s basic democratic structure and provide the general rules for the internal governance of the co-op, not codify specific decisions or policies.” Excerpt from Cooperative Grocer

Proposed Bylaws Change for 2026

The Board Development Committee proposes updating our Bylaws for clarity as part of the upcoming election. There is no fundamental change. The Bylaw vote will be conducted along with the Board of Directors Candidate election, beginning at the end of the Co-op Annual Meeting, Sunday, March, 8th 2026.  The vote will be held online via the Simply Voting platform. Paper ballots will be available in the store.  Questions about the election or bylaws change: board@belfast.coop

2026 Bylaws Change Intent

To eliminate a confusing text and a potential contradiction between bylaws 4.3 and 4.4 regarding the term length of directors, and to explain how to stagger terms.  

New Proposed Text to Section IV Bylaws

4.3 Elections.  Elections shall occur annually in a manner prescribed by the Board.  Candidates will be recruited, oriented, qualified, and organized as directed by the Board.  Candidates elected are assigned to a specific, numbered seat.  The seats are numbered 1 to 13, and are divided into three groups:   Seats 1-5, 6-9, and 10-13.  Each seat has a uniform term of three years, with the beginning of each group’s term offset from the previous group by one year.  

4.4 Terms.  Directors shall serve a term length according to the number of years left in the seat to which they are assigned after they are elected.  The candidate with the most votes will be assigned to one of the seats in the seat group with the longest term available.  Candidates winning fewer votes will be assigned to remaining available seats, with seats with longer terms assigned to those receiving the most votes.  Ties will be decided by a coin flip.  Any candidate running for the Board must receive at least 25% of the total validated ballots cast to be declared elected.  No Director may serve more than nine (9) consecutive years.

Current Text In Section IV Bylaws With Potential Contradictions Underlined

4.3 Elections. Elections shall occur annually, in a manner prescribed by the Board. Among the winning candidates, the top vote getters will be elected to the longer-term open. Ties will be decided by a coin flip. Any candidate running for the Board must receive at least 25% of the total validated ballots cast to be declared elected.

4.4 Terms. Directors shall serve a term of three (3) years and shall serve staggered terms so that approximately one-third (1/3) of the Board is elected each year. No Director may serve more than nine (9) consecutive years.

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