By Laws

June 5, 2007
Revised July, 2010

ARTICLE 1

NAME

The name of this organization is the Quad City Cert, formed June
3, 2003 for the communities of Seven Hills, Independence, Brooklyn
Hts., and Valley View (Ohio).
CERT as used in the name of this organization stands for
Community Emergency Response Team .

ARTICLE 2

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of this organization is to assist Local
Emergency Services in any and all emergencies, and to assist the
general public in such emergencies as trained.
To train, educate, and inform the public regarding Emergency
Preparedness.

ARTICLE 3

AREA AND MEETINGS

Quad City CERT area is defined as:
- Brooklyn Hts., Independence, Seven Hills, and Valley View
  (Ohio).
The location of business and general meeting shall be at the
discretion of the Executive Board.
The Executive Board may recess to Executive Session whenever
needed.

ARTICLE 4

MEMBERSHIP

Entry into the Quad City CERT program requires that each person
fill out and sign both an Application and Waiver. Submitting an
Application does not guarantee admittance to the next scheduled
class. If the persons Application is accepted, they will be entered
into the Quad City CERT database and informed of the upcoming
classes.
A Quad City CERT “Member” is defined as:
- A person currently residing in one of the Quad City CERT
  communities (Brooklyn Hts., Independence, Seven Hills, or Valley
  View, Ohio).
- A person that has completed the 20 hour CERT Training, as
  required by FEMA
- • Having met these two obligations, the member will receive a
  Certificate of Completion, I.D. Tag (designating trained), and
  CERT Kit.
- Proof of residency in the form of a Drivers License may be
  required at any time.
- CERT supplies and equipment are issued on the basis of
  participation in the Quad City CERT area and remains the
  property of your local safety forces. Should the member move out
  of the area of these four communities, the member may keep their
  Certificate of Completion for the training only, all other
  equipment must be returned to the community in good condition.
- The approval and termination of a Quad City member is under
  the authority of the Fire Chief of that community. (Added July
  8, 2010)
A Quad City CERT “Reserve” member is defined as:
- A person currently residing in one of the Quad City CERT
  communities (Brooklyn Hts., Independence, Seven Hills, or Valley
  View, Ohio).
- A person that is in the database, but has not completed the
  20 hour CERT Training, as required by FEMA.
- Reserve members are not eligible to receive a CERT Kit, or
  Certificate of Completion
- A CERT I.D. Tag will be issued designating Reserve level of
  training.
- Proof of residency in the form of a Driver License may be
  required at any time.
- CERT supplies and equipment are issued on the basis of
  participation in the Quad City CERT area and remains the
  property of your local safety forces. Should the member move out
  of the area of these four communities, the member may keep their
  Certificate of Completion for the training only, all other
  equipment must be returned to the community in good condition.

ARTICLE 5

GOVERNMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION

GENERAL
1. The government shall be by the Executive Board placing
  business on the agenda by the use of motion, and a simple 2/3
  majority vote, of those members present, will be needed to
  approve or disapprove motions.
2. Monthly meetings are public, and shall be posted on the
  Quadcitycert.org website. The Executive Board Chairperson or, in
  their absence, another Executive Board member chairing the
  meeting, shall have sole discretion over the agenda, and content
  of the proceedings. Quad City CERT members interested in
  attending to observe proceedings are welcome to do so. Quad City
  CERT members interested in introducing information to the
  Executive Board must contact the Chairperson prior to the
  meeting to be put on the agenda.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
1. The Board shall be established to direct activities of the
  Quad City CERT program for Seven Hills, Independence, Brooklyn
  Hts., and Valley View Ohio, to control its finances, and to
  maintain a trained membership.
2. The Executive Board shall consist of two (2) members from
  each community. One (1) of those members from each community
  shall be the Fire Chief. The other member representing his/her
  community shall be chosen by that community’s Fire Chief. The
  Executive Board shall appoint an Executive Director, who will
  also serve as the ninth (9) member of the Executive Board.
3. The Executive Committee is empowered to appropriate and spend
  money with a maximum of $250.00 for Quad City CERT. Any amount
  over $250.00 shall be subject to approval by a majority vote of
  those members present at a regular Executive Board meeting.
4. The Executive Board shall appoint a Chairperson, and Vice
  Chairperson in the month of September each year. The Chairman,
  Vice Chairman and Executive Director shall serve at the
  discretion of the Executive Board.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
1. CERT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  1. This person is the Quad City CERT Director over the
    Coordinators from each City.
  2. To act as an liaison to the Executive Board of the Quad
    City CERT and it’s committees.
  3. To hold all rights as a voting member to the Executive
    Board and the Committees.
  4. To attend regular meetings with the local coordinators to
    convey the wishes of the Executive Board and relay
    information from the team to the Executive Board.
2. CHAIRPERSON
  1. To act as the Chairperson for the Quad City CERT.
  2. To coordinate all activities directly over Quad City CERT
    Sub-Committees.
  3. Conduct all Quad City CERT and Executive Board meetings
    and agendas for such meetings..
  4. Work closely with the Quad City CERT Coordinators and to
    attend their monthly planning meeting when possible.
3. VICE CHAIRPERSON
  1. To assist the Chairperson with all Quad City CERT direct
    responsibilities.
  2. To act as Chairperson in the absence of the elected
    Chairperson in full capacity of that position.
  3. To act in behalf of any Sub Committee Director in their
    absence to ensure a consistent continuity of the
    Association.
4. SECRETARY
  1. To take minutes of all Executive Board meetings and
    Coordinators Meetings.
  2. Maintain a Data Base of all Quad City CERT training,
    instructors, and resources of any kind, etc.
5. FINANCE DIRECTOR
  1. Be responsible for all Quad City CERT funds and maintain
    an accurate record of those funds.
  2. Disburse all funds as directed by the Quad City CERT
    Committees and Executive Board recommendations.
  3. Be subject to an audit of all financial records annually,
    and as necessary upon request of the Board of Directors.
  4. Liaison between Cuyahoga County EMA and Quad City CERT.
  5. An Audit committee shall be established by the Executive
    Board to perform a annual audit.
  6. An annual assessment will be established and sent to each
    Community annually
6. LOCAL COORDINATORS
  1. Reports directly to the Quad City CERT Executive
    Director.
  2. All local coordinators to meet regularly for the purpose
    of coordinating regular operational needs among the four
    communities.
  3. Attend as necessary committee meetings for the
    dissemination of information to and from the Executive
    Director.
  4. Maintain open line of communication and consistency
    between all committees of the four communities.
  5. Local Coordinators as a group shall appoint committees to
    assist in any and all emergencies.

ARTICLE 6

RULES OF CONDUCT

As an organization formed to assist and train the general public,
and to serve Local Emergency Services, the membership of this
organization will so conduct themselves in a professional manner,
and will not discredit this or any other organization intentionally.
1. Any member discrediting this organization or any other
  organization intentionally will become subject to an internal
  hearing by the Executive Board on the charges made against them.
  Any criminal charges brought upon the member shall be handled in
  accordance with the laws of the State, County, or City.
2. Any member found guilty of charges of misconduct shall be
  expelled from this organization without any recourse, and the
  organization or any of its members will not be held liable for
  any of the charges of the one being expelled.

ARTICLE 7

BUSINESS CONDUCT

Conduct of the Business of this Organization shall be vested in
the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 8

BY-LAW AMENDMENTS

When, and if these By-Laws are changed or added to in any way the
changes or additions are made by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 9

ACTIVATION

There are three levels of “Activation”
1. County – Initiated by Cuyahoga County Emergency Management
  Agency (CCEMA)
2. Quad City CERT – Initiated by one of the four Fire
  Departments Chiefs.
3. Community Non-Emergency Events – Initiated by the
  Coordinator, with Fire Departmental approval.

In the event of an Emergency, as defined by numbers 1,2, & 3
above, Quad City CERT must be activated by a Fire Chief, or their
representative.

The Fire Chief activating CERT should notify the other three Fire
Chiefs. (Regardless of why, the initiating Fire Chief, or
representative, should contact the other three Fire Departments,
trying the Fire Chief, or representative first, then the Fire
Department.
The initiating Fire Chief, or representative, will also be
responsible for contacting the Executive Director for Quad City
CERT.
The Executive Director, having received “specific needs of
deployment” from the initiating Fire Chief, will be responsible for
contacting the Chairperson for the Executive Board and the four City
Coordinators.
From the Executive Director’s instruction, (by the Fire
Department), Coordinators will determine if a specific group should
be activated (ex: Search & Rescue only). And/or if an automated
call should go out.
The Chairperson will contact the other members of the Executive
Board.