The Timberlane Regional School District budget committee voted Oct. 10 to amend its bylaws so the annual organizational meeting “shall be held on or before May 1.” Committee members said the change creates a scheduling window to ensure a quorum after town and school-board organizational meetings.

Why it matters: The bylaw change provides scheduling flexibility for the committee’s organizational meeting and aims to avoid repeated postponements when newly appointed members or other timing issues prevent a quorum the week immediately following the school-board organizational meeting.

Discussion and motion: Committee members discussed language that previously required the meeting to occur the first Thursday following the school-board organizational meeting. Several members said that timing sometimes made it difficult to get a quorum; one member proposed replacing the narrower scheduling requirement with a simple deadline. The committee then moved to add a new section C stating that the annual organizational meeting “shall be held on or before May 1,” removing the strict tie to the school-board organizational meeting. A motion to adopt the amendment passed by voice vote; the transcript records the motion as carried with eight votes in favor and no opposition.

What’s next: The committee will proceed under the amended bylaw language to schedule its next annual organization meeting within the new window.

Ending: Members said the change preserves the committee’s ability to convene, organize and review warrant and budget schedules before the budget season begins.