Otter Creek CUD board shrinks executive committee to five and elects officers

The Otter Creek Communication Union District governing board voted May 20 to amend its bylaws to reduce the size of the executive committee from seven members to five and then elected a slate of officers to serve under the new rule.

The change, proposed by Chair Laura Black and discussed briefly at the meeting, trims the executive committee to chair, vice chair and three at-large members. Leslie Cadwell moved to adopt the amendment; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board then moved through nominations and elected Laura Black as chair (and acting clerk) and Larry Corsel as vice chair, voting to approve the three-officer slate by voice. The board also accepted nominations for the executive committee, approving Peter Werner for a one-year term and Bill Moore to fill a vacant three-year seat.

Board members said the change reflects a smaller governing board after two towns withdrew membership, reducing the quorum requirement. Chair Black noted the board had discussed the amendment in executive committee and that the smaller executive committee was intended to streamline administrative work. "That's the only change I've made or I'm proposing to make to the bylaws," she said when presenting the draft.

The elections and bylaws amendment were conducted by voice vote; the transcript records members responding "I" in support but does not record a roll-call tally. The governing-board meeting adjourned after the votes, and an executive-committee session followed to finalize appointments and appoint a treasurer.

What happens next: the board will implement the new executive-committee membership rules and the elected officers will assume responsibilities; members said they will follow up in the executive committee on procedural details and filling any remaining vacancies.