Cumberland Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (CNHS)

 

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NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1: The North End Neighborhood Watch was formed on May 24, 2001.

The North End Neighborhood Watch became registered as a non-profit organization with the Internal Revenue Service on, receiving a Federal Identification Number (FEIN) in June 2002.

ARTICLE 11: The organization exists solely to help fight crime.

ARTICLE 111: Membership shall be open to all persons without regard to race,

color, creed, national origin, sex, age or disability.

ARTICLE 1V: The purposes of this organization are to:

assist law enforcement agencies, especially, but not limited to, the Cumberland Police Department. It may be called upon to work with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department or Maryland State Police from time to time.
act as the eyes and ears of the various law enforcement agencies.
encourage citizens to adopt ways to help prevent crime in their neighborhood and community.

ARTICLE V: The funds of this organization shall be used for activities related to the purposes of the organization, subject to a vote by the membership. One hundred dollars or less can be expended by mutual consent of the four officers without the need of a special meeting.

ARTICLE V1: The number of officers is set at four: namely,

President:                         Louise Elliott, April 2003
Vice-President:                Sam Robinette, April 2003
Secretary:                        Sally Robinette, April 2003
Treasurer:                        George Reynolds, April 2003

       

OFFICERS

Officers of the organization shall be residents of the North End neighborhood. The term of the four officers is to be of one (1) year duration, with no restriction as to number of terms allowed.

 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

PRESIDENT/COORDINATOR

The president shall conduct all meetings of the organization, using Robert’s Rules of Order.

VICE-PRESIDENT

In the absence of the president, the vice-president will assume the president’s duties

SECRETARY

The secretary shall maintain a membership list, keep all minutes, and handle all correspondence.

TREASURER

The treasurer shall pay all bills, keep all financial records, and prepare reports for each meeting. The checking account is maintained in __________________________________. All checks are signed by both the treasurer and the president.

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TERRITORY

The entire North End of Cumberland from the area to include the following boundaries (Census Tracts 10 and 3):

Western boundaries: North Mechanic Street
Southern boundaries: Queen City Drive and Bedford Street
Eastern boundaries: Independence Street and Holland Street extension
Northern boundaries Piedmont Street to the city limits on ALT 40

 

MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be held on the fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings can be called at other times deemed necessary.

All business must be approved by a simple majority of members present.

The annual Block party shall be held on the first Friday of June from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the North Centre Street Playground.

 

MEMBERSHIP

  1. Any resident of the North End of Cumberland or any other person with an interest in this area is eligible for membership. New members must agree to conform to all laws, rules and regulations of the organization.
  2. Minimum age shall be 18 years old and persons must be in good standing with the law.
  3. Applicants for special duties such as patrollers must be screened by the cumberland Police Department, and must be issued an identification badge.
  4. There are no formal membership dues. All contributions to the North End Neighborhood Watch are strictly voluntary and unsolicited.
  5. Any member disapproved by law enforcement must be dismissed and all Watch equipment be returned to the president.

 

COMMITTEES

Any committees deemed necessary for specific purposes could be appointed at any time.

 

PATROLLERS

  1. All requests for police assistance is to go through the officer in charge—usually the resident.

  2. All equipment owned by the Watch may be used by various persons approved by the President, but remains property of North End Neighborhood Watch.

  3. During emergencies, all personnel will follow the instruction of the police department or other public safety agencies. Assistance may be offered, but at no time may a Neighborhood Watch member interject himself into a situation without specific approval of the pertinent Agency at the scene.  Failure to comply will be grounds for immediate dismissal.

  4. Never exit a vehicle when witnessing a crime. Wait until police take over. Do not interfere with any activity unless specifically requested by police. Give police department all information about what you observed.

  5. Interference with any enforcement agency or fire department during the commission of a crime is grounds for immediate dismissal.

  6. Any personal injury or property damage incurred while on Neighborhood Watch is solely the responsibility of the individual involved. North End Neighborhood Watch may not be held liable.

  7. Any member leaving the organization, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, must return all Watch property to the president within 72 hours.

  8. Any information entrusted to Watch personnel by the City Police Department shall remain within the organization.