The draft of the NRZ bylaws will be voted on April 30 by the Planning Committee.  Please feel free to make comments, the Planning Committee would like to hear your thoughts.

Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Zone

 

Planning Committee

 

 

BY-LAWS

 

 

Article I

 

Section 1.  Name

 

The name of the organization shall be the Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Planning Committee, hereinafter referred to as Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee or The Planning Committee.

 

 

Section 2.  Offices

 

The principal location of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall be in Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut.  All meetings of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall take place within the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport.

 

 

Article II

 

 

Section 1.  Mission Statement

 

In accordance to Public ACT 94-240 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an Act to Establish the Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall be responsible for formulating an NRZ Strategic Plan.

 

The primary mission of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee is to develop a unified sense of said community across the various neighborhoods of Black Rock. This will be done through the collaborative efforts of the residents and other stakeholders, with an emphasis on developing and protecting the unique cultural and artistic strengths of Black Rock. it should ensure that land use and development occur in such a manner as to place the highest values on people and the unique natural resources of the community and its quality of life, as well as honoring and preserving the historic nature of Black Rock.

 

This effort will include but not be limited to, representatives of businesses; non-profit organizations, health and other service providers; cultural and religious institutions; and organized community associations.

 

 the plan will contribute to the long term betterment of the community, reflect community vision, and develop goals through a commitment to a realistic implementation.

 

This organization will not be affiliated with any political party, organization or group. Furthermore, the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall not endorse candidates for political offices.

 

 

Section 2.  Boundaries

 

The boundary of the Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) shall be the Neighborhood boundary of Black Rock Neighborhood, as defined by the City of Bridgeport.  The Neighborhood Map with the boundary defined by the City is attached at the end as “Appendix A” and constitutes a part of these By-laws.  Attached also is the mutual agreement for waterfront development as stated and defined in Appendix B “Neighborhood Land Use Cooperation Agreement”

 

 

Article III

 

Membership

 

 

Section 1.  Eligibility

 

Eligible members of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee include residents, owners of properties located in the neighborhood; individuals and representatives of businesses, cultural, educational, social service agencies, religious and citizen organizations located in the Black Rock neighborhood or have a significant impact on the Black Rock Neighborhood.

 

 

Article IV

 

Meetings

 

 

Section 1.  Notice of Meetings

 

It will be the responsibility of the Secretary of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee to distribute a written notice of the meetings to the members at least five days prior to each meeting.

 

 

Section 2.  Quorum

 

At least 11 members of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee Members must be present to constitute a quorum, and at least seven of whom must be residents.

 

 

Section 3.  Regular Meetings

 

The Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall meet as needed to complete the development of the Black Rock NRZ Plan at a location within the neighborhood boundaries and at a time and date agreed upon by the members.

 

 Section 4.  Voting

 

Decision on any question shall be made by a majority vote of those members constituting a quorum (see Article IV; Section 2).  There shall be no voting by proxy.  Any member who has a personal, professional, business or other interest in any parcel of property that might be subject to the Strategic Plan shall be required to disclose said interest and shall recluse himself or herself from any vote thereon.  All votes shall be recorded by Secretary of the Planning Committee, and together with minutes of meetings, shall be made available to the community-at-large.

 

 

Article V

 

The Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee

 

 

Section 1.  Membership

 

The Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall consist of twenty-one (21) persons.  At least 11 of the Committee’s members must be residents of the Black Rock neighborhood.  In addition, the City may appoint a representative as a voting member to the Planning Committee as part of the 21 persons who shall comprise the committee.  The composition of the Planning Committee shall be as follows:

 

·        11 Residents (P.A. 95-340 requires that majority of Committee members be residents)

 

·        2 “Small Business” Representatives

 

·        1 “Large Businesses/Employers” Representative

 

·        2 Representatives of Churches and Other Religious Organizations

 

·        3 Representatives of Community Organizations and Other Non-Profits

 

·        2 Representatives from the Public Sector, including the City’s appointed representative.

 

For the purpose of this section “small business” is defined as any business operating within the Black Rock with 10 or fewer employees.  “Large Business” is defined as any business operating within the Black Rock with more than 10 employees.  With regard to resident members, individuals will be required to provide proof of residency within Black Rock (e.g., Driver’s License, State Identification Card, Utility Bills, etc.).

 

 

Section 2.  Eligibility and Representation

 

Resident Property Owners and Resident Tenants must reside within Black Rock.  All other members of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee may reside outside of the Black Rock, as long as they represent a business, church or other religious organization, community organization or other non-profit, or public sector entity that is located within Black Rock or substantially impacts the Black Rock community.

 

 

Section 3.  Election

 

Election of representatives to the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall take place within the Sixty (60 days) of the approval by the City of Bridgeport of a resolution designating the Black Rock community as an NRZ neighborhood pursuant to state statute. 

 

          a. A Nominating Committee will be convened by the By-Laws committee which

 

  consist of representation from the six sectors listed in Article V, Section 1. As well as members of the By-Laws Committee.

 

          b.The Nominating Committee members will be asked to inform their constituency about the NRZ and solicit nominations. Candidates for the Planning Committee may self-nominate or be nominated by another person.

 

           c.The nominations can be submitted by email or regular mail or brought to the subsequent meeting of the Nominating Committee by members of that committee.  The goal of the nominating process is to maximize participation.

 

            d. The Nominating Committee will review nominees and convene the persons nominated to explain the purpose of the NRZ and the duties and responsibilities of the members of the Planning Committee.

 

             e. A slate of Planning Committee members will be prepared to present at the subsequent stakeholders meeting.

 

 

Section 4.  Term of Office

 

Members of the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall serve for a period of one (1) year, or until such time as an NRZ Strategic Plan has been approved by the City and passed on to an NRZ Implementation Committee, at which time the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall be dissolved, whichever is shorter.  If a planning committee member misses two consecutive meetings, he/she will not be able to continue in that position unless there are extraordinary circumstances, as deemed by a majority of the planning committee. A list of potential replacements from the nominating process will be kept in case replacements from the same represented group are needed

 

Article VI

 

 

Section 1.  Motions and Proposals

 

Proposals may be introduced to the Planning Committee by any stakeholder of the Black Rock NRZ.,

 

Section 2.  Amendments

 

Amendments to the By-laws may be proposed in writing to the Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee if at least three members of the Planning Committee request an amendment to the By-laws.  Any amendment shall require a 3/4 vote of all Committee members to take effect.

 

 

Article VII

 

Officers and Committees 

 

 

Section 1.  Name and Number

 

Since the purpose of the NRZ Planning Committee is to formulate a Strategic Plan for  Black Rock, the only officers shall be a President, whose responsibility shall be to preside over meetings of the Committee, a Vice-President, who shall act in the President’s place in his or her absence, and a Secretary, who shall be responsible for a. maintaining records of the Planning Committee, b. recording minutes and votes, c. providing notice of meetings to the Planning Committee and d. providing notice of public hearings or forums to the community at large.  The offices of President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall be elected for one-year terms by a majority vote of the members of the Planning Committee.

 

Section 2.  Subcommittees

 

The Black Rock NRZ Planning Committee shall consist of at least the following Subcommittees, each of which will be assigned tasks and meet according to a schedule determined by the whole:  (1) Business and Economic Development; (2) Education; (3) Arts, Entertainment and Culture (4) Land Use, Development, and Historic Preservation; (5) Outreach and Communication; (6) Quality of Life, Environment and Public Safety.

 

 

Article VIII

 

Presentation of Plan/Dissolution

 

Section 1.

 

In no case shall the NRZ Planning Committee present a plan to the City of Bridgeport without first holding at least one public hearing on same, open to all residents and stakeholders within the Black Rock community.  Notice of said meeting shall be made in writing, and provided not less than two weeks prior to the hearing

 

Section 2.

 

Upon approval of the NRZ Strategic Plan by the City of Bridgeport, and presentation of same to the State of Connecticut, the NRZ Planning Committee will dissolve.  Any assets of the NRZ Planning Committee, including all work products, will be transferred to the NRZ Implementation Committee, a separate 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization, whose mission will be to carry out the particulars of the Strategic Plan.

 

 

Appendix A

 

Article II; Section 2 Boundaries

 

Black Rock NRZ Boundaries

 

as Approved by the City of Bridgeport

 

[INSERT MAP] A map is in progress

 

The parties agreed the boundaries for Black Rock NRZ will approximate the following areas;

 

North: Rail Roadtracks;

 

South: the water;

 

East: Bostwick Avenueand Pine Street;

 

West: the Fairfield city line Ash Creek

 

 

Appendix B

 

Article II; Section 2 Boundaries

 

Neighborhood Land Use Cooperation Agreement

 

[CLEAN UP, permitable?]

 

The West Side/West End, South End, and Black Rock NRZ’s by way of by-laws shall agree to notify each other in the event of the receipt of any proposal from any entity, public or private which may reasonably cause any impact, be it visual, environmental or otherwise, to Black Rock Harbor, Burr Creek and/or Cedar Creek. Said NRZs further agree to share with each other any information obtained concerning said proposals and to consult with each other before any application on such proposals may be scheduled for presentation to any land use or regulatory board(s) and commission(s). 

 

For any development that impacts the waterfronts of Burr and Cedar Creeks it is the responsibility of the NRZ where the development is located to inform the other two NRZs before the potential development goes to any Legislative or decision making body about the potential development. Any available information must be shared

 

A charette must be held to educate representatives from each of the three NRZs about rules, regulations and issues dealing with wetland and waterfront development.

 

An important ingredient of this boundary agreement is an arrangement regarding Cedar and Burr Creek from the beginning to the end of the Creek which stipulates as follows:  (1)  the area of Cedar Creek to be defined and included is the beginning to the end of Cedar Creek; (2) for any development that impacts the waterfronts of Burr and Cedar Creeks it is the responsibility of the NRZ where the development is located to inform the other two NRZ’s before the potential development goes to any legislative or decision making body about the potential development.  Any available information must be shared;  (3) A Charrette must be held to educate representatives from each of the three NRZ’s (i.e., Black Rock, West End/West Side, and South End) about rules, regulations and issues dealing with wetland and waterfront development; (4)  the arrangement outlined above shall be included in the NRZ plans of the three participating neighborhoods.

 

 

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