Hartford Umpires
Connecticut Board Of Approved Baseball Umpires

Serving Central Connecticut

Constitution

The Connecticut Board of Approved Baseball Umpires, Inc.

Hartford Chapter
Constitution and By-Laws

Identity and Mission

The name of the organization shall be “The Connecticut Board of Approved Baseball Umpires, Inc., Hartford Chapter”, hereinafter referred to as the “Board”.

The mission of this Board is:

1. To recruit and develop qualified baseball umpires by providing training in the rules of baseball, the mechanics of umpiring and professionalism.
2. To provide high quality umpiring services to the teams and leagues within the area serviced by the Board, and to further the growth of local baseball programs.
3. To promote safety, sportsmanship and fair play.

Officers and Executive Board

1. The Officers of the Board shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Spring Commissioner, Summer Commissioner, Fall Commissioner and the interpreter, all as elected by the membership.
2. There shall be an Executive Board composed of the Officers, the immediate past President and either two or three at large members in good standing of the Board, such that the total number of members of the Executive Board is an odd number.
3. The Officers and at large members shall be elected at the annual meeting in even numbered years, each for a term of two years. Those terms shall be automatically extended until a successor has been elected and takes office.
4. All Officer vacancies and at large member vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the elected term by appointment by the majority of incumbent members of the Executive Board.
5. Only members in good standing may be elected as, or serve as, Officers or members of the Executive Board.Should an Officer or member of the Executive Board at any time not be in good standing, then such Officer or member of the Executive Board shall be suspended from office during the period of time he is not in good standing. The Executive Board may recommend to the membership removal from office of an Officer or member of the Executive Board who is not in good standing. The membership shall vote upon such recommendation at a meeting and a vote of two thirds of those voting shall be required for removal.

Standing Committees and Positions

1. The Assignment Committee shall consist of the Spring Commissioner, the Summer Commissioner, the Fall Commissioner and not less than three at large members in good standing.
2. The Auditing Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
3. The Evaluation Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
4. The Grievance Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing, none of whom may be members of the Executive Board.
5. The Honorary Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
6. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
7. The Social Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
8. The Training Committee shall consist of not less than three at large members in good standing.
9. The State Board representative and one alternate shall be nominated by the President and appointed by the Executive Board for terms concurrent with the terms of the Officers. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner.

Members

The admission, advancement, discipline, termination and assignment of members shall not be affected by race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, heritage, gender, sexual orientation, age, or marital status.

Any person, other than a suspended member, may apply for admission, re-admission or reinstatement to membership in the Board by completing and submitting to the Secretary/Treasurer an application and supporting materials on a form prescribed by the Executive Board, accompanied by payment of the fee then in effect and any other sums due. Applications shall be reviewed, and applicants shall be investigated and evaluated, pursuant to procedures adopted by the Executive Board.Applicants with adequate prior umpiring experience and applicants who meet the Board’s training requirements may be accepted into probationary status by the Executive Board, pending action at the next scheduled regular meeting. Applicants may, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, be accepted into probationary status and/or accepted into, re-admitted into, or re-instated into regular member status by vote of the majority of members voting at any meeting, except that every new applicant must serve at least one full season on probation before being accepted as a regular member. Requests to terminate leaves of absence shall be governed according to the By-laws.

Upon recommendation of the Honorary Committee, persons may be admitted to Honorary Member status and Umpire Emeritus status by vote of the majority of members voting at any meeting.

By-Laws

Article I: Meetings

1. Meetings shall be held on, and designated as follows:
   1. The second Monday in February—Regular Business Meeting to include Arbiter instruction. Attendance strongly encouraged.
   2. The first Monday in March—Regular Business Meeting
   3. The third Monday in March—Annual Rules Interpretation Meeting
   4. The first Monday in April—Regular Business Meeting
   5. The second Monday in May—Regular Business Meeting
   6. The first Monday in June—Summer Rules Clinic
   7. The third Monday in August—Annual Meeting
2. The Executive Board may cancel or postpone a scheduled meeting. Notice thereof shall be provided to the membership by the Secretary/Treasurer if reasonably possible.
3. In the event of postponement of a scheduled meeting, the Executive Board shall re-schedule the meeting as soon as reasonably possible. Notice thereof shall be provided to the membership by the Secretary/Treasurer.
4. Thirty percent (30%) of the voting members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at all Board meetings.
5. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board.In addition, the President shall call a special meeting within 14 days of presentation to, and verification by, the Secretary/Treasurer of a petition requesting a special meeting signed by a majority of the voting members in good standing. At least 72 hours prior to the commencement of any special meeting the Secretary/Treasurer shall give notice to the membership of the date, time and location of the meeting and the matter or matters to be considered at the meeting.No business shall be transacted other than that for which the meeting was called, and business related thereto.
6. Only voting members (regular members not on probation) in good standing may cast votes at meetings.All votes shall be cast in person, except that voting members in good standing may deliver to the Secretary/Treasurer prior to the commencement of a meeting their vote or votes for changes to the Constitution or By-Laws being considered and their vote or votes for persons seeking any office to be voted upon at such meeting.Votes delivered to the Secretary/Treasurer must be in writing, signed physically or electronically by the voting member, and must clearly state the candidate(s) for whom each voteis cast and the office for which each vote is cast, or must state clearly a vote for or against an identifiable proposed change to the Constitution or By-Laws.Votes may be delivered to the Secretary/Treasurer by hand delivery, by U.S. Mail, by facsimile, by e-mail, or by overnight carrier.

Article II:Officers’ Duties

Section 1: Duties of the President

The President shall:

1. Preside at all meetings of the Board and the Executive Board.
2. Call Special Meetings of the Board as provided herein.
3. Appoint and/orremove the members of all standingcommittees as specified in the Constitution and By-Laws.Appoint and/or remove the members of such other committees as he deems necessary. Designate the Chairman and other officers, if any, of all committees. Specifycommittee meeting frequency and timing, or direct the Chairman to do so.
4. Have the authority to sign checks in the absence of, or at the request of, the Secretary/Treasurer, and shall co-sign checks as required.
5. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees except theNominating Committee and the Grievance Committee.
6. Appoint a voting member in good standing toreconcile all monthly bank statements not less frequentlythan bi-monthly.
7. Negotiate new contracts, renewal contracts and fees.
8. Have the authority to refer matters to the GrievanceCommittee for investigation.
9. Be exempt from the payment of dues during his term in office.

Section 2:Duties of the Vice President

The Vice President shall:

1. Assume the office of President in the event of a vacancy and complete the current term.
2. Assume the duties of President in the absence of the President and when so requested by the President.
3. Have the authority to sign checks in the absence of, or at therequest of, the Secretary/Treasurer, and have the authority to co-sign checks.
4. Be sure by April first of each year that the Secretary/Treasurer’s bond remains in effect.
5. Coordinate the Board’s recruiting efforts and securemembers’ assistance as needed.
6. Be exempt from the payment of dues during his term inoffice.

Section 3:Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer shall:

1. Make and keep minutes of all meetings of the Board andpresent at each regular meeting a report of the activities of the Executive Board since the previous regular meeting.
2. Maintain a complete and accurate roster of the membership,take attendance at meetings and keep records thereof.
3. Issue and receive correspondence on behalf of the Board.
4. Be custodian of all funds of the Board, and pay all just debts of the Board.
5. Present a written statement of the Board’s receipts anddisbursements at each regular meeting.
6. Sign all checks and obtain co-signatures on checks greaterthan $200.00.
7. Collect all monies due to the Board, except in the cases of fines where good cause is shown.
8. By April first of each year be bonded in an amountdetermined by the Executive Board.
9. Submit to the Board a proposed budget for each calendar year.
10. Except in those instances where good cause is shown, levyfines for failure to fulfill meeting attendance requirements.
11. Distribute to members compensation statements andinvoices. Distribute to, and collect from, members all sumsdue.
12. Provide all notices required by, or consistent with, the Constitution and By-Laws, including publication by February 15th of each year of The Blue News.
13. Disburse to members in need not more than $100, or such other sum as directed by the Executive Board.
14. Maintain accounting records for not less than seven years, maintain insurance records, and order rule books annually.
15. Maintain all bank accounts in good order and submit records bi-monthly to the person designated by the President to audit records.
16. Be exempt from the payment of dues during his term in office and receive $10.00 per member per annum. For purposes of this calculation, members shall be counted on September first of each year

Section 4: Duties of the Commissioners

All commissioners shall:

1. Propose all game assignments for review by the Assignment Committee prior to publication.
2. Make and keep complete records of all games umpired and allumpires assigned.
3. Except in those instances where good cause is shown, assessfines related to refusal of, turn back of, and non-appearance at, games. Transmit to the Secretary/Treasurer for collectionthe amount of all fines assessed. The burden ofdemonstrating good cause shall be upon the members. TheCommissioner is authorized, but not required, to investigate related circumstances.
4. After publication of the season’s assignments, assign, unassign, and reassign umpires as necessary for coverage and as necessary to provide umpires of appropriate abilityfor each game.
5. Provided that the Board’s ability to fulfill its contractual obligations is not adversely affected, assign umpires to additional games and to additional leagues within theBoard’s geographic area.
6. Provided that the Board’s ability to fulfill its contractual obligations is not adversely affected, provide assistance to Commissioners of other State Boards upon request.
7. When the Board cannot reasonably meet all of itsobligations to provide umpiring services, request assistancefrom Commissioners of other State Boards.
8. The Commissioners shall provide reports to the ExecutiveBoard as requested by the Executive Board.

The Spring Commissioner shall assign all games scheduled through June 5th and the remainder of games in leagues andassociations beginning play before that date, shall be exemptfrom payment of dues during his term in office, and shall receive six and one-half percent (6.5%) of the fees paid byclients for the services of umpires assigned by him.

The Summer Commissioner shall assign all other games scheduled through August 31stand the remainder of games in leagues and associations beginning play before that date, shallbe exempt from payment of dues during his term in office, and shall receive seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of fees paid by clients for the services of umpires assigned by him.

The Fall Commissioner shall assign all other games on and after September 1st, shall be exempt from payment of dues during his term in office, and shall receive seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of fees paid by clients for the services of umpires assigned by him.

Section 5:Duties of Interpreter

The Interpreter shall:

1. Rule on all matters of rule interpretation and mechanics used by the Board.
2. Present the annual rules and mechanics clinic in March.
3. Develop a continuing curriculum for the membership.
4. Solicit input from the Evaluation Committee for areas ofconcern or misinterpretation.
5. Maintain a manual of mechanics used by the Board.
6. Work with the training committee in obtaining and using training materials.
7. Be compensated for reasonable expenses incurred in thepurchase of training materials.
8. Be exempt from the payment of dues during his term in office.

Article III: Elections

Section 1

The Officers and two or three at large members of the Executive Board shall be elected by written ballot or by acclamation at the Annual Meeting in even numbered years.

Candidates for office shall include:

1. Candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee.
2. Nominees from the floor.
3. Elected candidates shall assume their offices on December 1stnext following the election.
4. A simple majority of members voting shall determine each election.

Article IV:Duties of Executive Board and Committees

Section 1:Duties of Executive Board

The Executive Board shall:

1. Have control of the affairs of the Board, except when a quorum of members is present at a meeting.
2. Have the authority to call a meeting of the Board.
3. Have the authority to suspend a member until that matter is voted upon at a meeting of the Board.
4. Have the authority to reinstate a member suspended by the Executive Board.
5. Have the authority to recommend to the membership mandatory and optional uniform, equipment and appearance requirements.
6. Have the authority to investigate such matters as come to its attention and to refer any matter to the Grievance Committee for investigation.
7. Have the authority to purchase, and pay the premium for, such insurance as it from time to time deems appropriate.

Section 2:Duties of Assignment Committee

Prior to publication of each season’s assignments:

1. Review with the Commissioner at a meeting, the assignment of umpires and make adjustments to those assignments as necessary.
2. Review the number of games, and distribution of level of games, assigned to each umpire. Make assignment adjustments based upon that review.
3. Within 10 days after publication of the schedule, receive from members objections to their schedules and any supporting materials provided. Objections may not address individual game assignments or game locations. Objections must be confined to the total number of assignments and/or the overall mix of assignment levels, but not the teams assigned within a level.
4. Investigate each objection and take any action determined to be appropriate.

All decisions of the Assignment Committee shall be final and shall not be the subject of a grievance.

Section 3:Duties of Auditing Committee

1. Audit all books annually prior to March 1st and present its report at the next regular meeting.
2. Audit all books at any time upon request of the President or the Executive Board.

Section 4:Duties of the Evaluation Committee

The Evaluation Committee shall:

1. Prior to January 10th of each year each Commissioner shall provide to the Evaluation Committee a recommended ranking for each umpire.
2. Prior to January 31st of each year the Evaluation Committee shall establish the ranking of each umpire, based upon previous evaluations, Committee Members’ observations, and any input solicited or received from Commissioners, coaches, other members of the Board or other sources, and shall notify each member of his ranking as established by the Evaluation Committee, and shall notify the Commissioners and the Assignment Committee of the ranking of each member.
3. Prior to February 7th of each year any member objecting to his established ranking may so notify the Chairman of the Evaluation Committee in writing and provide any supporting materials he so desires.The Evaluation Committee shall investigate each objection, including an interview of the objecting member by one or more members of the Committee designated by the Chairman.
4. Prior to February 21st of each year the Evaluation Committee shall confirm or change the ranking of each objecting member and so notify the member, the Commissioners and the Assignment Committee.
5. The decision of the Evaluation committee shall be final and shall not be the subject of a grievance.
6. Conduct an evaluation of all second year probationary members.
7. Conduct as soon as reasonably possible an evaluation of all members designated by the President for evaluation.
8. Conduct as soon as reasonably possible an evaluation of any member requesting that he be evaluated, provided that the member has not made more than one prior request for evaluation during the preceding 12 months.

All evaluations shall be conducted by one or more members of the Evaluation Committee designated by the Chairman. The method of evaluation and the format of the evaluation report shall be prescribed in Procedures of the Evaluation Committee, as drafted by the Evaluation Committee and approved by the Executive Board. Copies of all evaluation reports shall be given to the member evaluated and to the Commissioners. Copies of all evaluation reports shall be maintained by the Evaluation Committee.

The Evaluation Committee may revise the ranking of any member at any time based upon the criteria enumerated in paragraph 1 above, and so notify the member, the Commissioners and the Assignment Committee.

The Evaluation Committee shall also:

1. In consultation with the Commissioners, recommend to the membership any changes in status of recruits and probationary members.
2. In consultation with the Commissioners require additional training of probationary members.
3. In consultation with the Commissioners recommend additional training for members.
4. Be exempt during their term of service on the Evaluation Committee from the payment of up to 100% of dues as determined for each member by the Committee Chairman based upon his participation, and as approved by the Executive Board.

Section 5:Duties of the Grievance Committee

The Grievance Committee shall investigate all properly filed grievances, as permitted by the Constitution and By-Laws, and all matters referred to the Committee by the President or the Executive Board.

The Grievance Committee shall develop, and present to the Executive Board for approval, procedures and documents (Procedures) to be used in the grievance process. All members submitting a grievance shall do so in compliance with the Procedures.The Grievance Committee may request documents and information from all complainants, all respondents, all other members and any other persons who may have relevant information. All members shall comply fully and promptly with such requests.The Grievance Committee may act by subcommittee and shall conduct such investigation as it deems appropriate. All complainants shall be interviewed in person if they so request or if the Grievance Committee so requests. Upon completion of its investigation, the Grievance Committee shall report its findings of fact and recommendations to the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall be free to follow the Grievance Committee’s recommendations in whole, in part or not at all.

Section 6:Duties of the Honorary Committee

1. Propose for approval by the Executive Board all awards to be given and criteria for the selection of recipients of all awards presented by the Board.
2. Present to the Board at the June meeting nominees for awards, if such awards are warranted. At that meeting other nominations may be offered from the floor, and the membership shall vote upon each nomination.

 

Exonerate the member.

Reprimand the member.

Restrict the member.

Place the member on probationary status.

Refer the matter to the membership with a recommendationthat the member be suspended or expelled.

Article IX: Reinstatement

Section 1:

A suspended member may apply for reinstatement by written request to the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall make a recommendation to the membership, which may include reinstatement to full membership, reinstatement to probationary status, or denial of the request. A majority of members votingshall act upon the request.

Article X: Applicants and Membership

Section 1:

Applicants for membership must file an application formembership on a form prescribed by the Executive Board,accompanied by payment of the first year’s dues.

Section 2:

If the applicant does not pass the required evaluations, the dues shall be refunded.Only applicants who pass the required evaluations shall be allowed to umpire games as ProbationaryMembers.

Article XI: Probationary Membership

Section 1:

Probationary members shall attend meetings, except when excused for portions thereof by the President, and have a voice,but not a vote.

Article XII: Leaves of Absence

Section 1:

A member may request by writing to the Secretary/Treasurer a leave of absence for any period of time up to five (5) years. The Secretary/Treasurer shall make a recommendation to the membership and the membership shall act upon the request by amajority of those voting at a meeting.

Section 2:

A member desiring to terminate a leave of absence and be reinstated to membership shall make, within the period of the leave of absence, an application in writing to theSecretary/Treasurer, accompanied by payment of the currentyear’s dues and any monies due to the Board at the time the leave of absence was commenced. The Secretary/Treasurer shall make a recommendation to the membership and the membership shall act upon the request by a majority of those voting at a meeting. The Board may reinstate the member toregular membership or probationary status.

Article XIII: General Provisions

Section 1: Notices

All notices required by, or consistent with, the Constitution and By-Laws may be sent by:

1. U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, to the last address provided to the Secretary/Treasurer by a member.
2. By facsimile to the last facsimile telephone number provided to the Secretary/Treasurer by a member.
3. By e-mail to the last e-mail address provided to the Secretary/Treasurer by a member.
4. By hand delivery.
5. By nationally recognized overnight carrier to the last address provided to the Secretary/Treasurer by a member.
6. By any combination of the methods set forth above.

Section 2:Conduct of Business by the Executive Board and Committees.

Action by the Executive Board and by Committees may be taken by vote at meetings of the Executive Board or Committee, or by votes cast by e-mail and/or by telephone. Actions taken at meetings may be taken by affirmative vote of a majority of the members voting, provided that a quorum is present. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be 5 members. A quorum of a Committee shall be a majority of the incumbent members. Actions taken by e-mail and/or by telephone may be taken by affirmative vote of a majority of incumbent members of the Executive Board or Committee.

Section 3: Construction.

All references to gender shall be construed to mean male and female.

References to number shall be construed to mean singular or plural, as appropriate.

Section 4:

Within 30 days of appointment, and periodically thereafter as deemed necessary, the Chairman of each Committee shall submit to the Executive Board for approval proposed procedures for operation of the committee. Such procedures shall be effective upon approval.

Article XIV: Effective Date

Section 1:

Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall becomeeffective upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members voting at a meeting, unless another effective date is set forth within such amendment.

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