By-Laws
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BY-LAWS OF SUMMERBROOKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - NAME AND LOCATIONThe name of the association is SUMMERBROOKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (hereinafter referred to as the "Association"). The principal office of the Association (until otherwise designated by the Board) (as hereinafter defined) shall be located at 3790 Data Drive, Suite 2, Norcross, GA 30092, but meetings of Members and directors may be held at such other places within the state of Georgia, County of Cobb, as may be designated by the Board.
ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONSUnless otherwise set forth herein, the terms used in these By-Laws shall have the same meanings ascribed to such terms as set forth in the Declaration of Covenants, Restrictions, and Easements for Summerbrooke, dated as of January 2,1996, which has been executed by Beazer Homes Georgia, Inc., with respect to a community known as Summerbrooke, and is to be executed by duly authorized officers of the Association, and is to be filed for record in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, as such Declaration may be amended from time to time, and which Declaration is incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE III - MEETINGS3.1 Annual Meeting of Members: The regular annual meeting of the Members shall be held not later than six (6). months past the end of the fiscal year of the Association, on a date (which is not a legal holiday) and at such place within the State of Georgia, as shall be designated in the call of meeting pursuant to section 3.3 below. If no such date is designated, the annual meeting shall be held on the third Monday in March, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next business day succeeding. The Members shall at such annual meeting elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year, in the manner provided in Article IV hereof, and shall have authority to transact any and all business which may be brought before such meeting.
3.2 Special Meetinq of Members: Special meetings of Members shall be held at such place within the State of Georgia as shall be designated in the call of the meeting. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time and must be called by the President when so requested in writing by any two (2) directors or by twenty-five (25%) percent of the Class A Membership.
3.3 Notice of Meetings: Written notice of the place, date, and time of every annual or special meeting of members shall be mailed to each Member, at least fifteen (15) days before such meeting. Each Member shall register his address with the Association, and notices of meetings shall be mailed to him at such address, and if no such address has been registered, at the last-known address of the Member. If for a special meeting, such notice shall state the purposes or objects of the meeting.. It shall not be necessary that notice of an annual meeting specify the business to be transacted at such meeting, but such notice shall specify the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting.
3.4 Quorum: Unless otherwise provided in the Declaration, a quorum at any meeting of Members, whether annual or special, shall consist of the presence at such meeting, in person or by proxy, of Members entitled to cast one tenth (1/10) of the votes of each Class of Membership. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation of the Association, or in the Declaration, or in these By-Laws, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all Members present at a meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to decide and act upon any question which shall come before the meeting. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present.
3.5 Voting: Voting rights of Members shall be as set forth in the Declaration. Where any Member is a group or entity other than one individual person, the vote on behalf of such Member shall be exercised only by such individual person as shall be designated in a proxy instrument duly executed by or on behalf of such Member, and delivered to the Secretary of the Association.
ARTICLE IV - DIRECTORS4.1 Number: The affairs of this Association shall be managed by an initial Board of three (3) directors, who need not be Members of the Association, and who shall be appointed and removed in accordance with Section 3.08 of the Declaration until the date specified in Section 3.08 of the Declaration. The Board shall be increased as provided in Section 4.2 hereof, and once the control of the Association passes to the Class A Members, as provided in the Declaration, the affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Board of not less than five (5) nor more than nine (9) directors.
4.2 Term of Office: At the first annual meeting after control of the Association has passed to the Class A Membership, the Board shall be increased to five (5) directors in accordance with the following procedure. At that meeting, the Members shall elect three (3) directors to serve a two (2) year term, and two (2) directors to serve a one (1) year term. Thereafter, successor directors shall be elected for two (2) year terms. All directors shall hold office until their successors have been elected. The number of directors may be changed by amendment to this provision of the By-Laws.
4.3 Removal: Once the control of the Association passes to the Class A Members as provided in the Declaration, any director may be removed from the Board, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Members of the Association. In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of a director, his successor shall be selected by the remaining members of the Board and shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor.
4.4 Compensation: No director shall receive compensation for any service he may render to the Association. However, any director may be reimbursed for his actual expenses incurred in the performance of his duties.
4.5 Action Taken Without a Meeting: The directors shall have the right to take any action in the absence of a meeting which they could take at a meeting by obtaining the written approval of all the directors. Any action so approved shall have the same effect as though taken at a meeting of the directors.
4.6 Nomination: Nomination for elected members to the Board of Directors shall be made by a Nominating Committee. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a Chairman, who shall be a member of the Board of Directors, and two or more Members of the Association. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors prior to each annual meeting of the Members, to serve from the close of such annual meeting until the close of the next annual meeting and such appointment shall be announced at each annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall make as many nominations for election to the Board of Directors as it shall in its discretion determine, but not less than the number of vacancies that are to be filled.
4.7 Election: Election to the Board of Directors shall be by secret written ballot. At such election the Members or their proxies may cast, in respect to each vacancy, as many votes as they are entitled to exercise under the provisions of the Declaration. The persons receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected. Cumulative voting is not permitted.
4.8 Regular Meetinqs of Directors: Regular meetings of the Board of. Directors shall- be held monthly without notice, at such place and hour as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board. Should such meeting fall upon a legal holiday, then that meeting shall be held at the same time on the next day which is not a legal holiday.
4.9 Special Meetinqs of Directors: Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place within the State of Georgia as shall be designated in the call of such meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at any time in his discretion, and must be called by the President whenever so requested in writing by two (2) members of the Board of Directors.
4.10 Notice of Meetings: Notices of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given by the President or the Secretary to each member of the Board, not less than three (3) days before the time at, which such meetings are to convene. Said notices may be given by telephone, or by any other form of written or verbal communication. It shall not be necessary for notices of special meetings of the Board of Directors to state the purposes or objects of the meetings. The Directors may waive notice of any meeting. Action may be taken by the Directors without a meeting if such action is consented to in writing by all of the Directors.
4.11 Quorum: A quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation of the Association, or in these By-Laws, or in the Declaration, a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present may decide all questions which may come before the meeting.
4.12 Powers: The Board of Directors shall have power to:
(a) adopt and publish rules and regulations governing the use of the Common Property and facilities, and the personal conduct of the Members and their guests thereon, and establish penalties for the infraction thereof;
(b) suspend the voting rights and right to use of the recreational facilities of a Member during any period in which such Member shall be in default in the payment of any assessment levied by the Association; such rights may also be suspended after notice and hearing, for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days for infraction of published rules and regulations;
(c) exercise for the Association all powers, duties, and authority vested in or delegated to the Association and not reserved to the membership by other provisions of these By-Laws, the Articles of Incorporation, or the Declaration;
(d) declare the office of a member of the Board of Directors to be vacant in the event such member shall be absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Directors; and
(e) employ a manager, an independent contractor, or such other employees as they deem necessary, and prescribe their duties.
4.13 Duties: It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to:
(a) cause to be kept a complete record of all its acts and corporate affairs and to present a statement thereof to the Members at the annual meeting of the Members, or at any special meeting when such statement is requested in writing by one fourth (1/4) of the Class A Members who are entitled to vote;
(b) supervise all officers, agents, and employees of this Association, and see that their duties are properly performed;
(c) as more fully provided in the Declaration:(1) fix the amount of the annual assessment against each Lot at least thirty (30) days in advance of each annual assessment period;
(2) send written notice of each assessment to every Owner subject thereto at least thirty (30) days in advance of each annual assessment period; and
(3) foreclose the lien against any property for which assessments are not paid within thirty (30) days after due date or bring an action at law against the Owner personally obligated to pay the same;
(d) issue, or cause an appropriate officer to issue, upon demand by any person, a certificate setting forth whether or not any assessment has been paid; a reasonable charge may be made by the Board for the issuance of these certificates; if a certificate states an assessment has been paid, such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of such payment;
(e) procure and maintain adequate property insurance on property owned by the Association, as provided in Article XI of the Declaration;
(f) cause all officers or employees having fiscal responsibilities to be bonded, as required by Article XI, Section 11.07, of the Declaration; and
(g) cause the Association to carry out all of duties and obligations under the Declaration.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES5.1 Enumeration of Officers: The officers of the Association shall be a President and Vice-President, who shall at all times be members of the Board of Directors, a secretary, and a treasurer, and such other officers as the Board may from time to time by resolution create.
5.2 Election of Officers: The election of officers shall take place at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following each annual meeting of the Members.
5.3 Term: The officers of the Association shall be elected annually by the Board and each shall hold office for one (1) year unless he shall sooner resign, or be removed, or otherwise be disqualified to serve.
5.4 Special Appointments: The Board may elect such other officers as the affairs of the Association may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as the Board may, from time to time, determine.
5.5 Resignation and Remove: Any officer may be removed from office with or without cause by the Board. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the President, or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect on the date of receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
5.6 Vacancies: A vacancy in any office may be filled by appointment by the Board. The officer appointed to such vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of the officer he replaces.
5.7 Multiple Offices: The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person. No person shall simultaneously hold more than one of any of the other offices except in the case of special offices created pursuant to Section 5.4 of this Article.5.8 Duties: The duties of the officers are as follows:
(a) President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members and of the Board of Directors; shall see that orders and resolutions of the Board are carried out; shall sign all leases, mortgages, deeds, and other written instruments; and shall co-sign all checks and promissory notes.
(b) Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act in the place and stead of the President in the event of his absence, or his in ability or refusal to act, and shall exercise and discharge such other duties as may be required of him by the Board.
(c) Secretary: The Secretary shall record the votes and keep the minutes of all meetings and proceedings of the Board and of the Members; shall keep the corporate seal of the Association and affix it on all papers requiring said seal; shall serve notice of meetings of the Board and of the Members; shall keep appropriate current records showing the Members of the Association, together with their addresses; and shall perform such other duties as required by the Board.
(d) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive and deposit in appropriate bank accounts all monies of the Association and shall disburse such funds as directed by resolution of the Board of Directors; shall sign all checks and promissory notes of the Association; shall keep proper books of account; shall, after control of the Association has passed to the Class A Membership, cause an annual audit of the Association books to be made by a public accountant at the completion of each fiscal year; and shall prepare an annual budget and a statement of income and expenditures to be presented to the Membership at its regular annual meeting, and shall deliver a copy of each to the Members.
ARTICLE VI - SEAL6.1 Corporate Seal: The corporate seal of the Association shall be in the following form, to-wit:
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and the seal in such form is hereby adopted as the corporate seal of the Association.
ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS7.1 The Declaration: All provisions contained in the Declaration with regard to rights, powers, and duties of the Association, the Members thereof (including, without limitation, classes of Members and qualifications and rights of the members of each class), and the Board of Directors thereof, are hereby incorporated into these By-Laws by this reference, with the same effect as if such provisions were fully set forth herein.
7.2 Committees: The Association shall appoint an Architectural Control Committee, as provided in the Declaration, and a Nominating committee, as provided in these By-Laws. In addition, the Board of Directors shall appoint other committees as deemed appropriate in carrying out its purposes.
7.3 Books and Records: The books and records of the Association shall at all times, during reasonable business hours, be open for inspection by any Member of the Association and any institutional holder, insurer or guarantor of a first mortgage.
7.4 Indemnification: The Association shall indemnify any person made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he, his testator, or intestate, is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Association, against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense of the action, suit, or proceeding or in connection with any appeal in it. This right of indemnification shall not apply in relation to matters as to which the director, officer, or employee shall be adjudged in the action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of any duty to the Association. The right to indemnification conferred by this Section shall not restrict the power of the Association to make any other indemnification permitted by law.
7.5 Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the Association shall be determined by resolution of the Board. In the absence of such a resolution, the fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
7.6 Parliamentary Rules: Roberts Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern the conduct of all Association proceedings, when not in conflict with Georgia law, the Articles of Incorporation, the Declaration, these By-Laws, or a ruling made by the person presiding over the proceeding.
7.7 Conflicts: If there are conflicts or inconsistencies between the provisions of Georgia law, the Articles of Incorporation, the Declaration, or these By-Laws, then the provisions of Georgia law, the Declaration, the Articles of Incorporation, and these By-Laws (in that order) shall prevail.
7.8 Notices: Unless otherwise specified in the Declaration or By-Laws, all notices, demands, bills, statements, or other communications required or permitted to be sent under the Declaration or these By-Laws shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally or if sent by first class mail, postage prepaid:
(a) if to a Member, at the address which the Member has registered in writing and filed with the Secretary or, if no such address has been registered, at the last-known address of the Member; or
(b) if to the Association, the Board of Directors, or the managing agent, at the principal office of the Association or the managing agent, if any, or at such other address as shall be designated by notice in writing to the Members.
If there are multiple Owners of a single piece of property, notice to one (1) shall be deemed notice to all.
7.9 Amendment: The provisions of the Declaration applicable to amendment of that instrument shall apply to any amendment to these By-Laws.
7.10 Fining Procedure: The Board shall not impose a fine (a late charge shall not constitute a fine) unless and until the following procedure is followed:
(a) Demand: Written demand to cease and desist from an alleged violation shall be served upon the alleged violator specifying:
(1) the alleged violation;
(2) the action required to abate the violation; and
(3) a time period, not less than ten (10) days, during which the violation may be abated without further sanction, if such violation is a continuing one, or a statement that any further violation of the same rule may result in the imposition of a finee, if the violation is not a continuing one; the Board or its designee may demand immediate abatement in such circumstances which, in the Board's determination, pose a danger to safety or property.
(b) Notices: Within twelve (12) months of such demand, if the violation continues past the period allowed in the demand for abatement without penalty, or if the same rule is subsequently violated, the Board may, upon notice, impose a fine. The notice shall state:
(1) the nature of the alleged violation;
(2) that the alleged violator may, within ten (10) days from the date of the notice, request a hearing regarding the fine;
(3) that any statement, evidence, and witnesses may be produced by the alleged violator at the hearing; and
(4) that all rights to have the fine reconsidered are waived if a hearing is not requested within ten (10) days of the date of the notice.
(c) Hearing: If a hearing is requested, it shall be held before the Board in executive session, and the alleged violator shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The minutes of the meeting shall contain a written statement of the results of the hearing.
EXHIBIT C
All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lots 141, 163 and 164 of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County, Georgia, and being more particularly described as Tract B and Tract G on a Boundary Plat prepared for Brookstone Partners and UDC Homes, Inc., by Herndon Surveying & Design, Inc., dated March 14, 1994, revised May 2, 1994.
ALSO:
All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lots 141, 163 and 164 of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County, Georgia, and being more particularly described as Tract A and the areas shown as Possible area of Right-of-Way Take (1.31 Ac.), on a Boundary Plat prepared for Brookstone Partners and UDC homes, Inc., by Herndon Surveying & Design, Inc., dated March 14, 1994, revised May 2, 1994, Less and except all the property shown on Exhibit C-1, attached hereto.
EXHIBIT C-1
TRACTS 1 AND IV
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND lying and being in Land Lots 141, 163, and 164 of the 20th District, 2nd Section, Cobb County, Georgia, and being more particularly described as follows:
BEGINNING AT A POINT at the intersection of the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road (having a right-of-way width of 40 feet at this point) and the northern land lot line of Land Lot 164; RUNNING THENCE south 88 degrees 29 minutes 37 seconds east along the northern land lot line of Land Lot 164 at a distance of 582.51 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 02 degrees 14 minutes 32 seconds east a distance of 380.66 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 40 degrees 26 minutes 43 seconds east a distance of 11.78 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 32 degrees 08 minutes 27 seconds east a distance of 114.85 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 27 degrees 08 minutes 24 seconds east a distance of 110.53 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 19 degrees 40 minutes 07 seconds east a distance of 80.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 27 degrees 07 minutes 14 seconds east a distance of 66.42 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 32 degrees 25 minutes 24 seconds east a distance of 85.69 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 23 degrees 20 minutes 44 seconds east a distance of 285.65 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 50 degrees 35 minutes 47 seconds west a distance of 122.91 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 22 degrees 19 minutes 53 seconds west a distance of 160.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 00 degrees 01 minute 13 seconds west a distance of 163.71 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 89 degrees 58 minutes 47 seconds west a distance of 196.38 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 00 degrees 05 minutes 11 seconds east a distance of 70.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 65 degrees 03 minutes 42 seconds west a distance of 138.83 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 73 degrees 40 minutes 07 seconds west a distance of 160.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 89 degrees 48 minutes 43 seconds west a distance of 152.32 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 73 degrees 40 minutes 07 seconds west a distance of 50.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 16 degrees 19 minutes 53 seconds west a distance of 70.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 76 degrees 31 minutes 22 seconds west a distance of 290.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 46 degrees 16 minutes 12 seconds west a distance of 336.09 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 48 degrees 05 minutes 12 seconds west a distance of 29.23 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 71 degrees 43 minutes 49 seconds west a distance of 65.33 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 81 degrees 49 minutes 22 seconds west a distance of 84.84 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE south 28 degrees 43 minutes 53 seconds west a distance of 39.74 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 56 degrees 09 minutes 58 seconds west a distance of 78.20 feet to a point on the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road; RUNNING THENCE north 36 degrees 28 minutes 07 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 96.62 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 40 degrees 19 minutes 30 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 144.58 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 38 degrees 15 minutes 33 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 137.89 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 33 degrees 57 minutes 10 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 180.00 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 33 degrees 51 minutes 40 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 205.01 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 35 degrees 54 minutes 11 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 275.45 feet to a point; RUNNING THENCE north 33 degrees 47 minutes 28 seconds east along the southeastern margin of the right-of-way of Mack Dobbs Road a distance of 148.97 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING; said parcel containing 19.991 acres; all as shown and delineated on Boundary Survey for Summerbrooke, Phase I, prepared by Travis Pruitt & Associates, P.C. (Travis H Pruitt, Sr., Georgia Registered Land Surveyor #1729), dated June 24, 1994.
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