Article IV - Trustees. SECTION 4.02 - Qualifications.


Any Trustee or Trustee candidate must comply with this Bylaw.
1) General Trustee Qualifications. A Trustee or Trustee candidate must:
a. Be a natural person and at least 18 years of age;
b. Have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts;
c. While a Trustee and during the 365 days immediately preceding the Trustee election, maintain their primary residential abode within the boundaries of the applicable residential Trustee District;
d. While a Trustee, and during the twenty-five (25) years immediately prior to becoming a Trustee, not:

  • Be, nor have been, convicted of a felony; or

  • Plead, nor have pled, guilty to a felony.

 

2) Membership Qualifications. While a Trustee, and during the 365 days immediately prior to becoming a Trustee, a Trustee or Trustee candidate must:
a. Be a Member using, receiving, and purchasing electric service from the Cooperative at the Trustee’s or Trustee candidate’s primary residence; and
b. Be a member in good standing, e.g, current in all respects regarding payment to the Cooperative of Additional Payments and obligations, and not be subject to disconnection for non-payment of electric service at the Trustee or Trustee candidate’s primary residence.
 

3) Conflict of Interest Disqualification. A Trustee or Trustee candidate must not be or have been:
a. A spouse or Close Relative of any existing Trustee, Cooperative employee, or Cooperative subsidiary employee;
b. Employed by, materially affiliated with, or share a material financial interest with, any other Trustee;
c. Engaged in, nor employed by, materially affiliated with, or have a material financial interest in, any individual or entity:

  • Directly and substantially competing with the Cooperative or any Cooperative subsidiary; or

  • Possessing a substantial conflict of interest with the Cooperative or any Cooperative subsidiary.

d. Previously subject to an involuntary separation of employment from the Cooperative or any Cooperative subsidiary; or
e. While a Trustee or during the five (5) years immediately prior to becoming a Trustee, employed by the Cooperative or any Cooperative subsidiary, or engaged contractually (as an employee, principal, owner, partner, or shareholder, except through passive investment) with a firm that contracts with the Cooperative or any Cooperative subsidiary as a prime or sub-contractor.
 

4) Continuing Qualifications. Only natural persons complying with the General Trustee Qualifications and the Membership Qualifications, and not disqualified due to a Conflict of Interest Disqualification may serve, or continue to serve, as a Trustee.
a. Within a reasonable period of time after becoming a Trustee, and unless excused by the Board for good cause, a Trustee is expected to receive a Trustee’s Certificate or similar certification of education and training as specified by the Board;
b. Unless excused for good cause by the Board or Members, a Trustee shall attend at least two-thirds (2/3) of all Board meetings during any calendar year;
c. Trustees shall maintain the physical and mental capacity to perform the essential functions of the role of Trustee, with or without reasonable accommodation; and
d. Trustees shall comply with any other reasonable qualifications determined by the Board.

 

SECTION 4.06 - Nominations.

Any fifty (50) or more members of the Cooperative, acting together, may make additional nominations in writing over their signatures, listing their nominee(s) in like manner and filing the same with the Cooperative not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting. To obtain a petition form, please contact the cooperative's attorney, Jack Williams at Williams & Hulst, LLC, 209 E Main St, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, 843-761-8232.