LAWTON –The FISTA Development Trust Authority recently updated its rules concerning unexcused absences, requiring trustees to attend at least 70% of the authority’s regular meetings within a continuously rolling 12-month period.
The authority voted unanimously Sept. 3 to amend its bylaws to reflect changes in the board’s attendance policy.
The amended bylaws will bring the authority in line with the attendance policies for other organizations of the same size, said President and CEO Dr. Krista Ratliff.
“That has been updated to they (the trustees) must attend 70% of trust meetings, or they cannot miss three consecutive meetings,” she said. “It’s not an ‘and.’ It’s ‘or.’” The amendment stipulates that trustees may not miss more than three consecutive regular meetings in a 12-month period without being excused by the authority’s chairman, for any reason other than official city business. If a trustee skips more than three meetings during that time, their position will be deemed vacant and someone will be appointed to complete their unexpired term.
The amendment should include a specific time frame to eliminate confusion, said Richard Rogalski, executive director of the Lawton Economic Development Authority.
“Otherwise, I could just say, ‘Well, it’s been over 10 years. I’ll make it up later,’” he said.