BY-LAWS of the LAKESHORE COMPANY
Incorporated Under the Laws of the
State of New Jersey
Revised February 2, 2012
Table of
Contents
ARTICLE I.
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE II.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE III. STOCKHOLDERS' ANNUAL MEETING
ARTICLE IV.
STOCKHOLDERS' SPECIAL MEETINGS
ARTICLE V.
SHARES OF STOCK
ARTICLE VI.
SALE OF ASSETS
ARTICLE VII. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS
ARTICLE VIII. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
ARTICLE IX.
QUORUM AT STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
ARTICLE X.
VOTE OF JOINT OWNERS
ARTICLE XI.
ORDER OF BUSINESS AT STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
ARTICLE XII. MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE XIII. QUORUM AT DIRECTORS' MEETING
ARTICLE XIV. VACANCIES AMONG DIRECTORS
ARTICLE XV.
RULES OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE XVI. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
ARTICLE XVII. VACANCIES AMONG THE OFFICERS
ARTICLE XVIII. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
ARTICLE XIX. DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENT
ARTICLE XX.
DUTIES OF SECRETARY
ARTICLE XXI. DUTIES OF TREASURER
ARTICLE XXII. PROXIES
ARTICLE XXIII. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
ARTICLE XXIV. TRANSFER OF STOCK
ARTICLE XXV. EXAMINATION OF ASSETS
ARTICLE XXVI. DIVIDENDS
ARTICLE XXVII. BOOKS
ARTICLE XXVIII. BANK ACCOUNT
ARTICLE XXIX. COMMON SEAL
ARTICLE XXX. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS LIABILITIES
ARTICLE XXXI. AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE XXXII. POWER TO CONTRACT
ARTICLE I. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The
business of the company shall be managed by a board of at least three (3)
directors.
ARTICLE II. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
directors shall be elected by the stockholders at each annual meeting and shall
hold their office until their successors have been elected by the stockholders.
At least 15
days prior to the annual meeting, the existing board of directors shall present
written notice to the stockholders of a slate of no less than three (3)
prospective directors for election at the annual meeting.
It is the
responsibility of the stockholders to vote to accept or reject the slate
presented by the existing board, and to vote to accept or reject any other
nominations made from the floor at the meeting, each slate or nomination being
voted on separately.
ARTICLE III. STOCKHOLDERS' ANNUAL MEETING
The fiscal
year of the company shall end on December 31st of each year. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall
be held on a date within the first 60 days of each new year as determined by
the board of directors, at the Company’s principal office; namely, the
Clubhouse of the Mt. Kemble Lake Association, at Mt. Kemble Lake, in Harding
Township, New Jersey. Fifteen (15) days
notice of all meetings, in writing, shall be given by mail, e-mail or direct
delivery to the stockholders.
The
president shall preside at said meeting; in his absence, the vice-president
shall preside; in the absence of both president and vice-president the
secretary or treasurer shall run the meeting; and in the absence of all
officers, the meeting shall elect one of their own number
to preside. Every stockholder present at
such meeting, in person or by proxy, shall be entitled to one vote.
ARTICLE IV. STOCKHOLDERS' SPECIAL MEETINGS
The
president or board of directors may at any time call a special meeting of the
stockholders, and the president shall call the same whenever requested to do so
by a majority in interest of the stockholders; such meeting shall be held at
the Company's principal office at Mt. Kemble Lake in Harding Township, New
Jersey, and shall be presided over by the president, or in his absence by the
vice-president, or in the absence of both, by the secretary or treasurer; and
in the absence of all officers, by a chairperson to be elected by the meeting.
ARTICLE V. SHARES OF STOCK
No share of
stock shall be issued to any person nor shall any person at any time be the
holder thereof, unless said person shall own and possess a fee simple title in
and to the real property situated in the tract of land, situate, lying and
being in the Township of Harding, Morris County, State of New Jersey, as shown
on a map, entitled: “Tax Maps TOWNSHIP OF HARDING, Morris County, N.J.” dated
March, 1953 (and as revised subsequently) for Blocks 36 through 45: nor shall
such person or stockholder be entitled to or hold at any time more than one
share of stock regardless of the number of lots or amount of real property so
owned by said person or shareholder in said tract.
Said one
share of stock when so issued and outstanding shall be transferable only to the
successor in title of the real property registered on the books of the
corporation as owned by the person to whom the stock is issued. Said stock shall be issued in the name or
names of the owners of the real property, as such ownership appears on the deed
or deeds to said real property. When the
real property is owned by a Trust or Corporation, the Trustee or Corporate
Officers shall designate a representative(s) in whose name(s) the share of
stock shall be issued.
In the
event that a shareholder of one share of stock as aforesaid, acquires in any
manner an additional share or shares of stock, such additional share or shares
of stock shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the Lakeshore Company to be held
in escrow until such time as the property to which one of the said shares of
stock was attached shall be transferred.
At that time the said share shall be transferred to the new owner,
provided the transfer is not in violation of any of the provisions of the
by-laws.
The said
one share of stock in each case shall be issued with respect to and shall cover
and attach to original dwelling plot of holder's property and all thereto
contiguous vacant real property of the shareholder in said tract. In the event that said contiguous property
shall be subdivided and conveyed to others or subdivided and improved by the
erection of a dwelling thereon, said share of stock shall remain with respect
to and shall cover and attach to the original dwelling plot of the shareholder
and such other contiguous land not severed or so subdivided. Contiguous real property shall include vacant
land on other side of roadways opposite to the aforesaid original dwelling plot
of shareholders.
One share
of stock may be issued by the Directors to a non-resident owner of vacant or
unimproved real property in said tract covering said vacant or unimproved real
property under the same conditions herein provided for a resident owner. Except that should such non-resident owner
erect a dwelling upon said vacant land, the share of stock of said nonresident
shall attach to the plot of land upon which said dwelling is erected and the
same so recorded upon the books of the corporation.
A
stockholder who ceases to own real property in-said tract, shall have no voice
in the affairs of the corporation and shall then be deprived of all rights and
privileges incident to the ownership of said stock, except the right to
transfer said stock to such stockholder's successor in title to the aforesaid
residence plot of the stockholder.
Joint
ownership, tenancy in common, and other forms of multiple ownership of real
property in said tract shall be considered one ownership and such owners shall
be entitled to no more than one share of said stock at any time. Problems and conflicts arising as the result
of enlargement or division, or both, of present and future real property
holdings of any stockholder, and similar matters, not otherwise herein
provided, shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of the stockholders present, in
person or by proxy, at an annual meeting, or a special meeting called for the
purpose, for which due notice of the problems or conflicts to be so decided
have been delivered or mailed to all stockholders ten days in advance of said annual
or special meeting.
ARTICLE VI. SALE OF ASSETS
No real
property of the corporation shall be sold or conveyed in any way without a
two-thirds vote of the stockholders present, in person or by proxy, at an
annual meeting, or a special meeting called for the purpose, for which due
notice of the proposed sale or conveyance has been delivered or mailed to all
stockholders ten days in advance of said annual or special meeting. Any other disposable asset of the corporation
(with a value of less than $5000) may be disposed of at the discretion of the
Board of Directors.
Any monies
derived from any real estate holdings of the corporation sold pursuant to the
requirements of this Article shall be placed in a conservative growth
investment and all investment earnings shall be re-invested in this
investment. The use of this money for
any purpose other than investment shall be governed by the requirements
applicable to the sale of real estate in this Article. At the Annual stockholder meeting, the
Lakeshore Board shall specifically report the status of the investments covered
in this section.
ARTICLE
VII REAL PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS
Any
real estate property tax savings realized as a result of restricting lots
to prohibit their sale shall be paid, for instance out of the Lakeshore
Company’s operating expenses or fund, to one or more reserve accounts
(collectively, the “Account”). Tax
savings will increase annually in line with the average percent increase of
Harding Township.
The
Lakeshore Company shall not utilize the capital contributions for general
operating expenses. The capital contributions, or portions thereof,
may be used only for capital or infrastructure projects and
improvements. By way of example, capital contributions may be used for
the replacement of roads and related improvements; replacements and capital
improvements to existing common facilities such as any common buildings;
dredging; and dam repairs, improvements, and replacements. Use of reserve funds
for any other purposed must be approved by a two
thirds of a quorum shareholders.
To
assure compliance with the restrictions and intent set forth in this Amendment,
Account shall be maintained in a separate reserve account or accounts and such
account(s) shall be clearly named and identified as restricted capital
contributions. The Lakeshore Company shall, establish a committee to be
comprised of three shareholders of the Lakeshore Company. Such committee
shall be responsible for reviewing the Account and Account information and
reporting to the Lakeshore Company at least annually regarding the status of
the Account and any additions or deletions to the balance(s). To minimize
the risk of loss of principal, the capital Account shall be invested in
federally insured account(s) or instruments, including United States Treasuries
(notes or bonds). Therefore, capital contributions shall not be invested
in equities (stock).
ARTICLE VIII. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS
The board
of directors, or the stockholders, may, for the purpose of election of
directors, close the transfer books for a period not exceeding twenty-five
days, and for the purpose of declaring a dividend, for a period not exceeding
ten days.
ARTICLE IX. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS'
MEETINGS
A written
notice of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered in person or by mail
or e-mail to every stockholder at least fifteen (15) days before the
meeting. It shall be the duty of
stockholders to give their correct post-office address to the secretary, who
shall keep a record of the same, and a notice sent to the last post-office
address so given by the stockholders shall be sufficient; in default of such
address being given, the secretary shall make reasonable inquiry for such
address, and if the same be not ascertained on such inquiry, the stockholders
who shall have failed to give such address shall be deemed to have waived
notice of the meeting.
Except as
herein otherwise provided, notice of a special meeting shall state briefly and
in general terms the objects of the meeting and notice of the annual meeting
shall state that the meeting is for the election of a board of directors and
for all other business that may properly come before a stockholders' meeting. The notice shall also include the listing of
the slate of proposed directors.
ARTICLE X. QUORUM AT STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
A majority
in interest of all the stockholders represented in person or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business, and a majority of such
quorum, shall decide all questions that may arise except where otherwise
provided in these by-laws or by statute.
ARTICLE XI. VOTE OF JOINT OWNERS
Any person
whose name appears as a joint owner on the stock certificate shall have the
right to vote such stock at any meeting of stockholders and such vote shall
bind, as to such vote, every other person whose name appears on said
certificate; provided, however, that the presiding officer at said meeting, in
case of a dispute between joint owners as to the casting of the vote, shall
have the right to decide which joint owner shall cast the vote, and such
decision shall be final.
ARTICLE XII. ORDER OF BUSINESS AT
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
The order
of business at a stockholders' meeting shall be as follows:
1. Roll Call.
2. Reading of the minutes.
3. Reports.
4. Deferred business.
5. New Business.
6. Election of directors.
7. Adjournment.
ARTICLE XIII. MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS
The
directors may meet at Mt. Kemble Lake, in Harding Township, New Jersey; and
they may meet at such other places as they shall agree upon, and whenever
called together by the president or in his absence by the vice-president. Two days' notice of every special meeting of
the directors shall be given unless the exigencies of business require a shorter
notice to be given. The notice may be
given to the director personally, either verbally or in writing, or it may be
communicated by telephone, e-mail Post or other means.
ARTICLE XIV. QUORUM AT DIRECTORS' MEETING
A quorum of
the board of directors shall be a majority of the entire board.
ARTICLE XV. VACANCIES AMONG DIRECTORS
The board
of directors shall have power to fill any vacancies occurring in their own
number, and the persons appointed by them to fill such vacancies shall hold
their office until their successors are elected by the stockholders.
ARTICLE XVI. RULES OF DIRECTORS
The board
of directors shall have power to make rules and regulations for the conduct of
their own meetings, and the management of the affairs of the Company, not
inconsistent with these by-laws.
ARTICLE XVII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The board
of directors shall, as soon as convenient after their elections, choose one of
their number to be president, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer. Any director
except the president may hold two offices.
The
directors shall also assign themselves such other responsibilities as water company and land administration and such other duties
as shall be necessary for the transaction of the business of the Company. They may further designate functions for
which they are responsible to individuals or committees which the president may
appoint.
All these
officers shall hold office until their successors have been elected by the
stockholders unless they be sooner removed by the board
of directors or shall resign or be otherwise unable to serve. The board of directors shall have power to
remove officers whenever in their judgment the interests of the Company require
it and to elect their successors.
ARTICLE XVIII. VACANCIES AMONG THE OFFICERS
The board
of directors shall fill any vacancies occurring among the officers.
ARTICLE XIX. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The
president shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the
directors, and shall be ex-officio a member of all standing committees. The President shall sign all certificates of
stock of the Company and shall take the general supervision and control of all
the business affairs of the Company, and shall have command and control of all
the officers and employees of the Company, subject to the supervision of the
board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may properly belong
to the office, and also such as shall be prescribed by the board of
directors. The President shall execute
all contracts on behalf of the Company that are approved by the board of
directors.
ARTICLE XX. DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENT
In the
absence of the president the vice-president shall perform the duties incident
to the office of president, and such other duties as the board may from time to
time prescribe.
ARTICLE XXI. DUTIES OF SECRETARY
The
secretary shall attend all the meetings of the stockholders and directors and
act as clerk of the same, and keep the minutes thereof; shall have the charge
and keeping of the records and papers of the Company; take charge of and affix
the seal of the corporation to such documents as may require such attestation;
issue notices of all meetings and perform generally all the duties incident to
the office of secretary, and such other duties as the board of directors may
prescribe.
ARTICLE XXII. DUTIES OF TREASURER
The
treasurer shall keep the accounts and receive all moneys paid to the Company
and enter his receipts and payments in books kept for that purpose, and deposit
such moneys in the name of the Company in such bank or depository as said board
may direct.
The
treasurer shall pay out no moneys except by authority of the board, and all
checks drawn shall have the treasurer’s signature, or that of the president or vice-president.
The
treasurer’s duties shall include making stated and annual statements to the
board showing the condition and business of the Company, signing all
certificates of stock, and keeping an account thereof, and having the custody
of the stocks, bonds, mortgages and the securities of the Company, subject to
the regulation and control of the board of directors.
Upon
written request to the treasure of Lakeshore Company, a shareholder or contract purchaser of real property within
the Community shall be entitled to a written statement of account (the “Statement”) setting forth, for
instance, the amount of any current applicable assessments and any other
charges imposed upon the shareholder, including any outstanding late charges
and costs of collection. The Purchaser shall be deemed to have assumed the
obligations of the Seller and shall also be responsible for full payment of the
charges that were outstanding as of the date the Purchaser acquired the real
property. If Purchaser fails to resolve any outstanding assessments, late
charges and costs of collection as of the date Purchaser acquires the real
property, Purchaser shall be responsible for full payment.
ARTICLE XXIII. PROXIES
A
stockholder may vote at any meeting of the stockholders, by his attorney in fact,
duly constituted in writing. No special
form of proxy shall be necessary.
Continuing proxies may be given, provided that no proxy shall be
recognized after the expiration of one year from its date.
ARTICLE XXIV. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Certificates
of stock shall be signed by the president and treasurer and sealed with the
common seal of the Company. They shall
be issued from certificate books with an ample stub or margin containing blanks
for the number of the certificate, date of issue, the name of the person to
whom issued.
ARTICLE XXV. TRANSFER OF STOCK
Stock shall
be transferred only on the books of the Company by the holder thereof in person
or by his attorney duly authorized, and upon surrender of the certificates for
the stock transferred. Upon such
surrender and transfer, new certificates will be issued to the transferee.
The form of
transfer on back of certificates of stock shall be as follows:
For value
received, _______ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto _______ the share of
the capital stock represented by the within certificate, and do hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint _______ Attorney to transfer the said stock
on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the
premises.
Dated:
_______ ____
In presence
of: ____________________________
____________________________
NOTICE: The
signature of the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of the certificate in every particular without alteration or enlargement,
or any change whatever.
ARTICLE XXVI. EXAMINATION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS
The Board
is required to have a financial review of the books and records relating to
finances for each fiscal year to be competed each year by June 30th of the following
calendar year by a public accountant or a review committee of Shareholders
(Review Committee). The nature and scope of the review will be at the
discretion of the Review Committee, but shall be sufficient to reasonably
verify that all Shareholder dues, assessments, monies, and disbursements are
properly accounted for. The Review
Committee will consist of two or more non Board Members who will be appointed
annually by the Board. The Review Committee, at its discretion, may require the
Board to retain a licensed public accountant to conduct a review or provide
assistance as needed. The Review Committee or licensed public accountant shall
communicate the results of each review to the Board not later than September
30th noting the scope and procedures followed and results obtained. The Review
shall also be posted on the community web site.
ARTICLE XXVII. DIVIDENDS
The board
of directors may, with the approval of two-thirds of the stockholders present
at any annual or special meeting either in person or by proxy, declare a
dividend.
ARTICLE XXVIII. BOOKS
The stock
and transfer books may be kept at the Company's principal office at Mt. Kemble
Lake, Harding Township, New Jersey; the other books and papers may be kept at
the Company's office in the Township of Harding. The directors may at any time bring all the
Company's books and papers to the Company's principal office in New
Jersey. All books and papers shall be
open to the inspection of the directors during business hours.
ARTICLE XXIX. BANK ACCOUNT
All the
funds of the Company shall be deposited in a bank or banks or other depository
designated by the board of directors, subject to be drawn therefrom
on the draft of the treasurer, or other designated officer.
ARTICLE XXX. COMMON SEAL
The common
seal of the Company shall be circular in form, and shall contain the name of
the Company, with the figures 1925 and word, "seal". The seal shall be stored with the Company
books and papers.
ARTICLE XXXI. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
LIABILITIES
The Company
shall indemnify every officer and director to the full extent permitted by
Section 14A:3-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act and to the full
extent otherwise provided by law.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this provision shall eliminate or
reduce the protection afforded by this provision to an officer or director in
respect to any matter which occurred, arose or accrued prior to such amendment
or repeal.
In
furtherance of the provisions of this section of the by-laws, the board of
directors shall cause the Company to maintain liability insurance when
reasonably available, indemnifying the directors and officers of the Company
against liability for errors and omissions occurring in connection with the
performance of their duties, with policy limits and deductible amounts to be
determined at the reasonable discretion of the board of directors. Deductible amounts shall be paid by the
Company.
ARTICLE XXXII. AMENDMENTS
These
by-laws may be amended, repealed or altered by a two-thirds vote of all the
stockholders present, in person or by proxy, at any annual meeting, or a
special meeting called for the purpose, for which due notice of the proposed
amendment, repeal, or alteration has been delivered or mailed to all
stockholders ten days in advance of said annual or special meeting.
ARTICLE XXXIII. POWER TO CONTRACT
The Company
may contract with third parties, including but not limited to the Mt. Kemble
Lake Association, Inc., for the provision of services relating to the operation,
management or administration of any of its assets.
Bylaws
revised and updated as of February 2, 2012