Bylaws
The draft bylaws, explained
Draft, not adopted. This is a plain-language summary of version 2, the draft handed out September 19, 2026. Where the draft is silent, this page says so. The full text is the record.
Article by article
- Art. I and IIName and boundaries
- The organization is the Kingston Hills Neighborhood Association, in Knoxville. The neighborhood is seven streets: Bosworth, Kendall, Luxmore, Ramsgate, Twining, Moneta, and Deane Hill Drive west of Morrell Road. The membership can change the boundaries by vote.
- Art. IIIWhat it is and is not
- A voluntary neighborhood organization. It is not a homeowners association, does not enforce private property restrictions, cannot impose mandatory dues, and has no enforcement authority over private property. Its purposes are connection, events, beautification and stewardship, and the general welfare of residents.
- Art. IV §1Who is a member
- Every adult resident of the neighborhood, homeowner or tenant.
- Art. IV §2Two kinds of votes
- Household governance votes: one per household, for the bylaws, elections and removals, boundaries, dues, dissolution, major financial commitments, and anything with long-term impact. The property owner is the primary voter; if absent, an adult resident of the household, including a tenant, may vote. Community activity votes: one per adult member, for events, beautification, programs, committee recommendations, and other short-term matters. The board decides which category a matter falls in unless the bylaws say. Votes may be by voice, hands, standing count, or written ballot; any member can ask for a counted vote, and it must happen if three members present agree. Elections, removals, bylaw amendments, dues, and dissolution are always counted or by ballot.
- Art. IV §3 to §7Records, meetings, notice, quorum, dues
- Membership records are for association purposes only. At least one general meeting a year; the board can call more. Members get at least 10 days' notice of meetings. Quorum is 10 members present. Dues are voluntary at a suggested $10 per household per year, and paying is not a condition of membership, voting, attending, or holding office.
- Art. VThe board
- Seven elected seats: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Members-at-Large. Two-year terms. President and Treasurer are limited to two consecutive terms in that office. Each seat is elected separately at the annual meeting. The board fills vacancies until the next election. A board member can be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the board or the membership, after notice and a chance to be heard, and by board majority after three consecutive unexcused absences. The board meets at least quarterly; four directors make a quorum. Board meetings are open to members except for closed sessions on legal, privacy, financial-security, or similar matters; removals and no-confidence votes happen only in open session; members get seven days' notice of board meetings where possible and may speak when recognized. No voting by email or text; the board may set up secure remote participation.
- Art. VI and VIIOfficers and committees
- The President presides and represents the association; the Vice President stands in; the Secretary keeps minutes, records, notices, and the membership records; the Treasurer keeps the books and reports to the board and the membership; Members-at-Large support projects, committees, and outreach. The board can create committees, such as beautification, events, communications, and safety.
- Art. VIII and IXConflicts of interest and money
- Any board, officer, or committee member with a financial, personal, or professional interest in a matter must say so before discussion and may not vote on it; the Secretary records it. Funds are used only for association purposes, and the Treasurer provides financial reports when the board or membership asks.
- Art. XChanging the bylaws
- Two-thirds of members present at a duly called meeting, with at least 10 days' notice of the proposed amendment.
- Art. XI to XIIIMeeting rules, nondiscrimination, dissolution
- Meetings follow Democratic Rules of Order as a guide, with simplified procedures allowed. The association welcomes all residents regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or background. If it dissolves, remaining funds go to a local charitable or community organization chosen by the membership.
Questions and answers
- Is this an HOA?
- No. Article III says the association shall not function as a homeowners association, shall not enforce private property restrictions, shall not impose mandatory dues, and shall not exercise enforcement authority over private property.
- Who gets to be a member?
- Any adult who lives in the neighborhood, owner or tenant (Article IV, Section 1).
- Do I have to pay dues?
- No. Dues are voluntary, suggested at $10 per household per year, and are not required for membership, voting, meetings, or holding office (Article IV, Section 7).
- How much notice do I get before a meeting?
- At least 10 days for membership meetings (Article IV, Section 5) and, where reasonably possible, seven days for board meetings (Article V, Section 9).
- How many people does it take to hold a vote?
- Ten members present make a quorum for a membership meeting (Article IV, Section 6). Four directors make a quorum for the board (Article V, Section 8).
- Who votes on what?
- Big decisions (bylaws, elections, boundaries, dues, dissolution, major spending, anything long-term) are one vote per household. Events and other short-term matters are one vote per adult member. The board decides which kind applies when the bylaws do not say (Article IV, Section 2).
- In my household, who casts the household vote?
- The draft names the property owner as the primary voter and lets an adult resident, including a tenant, vote if the owner is not there. It does not say what happens when adults in one household disagree (Article IV, Section 2A).
- Can I vote by email or send someone in my place?
- Email, text, and informal electronic votes are not allowed (Article V, Section 11). The draft does not mention proxies. The board may set up secure remote participation.
- How are the bylaws changed?
- By two-thirds of members present at a duly called meeting, after 10 days' notice of the change (Article X).
- Can the board make decisions on its own?
- The board governs the affairs, activities, and finances of the association (Article V, Section 2), meets at least quarterly, and can act in closed session on legal, privacy, and financial-security matters. Removals and no-confidence votes must be in open session (Article V, Section 9).
- How does someone get off the board?
- Two-thirds of the board or of the membership can remove a director for cause after notice and a hearing (Article V, Section 6). Three consecutive unexcused absences allow removal by a board majority (Section 10). Vacancies are filled by the remaining directors until the next annual election (Section 5).
- Can I see the membership list or the books?
- The draft says membership records are used only for association purposes and handled with respect for privacy (Article IV, Section 3), and that the Treasurer reports when asked (Article IX). It does not spell out a member's right to inspect either. Tennessee law has its own rules on that, which the draft does not repeat.
- What happens if there is a tie?
- The draft does not say.
- Does the association speak to the City for the neighborhood?
- The draft does not address positions to the City or other public bodies. Whether that counts as a household governance vote would be for the board to decide under Article IV, Section 2C.
- What if the association shuts down?
- Remaining funds go to a local charitable or community organization chosen by the membership (Article XIII).
Questions the draft does not answer are worth raising before any adoption vote. Bring them to the next meeting or email kingstonhillsneighbors@gmail.com.