By-Laws

Article I – Organization and Membership

ORGANIZATION – The Lake View Cemetery Company was originally organized as a stock corporation on May 15, 1894.  The Certificate of incorporation being recorded in the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office in Book 1 of Corporation Certificate at page 122.  In 1920 the Lake View Cemetery Company, Inc., was reorganized under the Membership Corporations Law, and a new certificate of incorporation was filed in the County Clerk’s Office on August 13, 1920 and entered in Book 4 at page 451.  This certificate provided that there shall be nine directors.

MEMBERSHIP – Each owner of full age of a lot in the Lake View Cemetery and each person, any of whose ancestors or relatives are buried in the said cemetery shall be a member of the Corporation.  If two or more persons are owners of a single lot, they shall designate one of their number as a voting member in respect to such lot.

Article II – Meetings
ANNUAL MEETING – The annual meeting for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held no later than the first week of May, at a time and place to be fixed by the Board of Directors.  Notice of such meetings shall be given by  publication in a newspaper published in the city of Ithaca, once each week for three successive weeks next preceding the date of the meeting.

SPECIAL MEETINGS – Special meetings of the Corporation may be called at any time by the President or by action of the Board of Directors, or by the Secretary on the written request of any ten members.  The notice shall state the purpose for which the meeting is called, the time when and place where it is to be held and shall be published in the manner required for notice of Annual Meeting, once in each week for three successive weeks next preceding the date of such meeting.
QUORUM – At all meetings of the Corporation, a quorum shall consist of those who may be in attendance after due notice.

Article III – Directors
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS AND TERMS OF OFFICE – The number of    directors shall be nine.  At the annual meeting, three directors shall be elected for a three year term.  At each annual meeting to be held in May of each year, new directors will be elected to replace outgoing board members as necessary.  Members of the Board of Directors whose terms expire shall be eligible for re-election

REGULAR MEETINGS – The Board of Directors shall hold an organization meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of any necessary business immediately at the close of each annual Lot Holders meeting. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at least quarterly including the Annual meeting.  Special meetings may be called at any time by the President. It shall be the duty of the President to call special meetings of the Board whenever he or she is requested in writing to do so by at least three Directors.  At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a quorum shall be the majority of the Board Members.

Article IV – Vacancies
METHOD OF FILLING VACANCIES – The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy of the Board or a Committee by a majority vote.  A person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office until the next annual meeting.

Article V – Officers
OFFICERS TO BE ELECTED – The officers of the corporation to be elected by the Board of Directors at their organization meeting shall be a President, a Vice-President and a Secretary-Treasurer, or a separate Secretary and Treasurer.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT – The President or in the absence of one, the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors.  In case of the absence of both the President and Vice President, the Board of Directors shall select one of their number to act as chairperson pro tem.  The President and Treasurer shall sign deeds on behalf of the Corporation.  The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY – The Secretary shall take and enter in the minute book a record of all meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors.  He/she shall have duties as assigned by the Board of Directors. He/she shall prepare and attest deeds of all cemetery lots sold and keep a duplicate thereof.  He/she shall prepare and keep up to date a record of lot owners and of burials.  He/she shall submit a written report at each Annual meeting of the Corporation showing the number of lots remaining unsold, and the number of lot holders of the Corporation on December 31 preceding the meeting.

DUTIES OF THE TREASURER – The Treasurer shall, in conjunction with the Town of Ithaca, receive all monies paid in or belonging to the Corporation, such as bequests, proceeds from the sale of lots, burial fees, interest on trust funds, or monies from any other source, and deposit same in the proper account.  They shall pay all bills by submitting a voucher form approved by the Board of Directors and signed by a minimum of two Officers of the Board of Directors to the Town of Ithaca for processing and payment.  Semi-annually during the months of January and July, he/she shall deposit in the Permanent Maintenance Trust Fund as an addition to the principal thereof, ten percent of the proceeds of each lot sale for the preceding six month period and an additional thirty five dollars ($35.00) for each burial completed in that period or such further sums as the Board of Directors may order.  They shall administer a current maintenance fund to be used and applied for the sole purpose of ordinary and necessary expenses of the care and maintenance of the cemetery.  They shall keep an accurate and proper record of all receipts and disbursements and shall furnish to the Board of Directors, at the expense of the Corporation a record of all receipts and disbursements on or before the annual meeting each year.  He/she shall prepare and file with the State Cemetery Board an accounting and report concerning the disposition of the proceeds of sales of lots, plots or parts thereof during the preceding calendar year and will include annual payment into the NYS Vandalism Fund the sum of five dollars ($5.00) for each burial completed during that period.  They shall present at the annual meeting of the Corporation, a complete financial report of receipts and disbursements, reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for the preceding fiscal year ending on December 31, and shall make such other reports and returns as may be required by law or by the Board of Directors.

Article VI – Committees
The Board of Directors may establish committees as needed by a majority vote.  The President shall appoint a member of the Board of Directors as Chairperson of any committee duly formed.

Article VIII – Amendments
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.