3.1 GOVERNING BODY; COMPOSITION. The affairs of the Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors. Except as provided in Section 3.2 of this Article, the directors must reside in Carrington Meadows Plat Division One and must be members of the Association.

3.2 DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY DECLARANT. Declarant shall have the right to appoint or remove any member or members of the Board of Directors or any officer or officers of the Association until termination of the Development Period. Each Owner, by acceptance of a deed to or other conveyance of a Lot, vests in Declarant such authority to appoint and remove directors and officers of the Association. The directors selected by the Declarant need not be Owners or residents in Carrington Meadows Plat Division One.

3.3 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The Board shall initially consist of one (1) member. Upon termination of the Development Period, the Board shall consist of three (3) members, elected by the Owners as provided in Section 3.5 of this Article 3; provided, however, that the number of directors may be increased or decreased by an amendment to these Bylaws.

3.4 NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS. Elected directors shall be nominated from the floor and may also be nominated by a nominating committee, if such a committee is established by the Board. All candidates shall have a reasonable opportunity to communicate their qualifications to the members and to solicit votes.

3.5 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. Owner-elected directors shall be elected and hold office as follows:
(a) After the Declarant's right to appoint directors and officers terminates, the Association shall call a special meeting to be held at which Owners shall elect three (3) directors.
(b) At annual meetings of the membership thereafter, directors shall be elected. All eligible members of the Association shall vote on all directors to be elected, and the candidate(s) receiving the most votes shall be elected.
 
Initially, the term of one (1) director shall be fixed at one (1) year, the term of two (2) directors shall be fixed at two (2) years, and each candidate shall declare for which seat he or she is running. At the expiration of the initial term of office of each respective Owner-elected member of the Board of Directors, a successor shall be elected to serve for a term of two (2) years. The members of the Board of Directors shall hold office until their respective successors shall have been elected by the Association.

3.6 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. At any regular or special meeting of the Association duly called, any one (1) or more of the members of the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority of the Total Association Vote and a successor may then and there be elected to fill the vacancy thus created. A director whose removal has been proposed by the Owners shall be given at least ten (10) days' notice of the calling of the meeting and the purpose thereof and shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the meeting. Additionally, any director who has three (3) consecutive unexcused absences from Board meetings or who is delinquent in the payment of an assessment for more than thirty (30) days may be removed by a majority vote of the remaining directors at a meeting. This Section shall not apply to directors appointed by Declarant.

3.7 VACANCIES. Vacancies in the Board of Directors caused by any reason, excluding the removal of a director by vote of the Association, shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum, at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each Director so selected shall serve the unexpired portion of the term.

3.8 ORGANIZATION MEETINGS. The first meeting of the Board of Directors following each annual meeting of the membership shall be held within ten (10) days thereafter at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board.

3.9 REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by a majority of the directors, but at least four (4) such meetings shall be held during each fiscal year with at least one (1) per quarter. Notice of the regular schedule shall constitute sufficient notice of such meetings.

3.10 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held when requested by the President, Vice President or by any two (2) directors. The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the nature of any special business to be considered. The notice shall be given to each director by one of the following methods: (a) by personal delivery; (b) written notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid; (c) by telephone communication, either directly to the director or to a Person at the director's home or office who would reasonably be expected to communicate such notice promptly to the director; (d) by facsimile to the director's home or office; or (e) by commercial delivery service to the director's home or office. All such notices shall be given or sent to the director's address or telephone number as shown on the records of the Association. Notices sent by first-class mail shall be deposited into a United States mailbox at least four (4) days before the time set for the meeting. Notices given by personal delivery, telephone, or facsimile shall be given at least forty-eight (48) hours before the time set for the meeting.

3.11 WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if (a) a quorum is present, and (b) either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its commencement about the lack of adequate notice.

3.12 QUORUM OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the votes of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the decision of the Board of Directors.

3.13 COMPENSATION. No director shall receive any compensation from the Association for acting as such.

3.14 OPEN MEETINGS. Except as otherwise permitted by law, all meetings of the Board shall be open for observation to all members and their authorized agents. The Board shall keep minutes of all actions taken by the Board, which shall be available to all members.

3.15 EXECUTIVE SESSION. Upon affirmative vote in open meeting to assemble in closed session, the Board may convene in closed executive session to consider personnel matters; consult with legal counsel or consider communications with legal counsel; and discuss likely or pending litigation, matters involving possible violations of the governing documents of the Association, and matters involving the possibility liability of an Owner to the Association. The motion shall state specifically the purpose for the closed session. Reference to the motion and the stated purpose for the closed session shall be included in the minutes. The Board shall restrict the consideration of matters during the closed portions of the meeting only to those purposes specifically exempted and stated in the motion. No motion, or other action adopted, passed, or agreed to in closed session may become effective unless the Board, following the closed session, reconvenes an opening meeting and votes in the open meeting on such motion, or other action which is reasonably identified. The requirements of this subsection shall not require the disclosure of information in violation of law or which is otherwise exempt from disclosure.
 
3.16 ACTION WITHOUT A FORMAL MEETING. Any action to be taken at a meeting of the directors or any action that may be taken at a meeting of the directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors.

3.17 TELEPHONIC PARTICIPATION. One (1) or more directors may participate in and vote during any regular or special meeting of the Board by telephone conference call or similar communication equipment, and those directors so participating shall be deemed present at such meeting. Any such meeting at which a quorum participates shall constitute a meeting of the Board.

3.18 POWERS. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the affairs of the Association and shall have all of the powers and duties necessary for the administration of the Association's affairs and, as provided by law, may do all acts and things as are not by the Declaration, Articles, or these Bylaws directed to be done and exercised exclusively by the members. In addition to the duties imposed by these Bylaws or by any resolution of the Association that may hereafter be adopted, the Board of Directors shall have the power to and shall be responsible for the following, in way of explanation, but not limitation:
(a) preparation and adoption of an annual budget in which there shall be established the contribution of each Owner to the common expenses;
(b) making assessments to defray the common expenses and establishing the means and methods of collecting such assessments;
(c) providing for the operation, care, upkeep, and maintenance of all areas which are the maintenance responsibility of the Association;
(d) designating, hiring, and dismissing the personnel necessary for the operation of the Association and, where appropriate, providing for the compensation of such personnel and for the purchase of equipment, supplies, and material to be used by such personnel in the performance of their duties;
(e) collecting the assessments, depositing the proceeds thereof in a bank depository which it shall approve, and using the proceeds to administer the Association;
(f) making and amending rules and regulations;
(g) opening of bank accounts on behalf of the Association and designating the signatories required; 
(h) enforcing by legal means the provisions of the Declaration, these Bylaws, and the rules and regulations adopted by it, and bring any proceedings which may be instituted on behalf of or against the Owners concerning the Association;
(i) obtaining and carrying insurance against casualties and liabilities, as provided in the Declaration, and paying the premium cost thereof;
keeping books with detailed accounts of the receipts and expenditures affecting the Association and its administration, and specifying the maintenance and repair expenses and any other expenses incurred; and
(k) contracting with any person for the performance of various duties and functions.

3.19 MANAGEMENT AGENT. The Board of Directors may employ for the Association a professional management agent or agents at a compensation established by the Board of Directors to perform such duties and services as the Board of Directors shall authorize. The term of any management agreement shall not exceed one (1) year and shall be subject to termination by either party, without cause and without penalty, upon ninety (90) days' written notice.

3.20 BORROWING. The Board of Directors shall have the power to borrow money without the approval of the members of the Association; provided, however, the Board shall obtain membership approval in the same manner as for special assessments, in the event that the proposed borrowing is for the purpose of modifying, improving, or adding amenities, or the total amount of such borrowing exceeds or would exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) outstanding debt at any one time.

3.21 FINING PROCEDURE. The Board shall not impose a fine (a late charge shall not constitute a fine) unless and until the following procedure is follows:
(a) Notice. Written notice shall be served upon the violator specifying:
 (i) the nature of the violation and the fine imposed;
 (ii) that the violator may, within ten (10) days from the date of the notice, request a hearing regarding the fine imposed;
 (iii) the name, address and telephone numbers of a person to contact to challenge the fine; 
 (iv) that any statements, evidence, and witnesses may be procured by the violator at the hearing; and
 (v) that all rights to have the fine reconsidered are waived if a hearing is not requested within ten (10) days of the date of the notice.
(b) Hearing. If a hearing is requested, it shall be held before the Board in executive session, and the violator shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The minutes of the meeting shall contain a written statement of the results of the hearing.