The CAP Operating Guidelines

Purpose:

The CAP will meet regularly with representatives of FMC Middleport to review and discuss the facility's operations, environmental concerns, safety, community involvement, and any other issues the CAP may decide are important. In addition, the panel will provide feedback to plant representatives and assist FMC to improve communications with the community.

Membership:

Up to 20 members from the community will be invited to participate. Membership should include a cross-section of local residents, civic and community leaders.

An orientation will be provided for new members.

Tenure of Service:

Members will serve for a period not to exceed six years. As vacancies arise, they will be filled with individuals selected from recommendations made by the panel.

In the case of resignations, members are requested to provide written or verbal notification to the facilitator.

Schedule of Meetings / Time / Location:

Regular meetings will be held at least every other month, from 6-8 PM. More frequent meetings may be held if circumstances warrant. Meetings will be held at the FMC plant training room.

Meeting Notices:

Notice of meetings will be made at least 7 days in advance via U.S. mail or email. The facilitator will also make reminder phone calls.

Special Meetings:

Occasionally a special meeting may be needed. A CAP member or the plant manager can call a special meeting with agreement from three CAP members. Notice for special meetings will be given to all plant representative and members via telephone communication at least 8 hours in advance.

Meeting Cancellation or Postponement:

Meetings may be cancelled or postponed by the plant manger with the concurrence of three CAP members. Legitimate reasons for canceling or postponing a meeting include, inclement weather, holidays, emergencies and community conflicts. Members will be advised of a canceled/postponed meeting via telephone communications as far in advance as possible.

Meeting Format:

Meetings will be guided by a facilitator. Agenda topics will be determined at the previous meeting.

Members will respect opposing opinions, will listen to others, and be honest in communicating.

Decisions will be made by consensus.

FMC will provide a variety of food at the beginning of each meeting.

Visitors:

CAP meetings will be closed, with visitors allowed only by invitation or permission of the CAP.

Communication:

Meeting Summaries. A written meeting summary for each meeting will be distributed to members via U.S. mail or email in advance of the next meeting and reviewed for accuracy at a subsequent meeting. After CAP approval, summaries also will be posted on the FMC website and will be available at the Middleport Library.

Members are encouraged to share meeting summaries with their respective organizations or other interested parties.

Confidentiality. If discussion at CAP meetings includes information of a confidential nature, such information shall be so designated and members agree not to share this information outside of CAP meetings.

Media contacts. No statement on behalf of the panel will be released to the media by any panel member without explicit approval of the panel. If such a statement is necessary or appropriate, as determined by the CAP, the CAP will designate its own spokesperson.