[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of
Blackstone as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administration of government — See Ch. 5.
[Adopted 4-7-1998; amended
in its entirety 4-19-2022]
Once accepted, the following will supersede all previous rules
governing the conduct of the Board of Selectmen's meetings and its
members.
At the first meeting of the Board following the Annual Election,
members shall choose a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk to serve
until the next Annual Election or Special Election, in the event a
vacancy is filled.
The second order of business following the Annual Election shall
be the adoption of these "Rules Governing the Conduct of the Meetings
and Its Members."
A.
The Chairman will preside at all meetings of the Board, except in
his/her absence when the Vice Chairman will preside. If neither the
Chairman nor the Vice Chairman is present, then the Clerk shall preside.
B.
The presiding officer will be responsible for the orderly conduct
of the meeting as well as any other duties required under the Massachusetts
General Laws, Charter, bylaws or by the authority given by the majority
vote of the Board.
A.
Call to order.
B.
Roll call - attendance.
C.
Acceptance of minutes of previous meeting(s).
D.
Citizens forum: good and welfare - public.
E.
Public hearings.
F.
Correspondence.
G.
Town announcements and events.
H.
Liaison reports/boards and commissions.
I.
Town Administrator's report.
J.
Old business.
L.
Future
Board agenda items.
M.
Good and welfare - Selectmen.
N.
Adjournment.
|
Action
|
What to Say
|
Can Interrupt Speaker?
|
Need a Second?
|
Can Be Debated?
|
Can Be Amended?
|
Votes Needed
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
a)
|
Introduce main motion
|
I move to. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
b)
|
Table a motion
|
I move to table. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
2 members
|
|
c)
|
Amend a motion
|
I move to amend the motion by. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Majority
|
|
d)
|
Postpone item
|
I move to postpone the matter until. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
e)
|
End debate
|
I move the question.
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
f)
|
Enforce the rules or object to procedure
|
Point of order
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Chair's decision
|
|
g)
|
Recess the meeting
|
I move that we recess until. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
h)
|
Adjourn the meeting
|
I move to adjourn the meeting.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
i)
|
Request information
|
Point of information
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No vote
|
|
j)
|
Overrule the Chair's ruling
|
I move to overrule the Chair's ruling.
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
k)
|
Consider something out of its scheduled order
|
I move to suspend the rules. . .
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
2/3 vote
|
|
l)
|
Enter into Executive Session
|
I move to go into executive session.
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
Majority
|
|
m)
|
Personal preference: noise, room temperature, distractions
|
Point of privilege
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No vote
|
If the presiding officer or any member questions the legality
of any motion, the motion must be tabled until an opinion, satisfactory
to the majority of the Board, is obtained through Town Counsel or
is researched through the Massachusetts General Laws, the Charter,
or the bylaws.
In the event of unusual or unforeseen circumstances, the motion
to suspend the rules may be made regarding the order of business only.
A.
The Board reserves the right to limit to five minutes the time that
anyone appearing before the Board shall have to speak, unless this
article is waived by a simple majority vote of this Board. Anyone
wishing to speak over the five-minute time limit must request to be
placed on the agenda at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
B.
Nonresidents may speak two minutes upon a 4/5 vote of the Board allowing
them to speak. A 4/5 vote of the Board will also be required to extend
the two-minute time limit to five minutes.
