[Council Rules, 7-03]
These rules may be temporarily suspended unless at least two
(2) members vote to oppose the suspension. The rules shall not be
repealed, unless by concurrence of four (4) members of the Board.
No standing rule or order of the Board shall be rescinded or changed,
or new rules introduced, unless notice of the meeting therefore shall
have been given at a preceding meeting.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When a member wishes to speak, the member shall not proceed
with any remarks until recognized and named by the Chair. Once recognized,
the member may speak from a sitting position.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When two (2) or more members seek recognition at the same time,
the Presiding Officer shall name the person who is to speak first,
the other member or members having preference next to speak. Once
the member knows that he/she has acknowledgement from the Chair, the
member may then wait to be called.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
No member shall speak more than twice on the same question,
without permission of the Board, nor more than once until every member
choosing to speak shall have spoken. In all discussion disrespectful
language or personalities shall be avoided.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When a member is speaking, other members shall not hold private
discourse, pass between the speaker and the Chair, or in any other
manner interrupt the speaker.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
A member of the Board called to order shall immediately stop
speaking unless permitted to explain. If there is no appeal, the decision
of the Chair shall be conclusive, but if a member appeals to the Board
from the decision of the Chair, the Board shall decide the question
without debate.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
Every member who shall be present when a question is stated
by the Chair shall vote thereon, unless excused by the Board, or unless
the member is directly or particularly interested in the question
in which case the member shall not vote.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
[Council Rules, 7-03]
After a motion or resolution is stated by the presiding Officer
or read by the Clerk, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the
Board but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment.
After such decision or amendment, such motion or resolution may be
withdrawn only by consent of the Board.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
No new motion or proposition shall be admitted under color of
an amendment, or a substitute for the pending motion or proposition,
which does not relate to the subject matter of the original motion
or proposition.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When a question is under debate, no motion or proposition shall
be entertained, except for the previous question, to postpone indefinitely,
to amend, to refer to a standing or special committee or to an officer
of the City, to lay on the table, or to adjourn.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
[Council Rules, 7-03]
The previous question shall be in substantially the following
form: "Shall the main question be now put?" It shall only be admitted
on demand of two (2) members and sustained by a vote of two-thirds
(2/3) of the members of the Board present and, until decided, shall
preclude all amendments and further debate and shall be decided without
debate. Its effect shall be to bring the Board to a direct vote upon
a motion to commit, if such a motion shall have been made. If this
motion does not prevail, its effect shall then be to bring the Board
to a direct vote upon amendments reported by a committee, if any,
then upon pending amendments and then upon the main question.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
A motion for the "previous question", to lay the question on
the table, or to commit, until decided, shall preclude all amendments
and debate on the main question; and a motion to amend or to postpone
the question indefinitely, or to adjourn it to a certain day, shall,
until it is decided, preclude all further amendment to the main question.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When a motion has once been made and carried in the affirmative
or negative, it shall be in order for any member who voted to move
for a reconsideration thereof at the same meeting or at the next succeeding
meeting but not thereafter.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
If the question in debate contains several distinct propositions,
any two (2) members may have the same divided.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
If any two (2) members require it, the "ayes" and "nays" upon
any question shall be taken and entered on the minutes, but the "ayes"
and "nays" shall not be taken unless called for previous to any vote
upon the question.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When the Presiding Officer is putting any question or addressing
the Board, no one shall walk out, nor shall any person visiting the
meetings of the Board engage in any private discourse or speak to
the Board or any member thereof, without leave of the Board.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
Questions shall be distinctly put in substantially this form:
"As many as are of opinion that (as the question may be), say aye";
and after the affirmative is expressed, "As many as are of the contrary
opinion say no." If the Presiding Officer is in doubt, or a division
is called for, a roll call vote shall be taken. This being done, the
Presiding Officer shall state the decision of the Board.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
When a nomination for office is required to be approved by Board,
the Mayor shall submit the nomination to the Board at least forty-eight
(48) hours prior to the Board meeting at which the nomination is to
be considered. The nomination shall not be open to the public unless
the Board votes to make it public. No person so nominated shall be
appointed without the approval of six (6) of the members of the Board.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
No member of the Board of Aldermen shall be permitted to vote
for or against any ordinance appropriating money or for the allowance
of any account or claim or for the award or approval of any contract
in which such member is directly or indirectly interested, and any
ordinance, resolution or motion, having passed by the vote of such
interested member, shall be deemed illegal and of no effect.
[Council Rules, 7-03]
The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in "Robert's Rules
of Order, Newly Revised" shall govern the Board in all cases in which
they are applicable and not inconsistent with the standing rules and
orders of the Board and the same shall be taken as authority in deciding
questions not otherwise provided for in this Article.
