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presiding officer can rule the person out of order and follow the council's procedures <br />for discipline through censure and/or temporary removal from the meeting. <br />c. The presiding officer can remind the council member that the rules require time limits <br />on comments. If the conduct persists, the presiding officer can rule the person out of <br />order and follow the council's procedures for discipline through censure and/or <br />temporary removal from the meeting. <br />d. Members of the council may request action by the presiding officer to curb another <br />member's conduct through a motion for a call to order. The motion may request a <br />specific response to conduct by the presiding officer. For example, "I make a motion <br />for the presiding officer to call Council member to order and to desist from <br />making personal attacks." <br />e. Members of the council may make a motion for adjournment or for a brief recess, if a <br />council member's actions are so offensive as to disrupt the orderly process of the <br />meeting. <br />Problem four: Council keeps revisiting the same issue over and over again. It's a waste of <br />time, but one member can't help but bring up their "pet" project at every meeting —even <br />though the council has voted the idea down several times. <br />Potential solutions: <br />a. The presiding officer can rule out of order motions to reconsider or rescind <br />council actions if they are not made at the appropriate time by the appropriate <br />person, or where reliance on the council's previous decision has occurred (for <br />example, in the area of contracts or hiring/termination of employees). <br />b. A council member may make a motion to limit debate. <br />c. A council member may make a motion to table or defer the matter. <br />d. A council member may make a motion to refer the matter to a committee. <br />e. A council member may make a motion to delay consideration of the matter for a <br />specified amount of time. Six months is recommended. <br />Problem five: The council members can't agree on anything, or are so deeply divided over <br />one particular controversial issue that it has affected civil discussion on all matters. <br />Potential solutions: <br />a. The presiding officer should insist that all members of council observe council <br />bylaws and rules of order that speak to decorum. In particular, the presiding officer <br />can remind council members that the rules require all remarks to be addressed to the <br />Minnesota <br />Mayors 68 <br />Association <br />