02-09-26-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• Clarify or request clarifications of motions made by members. • Rule motions out of order. • Interpret and enforce any meeting management policies, bylaws, or rules of order. • Call members to order if they disregard rules of procedure or decorum for the meeting. As the presiding officer, the mayor has a great deal of control and influence See Appendix A: Minnesota over how a meeting progresses —for example, who is heard, and not heard, Mayors Association City Council Bylaws. and which topics are brought forward for discussion. However, this power is often not absolute. Most rules of order provide some method for members of the council to question the presiding officer's decisions and, on some occasions, to overrule them by a vote. Because presiding officers have such influence over the meeting, most council See Appendix D: Minnesota bylaws or rules of order emphasize that presiding officers should strive to be Mayors Association Sample Rules of Order for city fair and impartial. This often means listening more than speaking —even on Councils. contentious issues —and allowing council members with opposing viewpoints to each have an opportunity to speak. A fair and impartial presiding officer protects the rights of all members to participate in the meeting. One way of looking at this is that while the presiding officer wields the most power to direct the meeting, they are also the person most a servant to meeting rules. 1. Role in preserving order Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd.2. A statutory city council is authorized to preserve order at its meetings. The mayor, as the presiding officer, is also vested with some authority to prevent disturbances. See Appendix A: Minnesota A presiding officer's authority may vary slightly from city to city. Typically, Mayors Association City Council Bylaws. however, the presiding officer at a meeting is the person vested with the authority to preserve order by: • Following the council's approved agenda and limiting discussion to current agenda items. • Ruling on questions of procedure and entertaining appeals to rulings. • Calling members of the council or public to order if they are being unruly or disruptive. • Declaring meetings recessed or adjourned if they become too unruly. • Requesting the removal of unruly or disruptive persons from the meeting See Section 111-A and IV-D. room. The mayor may request the assistance of law enforcement if unruly persons refuse to depart the meeting rooms. Minnesota Mayors Chapter 1-16 Association