Each member present shall vote on any question on the call of the yeas and nays, and any member who fails or refuses to vote on any question when the yeas and nays are being taken shall be counted as voting with the majority. For purposes of this rule, a majority is defined as four or more, and no member who abstains from voting shall be included with the plurality in order to establish the majority required for the adoption of an ordinance or resolution.
(a) Roll Call Votes.
(1) A roll call vote is taken by the Clerk of Council by calling each individual member of Council and recording the member’s vote accordingly.
(2) Roll call votes shall be taken and recorded by the Clerk of Council by first calling the person who initiated the motion, then the roll shall be called, beginning with the person who seconded the motion.
(b) Abstention.
(1) To “abstain” means not to vote on a question. The “abstain” response shall not be counted with the “Yes” or “No” votes to decide an issue. The count of the “Yes” or “No” votes totally decides an issue.
(2) Although it is the duty of every member who has an opinion on a question to express it in a vote, he can abstain, since he cannot be compelled to vote.
(3) No Council member should vote on a question in which he has a direct personal interest. The member should respond: “I abstain”.
(4) No Council member should vote on approval of the minutes of any meeting in which he/she was not in attendance. When the vote is taken the member should respond: “I abstain”.
(Ord. 2007-067. Passed 6-12-07.)