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(A) The Council shall proceed by motion. A motion, when duly seconded, brings the matter before the Council for its consideration.
(B) A motion may be withdrawn by the introducer at any time prior to a vote if the member who seconded the motion concurs.
(C) Subject to § 33.26 below and other provisions of law, official action of the Council shall be by majority vote.
(1981 Code, § 2-10)
Once a motion has been stated and seconded, the Mayor shall open the floor to debate upon it. The Mayor shall preside over the debate according to the following general principles:
(A) The member who makes the motion is entitled to speak first;
(B) A member who has not spoken on the issue shall be recognized before someone who has already spoken; and
(C) To the extent possible, the debate shall alternate between proponents and opponents of the measure.
(1981 Code, § 2-11)
(A) Once a member is physically present at a Council meeting, any subsequent failure to vote shall be recorded as an affirmative vote unless the member has been excused from voting in accordance with division (B) below or has been allowed to withdraw from the meeting in accordance with division (C) below.
(B) A member may be excused from voting on a particular issue by majority vote of the remaining members present if the matter at issue involved that member's own financial interest or official conduct.
(C) A member may be allowed to withdraw from the entire remainder of a meeting by majority vote of the remaining members present for any good and sufficient reason other than the member's desire to avoid voting on matters to be considered at that meeting.
(D) A motion to allow a member to be excused from voting or excused from the remainder of the meeting is only in order if made by or at the initiative of the member directly affected.
(E) A roll call vote shall be taken upon the request of any member.
(F) When this chapter specifies that action shall be taken by majority vote or fails to specify the vote required, that shall be interpreted to mean a vote of the majority of those present and not excused from voting.
(G) When a 2/3 vote is required, that shall be interpreted to mean a vote of 2/3 of those present and not excused from voting.
(H) When a vote of a certain percentage of the Council membership is required, that shall be interpreted to mean the specified percentage of all seats on the Council, excluding vacant seats.
(1981 Code, § 2-12)
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