The Board adopts the following rules governing its meetings in all matters of parliamentary procedure. “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall govern and apply.
(A) The Board’s rules and order of business shall be observed in all cases unless suspended temporarily for a special purpose of an emergency nature by a unanimous vote of all members present. Any member may move at any time for the suspension of any rule to entitle it to consideration.
(B) (1) If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the Board, the presiding officer shall, or any member can, call him or her to order, in which case the member so called to order shall immediately cease discussion unless permitted by the presiding officer to explain.
(2) The Board, if appealed to, shall decide the question without debate. If the decision be in favor of the member so called to order, he or she shall be at liberty to proceed. If otherwise, he or she shall not proceed without leave of the Board to proceed in order.
(C) (1) A member about to speak shall respectfully address the chair and shall not commence to speak until recognized by the presiding officer.
(2) When two or more members request to speak at the same time, the presiding officer shall determine which one is recognized.
(D) Every member, while speaking, shall confine himself or herself to the subject under debate, shall refrain from personalities and shall not refer to any other member of the Board of Commissioners, except in a respectful manner.
(E) Unless a member who has the floor yields for that purpose, no member shall interrupt another while speaking, except to propound a parliamentary inquiry or to make a point of order.
(`86 Code, § 2-22) (Am. Ord. 06-11-01, passed 6-14-11)