(A) Agenda. All reports, communications, ordinances, resolutions, when possible, contract documents or other matters to be submitted to the Board should be delivered or submitted to the Town Manager at least seven days prior to its meeting. The Town Manager shall then arrange a list of these matters according to the order of business and furnish each member of the Board and the Town Attorney with a copy prior to the Board meeting and as far in advance of the meeting as time for preparation will permit.
(B) Rules of debate and decorum.
(1) Manner of speaking. Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair and upon recognition by the Mayor shall confine himself to the question under debate, avoiding all indecorous language.
(2) Interrupting the speaker. A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking, unless it is to call him to order or as herein otherwise provided. If a member, while speaking is called to order, he shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined and, if in order, he shall be permitted to proceed.
(3) Closing debate. The member moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
(4) Motion to reconsider. A motion to reconsider a vote may be made only at the same or any recessed meeting to that at which the vote is taken, or upon notice by one voting with the majority that a motion to reconsider will be made at the next regular meeting. The motion must be made by a member of the Board voting on the prevailing side but may be seconded by any other member and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor.
(5) Request to have statement abstracted. A member may request from the Mayor the privilege of having an abstract of his statement on any subject under consideration by the Board entered in the minutes.
(6) Request to record synopsis of discussion in the minutes. The Clerk may be directed by the Mayor, with consent of the Board, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming before the Board.
(C) Addressing the Board. Any person desiring to address the Board shall first secure the permission of the Mayor. Any interested parties or their authorized representatives may address the Board on matters listed on the agenda of the Board. After a motion is before the Board, no person shall address the Board without first securing the permission of the Board to do so.
(D) Manner of addressing the Board; time limit. Every person addressing the Board shall attempt to limit his remarks to ten minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Board as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than Board members and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion either directly or through a member of the Board. No question shall be asked a member except through the Mayor.
(E) Voting; explanation of vote. All elections by the Board shall be made by individual ballot if requested by any two members present. A member may be permitted to explain his/her vote and may have the reason for voting for or against any measure recorded in the minutes.
(F) Questions of order. All questions of order shall be decided by the Mayor without debate, subject to an appeal to the Board.
(G) Roberts’ Rules of Order. When a point of procedure shall arise not covered by this chapter, the latest revised edition of Roberts' Rules of Order shall determine the question of procedure.
(OC, § 2-1-26) (Am. Ord. passed 4-13-89)