(a) Motions. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Chair before debate. Any member of Council may demand that it be reduced to writing. A motion shall pass upon receiving the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
(b) Order of Precedence. When a question is before Council, only the following motions shall be entertained, which shall take precedence in the order stated:
(1) Motion to adjourn.
(2) Motion to recess.
(3) Motion to lay the question on the table.
(4) Motion to the previous question.
(5) Motion to refer.
(6) Motion to amend.
(7) Motion to postpone the question indefinitely.
(c) Motion to Adjourn. A motion to adjourn shall be in order at any time except:
(1) When repeated without intervening business or discussion.
(2) When made while another member is speaking.
(3) When the previous question has been ordered.
(4) When a vote is being taken.
A motion to adjourn is not debatable, except as to the time to which the meeting is adjourned.
(d) Motion to Lay the Question on the Table. A motion to lay on the table shall preclude all amendments or debate of the subject under consideration. A majority vote of the members present may take the question up from the table at the same meeting or any other meeting; provided that, any question that has laid on the table for a period of 90 days without the question being taken up by Council shall be removed from the table after said 90 days without a vote thereon for consideration. This action shall not frustrate any representment of the tabled issue at any subsequent Council committee meeting, including the Committee of the Whole, but it does preclude any presentment of the same issue directly to Council within six months of the matter being removed from the table for failing to return to the Council agenda within 90 days. To return a matter from the table to the Council agenda requires a vote in favor by at least three members of Council.
(e) Motion to the Previous Question. The previous question shall be stated in these words: "Shall debate now close?" The motion shall pass upon the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members present. If such motion is ordered, there shall be no further amendment or debate, but the question shall be put immediately.
(f) Motion to Postpone the Question. Motions to postpone a question may be amended as to time, excepting a motion to postpone indefinitely. If a motion to postpone the question indefinitely is carried, the principal question shall be declared lost.
(g) Motion to Amend. A motion to amend shall be susceptible of but one amendment. An amendment once rejected may not be moved again in the same form.
(h) Audience Participation. Audience participation at regular Council meetings shall follow these guidelines:
(1) Public comments may address items on which the Council may take action by way of a resolution or an ordinance, information items or any particular items of concern to the Village. Comments must follow acceptable public decorum. While criticism of a Council action is acceptable, personal attacks are out of order and will not be tolerated.
(2) A sign-in log will be used to determine the order of residents offering comments or asking questions.
(3) Members of the public who wish to address Council when recognized shall stand at the microphone, give their name and address before proceeding with their comments.
(4) Public comment shall be limited to five minutes per person, not to exceed 30 minutes total for the public involvement of the Council meeting. Council may respond to residents' questions or inquiries, without infringing on the speaker's allotted time. Individual or total time allotted may be extended only at the Mayor's discretion. The Mayor retains the right to stop discussions if the meeting becomes unruly.
(5) Short written statements or questions may be submitted before the Council meeting. When speaking, each member of the public is encouraged to provide concise comments that include their positions on the particular item being addressed. Comments or questions from the public are to be made to the Mayor, who is the presiding officer, and not to the audience, as if their comments were a public presentation.
(6) A Council meeting is not the forum for debate, which is not permitted at a Council meeting.
(7) The Chief of Police, or his or her designee, shall be the Sergeant of Arms at each Council meeting and may remove disruptive audience members.
(i) Other Parliamentary Rules. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the deliberations of Council.
(Res. 1974-9. Passed 2-19-74; Ord. 2001-4. Passed 2-6-01; Ord. 2012-4. Passed 2-17-15.)