(A) The Board may determine its own rules, and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and under penalties as the Board may prescribe. Whenever a Trustee is absent from more than one-half of all meetings of the Board, regular and special, held within any period of four consecutive months, he or she shall thereupon cease to hold office.
(B) The order of business for each meeting of the Board shall be as follows:
(1) Call to order;
(2) Determination of a quorum;
(3) Reading and approval of the minutes;
(4) Readings of communications;
(5) Unfinished business;
(6) New ordinances and resolutions or other actions to be taken or considered by the Board;
(7) Reports of committees;
(8) Remarks of personal privilege; and
(9) Announcements by the Mayor or other officers.
(C) The following rules of procedure shall apply to any regular or special meeting of the Board unless two Trustees agree to waive the rule or rules:
(1) At the request of the Mayor or any Board member, all motions reduced to writing;
(2) A motion to reconsider any of the proceedings of the Board shall entertained unless it be made by a member who previously voted in the majority;
(3) No motion shall be debated or put until it be seconded and stated by the Mayor. It is then and not until then in possession of the Board and cannot be withdrawn, but by leave of the Board;
(4) (a) A motion to adjourn shall be in order at any time, except as follows:
1. When repeated without intervening business or discussion;
2. When made as an interruption of a member while speaking;
3. When the previous question has been ordered; or
4. While a vote is being taken.
(b) A motion to adjourn is debatable only as to the time to which the meeting is adjourned.
(5) (a) When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, but:
1. To adjourn;
2. To lay on the table;
3. For the previous question;
4. To postpone to a day certain;
5. To commit;
6. To amend; or
7. To postpone indefinitely.
(b) Which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged.
(6) When a proper motion is made, but information is wanted, the motion is to postpone to a day certain;
(7) Matters claiming present attention for which it is desired to reserve for more suitable occasion, the order is a motion to lay on the table; the matter may then be called for at any time. If the proposition may need further consideration at the hands of a committee, the motion is to refer to a committee, but if it need but a few and simple amendments, the Board shall proceed to consider and amend at once;
(8) On an amendment’s being moved, a member who has spoken on the main question may speak again to the amendment;
(9) The question is to be put first on the affirmative and then on the negative side. After the affirmative part of the question has been put, any member who has not spoken before to the question may arise and speak before the negative be put; and
(10) When a question has been moved and seconded and has been put by the presiding officer in the affirmative and negative, it cannot be debated unless under motion for reconsideration.
(Prior Code, § 2-104)