To promote ethical behavior and civil discourse each council member shall:
- Attend council meetings on time and prepared
- Make decisions with the needs of students as the main objective
- Listen to and value diverse opinions
- Be sure the opinions of those you represent are included in discussions
- Expect accountability and be prepared to be accountable
- Act with integrity
All meetings are open to the public and the public is
welcome to attend.
The agenda of each upcoming meeting with draft minutes of
the prior meeting will be made available to all council members at least one
week in advance.
Minutes will be kept of all meetings, prepared in draft
format for approval at the next scheduled meeting.
The council will prepare a timeline for the school year that
includes due dates for all required reporting and other activities/tasks that the
council agrees to assume or participate in.
The timeline will assist in preparation of agendas to be sure the
council accomplishes their work in a timely manner.
The chair or a co-chair conducts the meetings, makes
assignments and requests reports on assignments. In the absence of the chair or co-chair, the
vice-chair or other co-chair shall conduct meetings.
Meetings shall be conducted and action taken according to
very simplified rules of parliamentary procedure as required in 53A-1a-108.1(9)(i). Items on the
agenda take priority over other discussions coming before the council. Action of the council will be taken by motions
and voting. The motions and voting are recorded
in the minutes.
A motion (or an action to be taken by the council) is stated
as a motion. Someone else on the council
“seconds” the motion indicating that at least one other person on the council
feels the motion is worthy of discussion.
Then the council members may provide input and discussion as called upon
by the chair. When discussion seems
complete the chair may call for a vote on the motion. Or when a member of the council “calls the
previous question” (a motion to end discussion of the first motion), a second
is required and then, without discussion the chair calls for a vote that must
pass by 2/3. If the vote on the previous
question fails the council goes back to discussing the first motion. If the motion to call the previous question
passes, the chair directly calls for a vote on the first motion. A vote to call the previous question is
usually used to move business along.
Simple Motions of Parliamentary Procedure
motion
|
Does it require
a 2nd?
|
is it
debatable?
|
can it be
amended?
|
is a Vote
Required
|
Adjourn
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
majority
|
Amend a motion
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
majority
|
Close nominations
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
2/3
|
Main motion
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
majority
|
Point of Order
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
ruled on by chair
|
Previous Question
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
2/3
|
Reconsider
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
majority
|
Withdrawal of Motion
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
majority
|
- A tie vote is a lost vote.
- A main motion may be amended.
- Nominations can be closed by saying, “I move to close nominations.”
- Most motions are main motions.
- A point of order is offered when there is some question if procedure had been followed correctly.
- To stop debate or discussion on a motion and force the vote a member would say, “I move the previous question.” This requires a second and a 2/3 vote.
- Hasty action may be corrected by use of the motion to reconsider. This motion may be made only by one who voted on the prevailing side.
- A person who made the motion may withdraw the same motion.
- Meetings are regularly scheduled, however interim meetings may be called by the request and support of two Community Council Members. One week notice is still required.
- In extreme circumstances, a motion and second can be made electronically (email, etc.) or by phone among Council Members. A majority must approve, and the motion is given preliminary approval until the next Community Council meeting (whether a regularly scheduled meeting, or an interim meeting).