Agenda - 03-13-2012 - 5m - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 Comment: This motion is the same as the division of a question and consideration by paragraph in Robert's Rules of Order except that it is debatable. 7. To Defer Consideration. The board may defer a substantive motion for later consideration at an unspecified time. A substantive motion that has been deferred expires 100 days thereafter, unless a motion to revive consideration is adopted. Comment: This motion, which replaces the motion to lay on the table in Robert's Rules of Order, was renamed to avoid confusion. It allows the board temporarily to defer consideration of a proposal. It differs from Robert's Rules of Order in that it may be debated and amended, and in that a motion that has been deferred dies if it is not taken up by the board(via a motion to revive consideration) within one hundred days of the vote to defer consideration. (In Robert's Rules of Order a motion laid on the table dies at the end of the particular session of the assembly.) One hundred days is the suggested period of time for deferring consideration because it is also the time within which a proposed ordinance must be enacted(see Rule 27). 8. To Call the Previous Question. The motion is not in order until there has been a debate and every member has had one opportunity to speak. Comment: This motion differs from the motion in Robert's Rules of Order. The Robert's Rules of Order motion is always in order, is not debatable or amendable, and requires a two-thirds vote for adoption.Thus,it may be used to compel an immediate vote on a proposal without any debate on the issue. Such a device may be necessary to preserve efficiency in a large assembly, but with a small board, a minimum period of debate on every proposal that comes before the board strikes a better balance between efficiency and effective representation by all board members. Since every member will have an opportunity to speak, the debate may be ended by a majority vote. 9. To Postpone to a Certain Time or Day. Comment:This motion allows the board to defer consideration to a specified time or day and is appropriate when more information is needed or the deliberations are likely to be lengthy. 10. To Refer a Motion to a Committee.The board may vote to refer a substantive motion to a committee for its study and recommendations.Sixty days or more after a substantive motion has been referred to a committee,the introducer of the substantive motion may compel consideration of the measure by the entire board,whether or not the committee has reported the matter to the board. Comment: This motion is identical with the motion of the same name in Robert's Rules of Order except that the introducer's right to compel consideration by the full board after a specified period of time prevents using the motion to defeat a proposal by referring it to a committee that intends to take no action on it. If the board does not use committees, this rule is unnecessary. 11. To Amend. An amendment to a motion must be pertinent to the subject of the motion. An amendment is improper if adoption of the motion with that amendment added would have the same effect as rejection of the original motion. A proposal to substitute completely different wording for a motion or an amendment shall be treated as a motion to amend. There may be an amendment to the motion and an amendment to an amendment, but no further amendments. Any amendment to a proposed ordinance shall be reduced to writing. A vote on a motion to amend a motion may be regarded as a vote on the motion as amended if that is determined to be the intent of the board.