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16 <br />Rule 21. Withdrawal of Motion. A motion may be withdrawn by the introducer at any <br />time before it is amended or before the chair puts the motion to a vote, whichever occurs <br />first. <br />Comment: Robert's Rules of Order provides that once a motion has been stated by the chair for <br />debate, it cannot be withdrawn without the assembly's consent. Such a procedure is <br />unnecessary for a small board. <br />VII Quorum and Other Rules <br />Rule 22. Duty to Vote. It is the duty of each member to vote unless excused by a majority <br />vote according to law. The board may excuse members from voting on matters involving <br />their own financial interest or official conduct. A member who wishes to be excused from <br />voting shall so inform the chair, who shall take a vote of the remaining members. No <br />member shall be excused from voting except in cases involving conflicts of interest, as <br />defined by the board or by law, or the member's official conduct, as defined by the board. In <br />all other cases, a failure to vote by a member who is physically present in the meeting, or <br />who has withdrawn without being excused by a majority vote of the remaining members <br />present, shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. <br />Comment: G.S. 153A-44 provides that board members have a duty to vote, but does not state <br />the remedy for failure to do so. Many boards record all members as voting yes on any matter <br />put to vote unless members audibly vote no. A few boards reverse the presumption and record <br />members as voting no unless they audibly vote yes. <br />Rule 23. Prohibition of Secret Voting No vote may be taken by sect~et ballot. If the board decides to <br />vote by written ballot, each member shall sign his or her ballot and the minutes shall reoord the vote of <br />each member. These ballots shall be retained and made available for public inspection until the minutes of <br />that meeting have been approved, at which time they may be destroyed. <br />Comment: See G.S. 143-318.13(b) <br />Rule 24. Action by Reference. The board shall not deliberate, vote, or otherwise act on <br />any matter by reference to an agenda or document number unless copies of the agenda or <br />documents being referenced are available for public inspection at the meeting and are so <br />worded that people at the meeting can understand what is being discussed or acted on. <br />Comment: See G.S. 143-318.13(c). <br />Rule 25. Introduction of Ordinances, Resolutions, and Orders. A proposed ordinanoe shall be <br />deemed introduced at the first meeting at which it is on the agenda and actually oonsidered by the board <br />and its introduction shall be rec~orded in the minutes. <br />Commen~ G.S. 153A-45 provides t1~at an ordinanoe maY not be finally adapted at the meeting at w]uch it is <br />intnoduoed exoept by unanimous vote. The definition of intmductaon therefbne is imporlant because it makes a <br />di~'erenoe in the number of vobes xequii~ed to adopt an oxdinanoe. The rule asswnes t~at a measure is introduoed <br />only when the board begins to oonsider the matter. <br />Rule 26. Adoption, Amendment, or Repeal of Ordinances. To be adopted. at the <br />meeting where first introduced, an ordinance or any action with the effect of an ordinance, <br />or any ordinance amending or repealing an existing ordinance (except the budget <br />ordinance, a bond order, or other ordinance requiring a public hearing before adoption), <br />