Agenda - 05-12-2015 - 5 - Laserfiche WebLink

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18 23 To determine whether a speaker has gone beyond reasonable 2. standards of courtesy in his or her remarks and to entertain and rule on objections from other members on this ground; To entertain and answer questions of parliamentary law or 3. procedure; To call a brief recess at any time; 4. To adjourn in an emergency. 5. A decision by the presiding officer under any of the first three powers listed above may be appealed to the board upon motion of any member. Such a motion is in order immediately after a decision under those powers is announced and at no other time. The member making the motion need not be recognized by the presiding officer, and the motion, if timely made, may not be ruled out of order. Comment: The chair normally presides at board meetings. In his or her absence, the vice-chair, if there is one, presides. If th no vice-chair, or if both the chair and vice-chair are absent, t board typically selects a temporary presiding officer. The board may choose whether the chair always votes or votes only to break a tie. Someone who is temporarily presiding in the chairÔs place is still a full member of the board and thus entitled to make motions and to vote. The chair or anyone presiding in the chairÔs place has substan- tial procedural powers, but those powers are not absolute. Under this rule and Rule 15, any board member is entitled to make a motion to appeal to the other members concerning the presiding officerÔs decisions on motions, decorum in debate and most other procedural matters. There are two exceptions to this right of appeal. A chair or other presiding officer may adjourn without the boardÔs vote or appeal in an emergency, and he or she may also call a brief recess without a vote at any time, when necessary to Ñclear the airÒ and thus reduce friction among the members. Rule 12. Presiding Officer when the Chair is in Active Debate. If the chair wishes to become actively engaged in debate on a particular proposal, he or she shall designate another board mem ber to preside. The chair shall resume the duty to preside as soon as action on the matter is concluded.