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28 35 <br /> member who wishes to be excused from voting shall so inform the <br /> chair, who shall take a vote of the remaining members. No mem- <br /> ber shall be excused from voting except in cases involving con- <br /> flicts of interest, as defined by the board or by law,or the member's <br /> official conduct, as defined by the board. In all other cases, a <br /> failure to vote by a member who is physically present in the meet- <br /> ing, or who has withdrawn without being excused by a majority <br /> vote of the remaining members present, shall be recorded as an <br /> affirmative vote. <br /> Comment: G.S. 153A-44 provides that board members have a <br /> duty to vote,but does not state the remedy for failure to do so. <br /> Many boards record all members as voting yes on any matter <br /> put to vote unless members audibly vote no. A few boards <br /> reverse the presumption and record members as voting no <br /> unless they audibly vote yes. <br /> Rule 23. Prohibition of Secret Voting. No vote may be taken by <br /> secret ballot. If the board decides to vote by written ballot, each <br /> member shall sign his or her ballot and the minutes shall record <br /> the vote of each member. These ballots shall be retained and made <br /> available for public inspection until the minutes of that meeting <br /> 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 deliber- <br /> ate, vote, or otherwise act on any matter by reference to an <br /> agenda or document number unless copies of the agenda or <br /> documents being referenced are available for public inspection <br /> at the meeting and are so worded that people at the meeting <br /> 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. <br /> A proposed ordinance shall be deemed introduced at the first meeting <br /> at which it is on the agenda and actually considered by the board and its <br /> introduction shall be recorded in the minutes. <br /> Comment: G.S. 153A-45 provides that an ordinance may not be <br /> finally adopted at the meeting at which it is introduced except by <br /> unanimous vote. The definition of introduction therefore is im- <br />