06-30-80 Council Rules Committee

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• r Tntitmtttrr Pond of the Council Rules Committee On the (IInmman Mount-it of the Titg .3f*a* iSenh: The Council Rules Committees meeting was called to order by its Chairman, Councilman McGann, at 4:00 p.m. on June 30 , 1980. The meeting was held in the Informal meeting room, 4th Floor of the County-City Building. People in attendance included the following: Councilmen Beck, Crone, Dombrowski, McGann, Szymkowiak, Taylor, and Voorde; and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Councilman McGann noted that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss the recent "incident" between Councilman Szymkowiak and Kopczynski as reported in the newspaper. Rather this meeting was to focus on improving the Council portion of the rules and regulations pertaining to. Council meetings. He noted that the recent changes made for the public portion of the meeting were working quite well. Councilman McGann further stated that since no one had filed a formal complaint with the Rules Committee, that there would be no discussion of the Szymkowiak/ Kopczynski matter. Councilman McGann then offered his suggestions as to various procedures which the Council might consider. Discussion followed. Various existing procedures were then read from the Municipal Code. Tt was emphasized that the following rules should be highlighted to the entire Council. These included the following: Section 2-8 (g) When any member is about to speak or deliver any matter to the Council , he shall respectfully address himself to the presiding officer, and upon being recognized, confine himself to the question in debate, and avoid personality. The presiding officer shall not recognize any member as in order, unless he is in his proper seat. (h) When two (2) or more members seek recognition at once, the presiding officer shall name the member entitled to speak. (i) No member shall speak more than twice nor for more than five (5) minutes on the second occasion, upon any one question or issue in debate during the same meeting. A member shall only be granted the right to speak a second time on the same question or issue after each member has had an opportunity to speak on said issue or question. (m) If any member, in speaking or otherwise, shall transgress the rules of the Council, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call him to order, in which case he shall immediately cease the transgression unless permitted, on motion of another member, to explain; and the Council shall, if appealed to, decide the case without debate. if the decision is in favor of the member called to order, he shall be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise, and if the case requires it, he shall be liable to the censure of the Council. FREE PRESS .n PURLIININC Co.