HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-30-80 Council Rules Committee •
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.
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(n) Should any Councilman, in the course of his remarks, violate
a second time any rule of the Council, and again be called to order,
he shall not speak further upon the pending question, except by
permission of two-thirds of the members present.
(o) Each Councilman shall observe the highest standards of
dignity, propriety, courtesy, respect and decorum when with his fellow
Councilmen, officers and employees of the City, and all other persons,
and when carrying out any of the responsibilities, duties and services
mandated by the office of a Councilman.
Councilman McGann then emphasized that the Chairman of a committee
has the authority to call, cancel, or change a meeting. He stressed
that proper notice as required by the Indiana Open Door Law must be
followed in each instance. He also noted that Section 2-10 (h) of
the Code also allows any two councilmen to call a committee meeting if
the Chairman is absent or declines to call a meeting of the committee.
The topic of Committee Reports was then discussed. The Indiana
Open Door law and the present Code provisions were reviewed. After
discussion it was the recommendation of the Committee that the Municipal
Code be amended to incorporate the following: (a) a two (2) week filing
period with the City Clerk of all committee minutes after a meeting;
and (b) that all minutes be maintained in permanent files with the
Clerk' s Office.
It was the consensus of the committee that enforcement of the
present rules and regulations on the book would be stressed in all
future Council meetings. The concern over the public image portrayed
and the need to continue to professionilize were also discussed.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
the meeting was adjourned at 4 :55 p.m.
Rehpectfull submitted,
Lewis A. McGann,
Chairman