§ 2-35. Rules of order.

(a)

Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all regular, special, agenda and executive meetings of the board of directors, except as modified by A.C.A. tit. 14, ch. 48 [§ 14-48-101 et seq.], and the provisions of this article. The city administrator shall provide a copy of Robert's Rules of Order to each member of the board of directors, the mayor and the city clerk.

(b)

The mayor, assistant mayor or vice mayor, or other person presiding over the meeting shall have the affirmative duty and authority to require the members of the board of directors and other persons present at the meeting to comply with the rules of order. The chairman of the meeting shall constantly maintain the decorum of the meeting, and shall have authority to order the removal of persons not on the board of directors violating the rules of order or disturbing the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may require the city administrator to provide a person having police authority to be present at a meeting to assist in the performance of the duties of the presiding officer. It is the purpose of this subsection to require the chairman of the meeting to enforce the rules of order and to maintain the decorum of the meeting without a request for rule compliance or objection to rule violation by a member of the board of directors. If a member of the board of directors believes there is a violation of the foregoing by a citizen, he or she may make a motion to end the presentation or assert a point of order. If said motion receives a second, there shall immediately be taken a vote of the board of directors on the motion to end the presentation. The chairman may enforce the point of order or may submit same to a vote of the board of directors.

(c)

A majority of the board may on a motion, without second, order the previous question, which shall have the effect to cut off all debate and bring the board to a direct vote upon the immediate question or questions on which it has been asked and ordered. The previous question may be asked and ordered upon a single motion, a series of motions allowable under the rules, or an amendment or amendments, or may be made to embrace all authorized motions or amendments and include the item of business to its passage or rejection. It shall be in order, pending the motion for the previous question, or after the previous question shall have been ordered on its passage, for the mayor to entertain and submit without debate a motion to commit, with or without instructions, to a standing or select committee. All incidental questions of order arising after a motion is made for the previous question, and pending such motion, shall be decided, whether an appeal or otherwise, without debate.

(d)

No member of the board of directors shall speak or debate on any item of business, which is not on the agenda at any regular meeting of the board of directors, except on a motion to add the item of business to the agenda as provided in this article, without the unanimous consent of the members of the board who are present.

(e)

The minutes of each regular or special meeting of the board of directors shall be accurately summarized by the city clerk, reduced to writing, and a copy provided to each member of the board of directors and the mayor prior to the next regular meeting. No minutes of any past meeting of the board of directors shall be read at any subsequent meeting unless a reading is requested by a member of the board of directors.

(f)

The chairman of each meeting of the board shall rotate the opportunity to first speak or debate on successive items of business among the members of the board.

(g)

All special and standing committees of the board shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting, subject to the approval of a majority of the board, which approval shall be recorded.

(h)

The membership of standing committees shall terminate on December 31 of each year and new members appointed at the next regular meeting of the board. Special committees shall terminate upon the presentation to the board of a committee report stating that it is final or at the expiration of one (1) year, whichever event occurs first.

(i)

The referral of a matter or item of business to a committee shall have the effect of requiring the city administrator and his staff to fully support the committee in its work.

(Ord. No. 24-10, § 1, 5-18-10)