§ 2.44.040. Rules of procedure

The following rules of procedure shall apply:

Rule 1. Roll Call. At the hour appointed for the meeting of the council, the mayor shall take the chair, (if present, or in his absence the president pro tem) and cause the roll of members to be called, and announce whether a quorum be present. Upon the appearance of a quorum, the council shall be called to order and they shall then proceed to the business before them.

The order of business shall be as follows:

1. The reading of the journal of the last meeting, amended and approved.

2. Petitions and remonstrances presented.

3. Bills audited or referred.

4. Resolutions presented.

5. Reports from standing committees.

6. Reports from special committees.

7. Unfinished business of preceding meeting.

8. Notices to bring in ordinances.

9. Ordinances to be introduced.

10. Ordinances on their second reading.

11. Ordinances on their passage.

12. New business.

Rule 2. Duties and Privileges of Mayor. The mayor shall preserve order and decorum, and shall have the right to speak to points of order, and decide the questions of order, subject to an appeal to the council, when called for by two members. He shall have the casting vote upon all questions upon which the council is equally divided, but not otherwise.

Rule 3. Committees to be Appointed by Mayor. All committees shall be appointed by the mayor, unless otherwise especially directed by the council.

Rule 4. Disorderly Conduct. In cases of disturbances or disorderly conduct in the council chamber the mayor shall have the power to have the same cleared.

Rule 5. Recognize Member. The mayor shall name the member who is entitled to the floor, when two or more rise to speak at the same time.

Rule 6. Speak More than Twice. No member shall speak more than twice on the same subject, without leave of the council, nor more than once, until every other member choosing to speak shall have spoken.

Rule 7. Interested Members not to Vote. No member shall vote on any question, in the event of which he is immediately interested.

Rule 8. Each Member Must Vote Unless Excused. Every member present shall vote upon all questions put to the council, unless for special reasons, he shall be excused.

Rule 9. Reduced in Writing. Every motion and resolution shall be reduced to writing, if the mayor or any member desires it.

Rule 10. Question Stated by the Mayor. When a motion is made and seconded it shall be stated by the mayor, and if in writing, handed to the clerk, and by him read aloud before being debated. After a motion be stated by the mayor, or read by the clerk, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the council and open to debate, but may be withdrawn by leave of the council.

Rule 11. Division May be Called. The division of any question may be called for, by any member, if it comprehends questions so distinct, that one part taken away, the rest may stand entire for the action of the council; and a motion to strike out being lost, shall not preclude motions to amend, nor motions to strike out and insert.

Rule 12. Commitment. Motions, reports and resolutions may be committed or recommitted at the pleasure of the council.

Rule 13. Mover's Name Entered. In all cases where a resolution or motion is entered on the minutes of the council, the name of the member moving the same shall also be entered.

Rule 14. Yeas and Nays Taken—When. Upon all questions pending before the council, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journal, when demanded by two members.

Rule 15. Amendment—When Not Allowed. No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration, shall be admitted, under color of amendment.

Rule 16. Priority of Question. When a blank is to be filled and different sums or dates proposed, the question shall be taken first upon the largest sum, or the longest time.

Rule 17. What Committee Shall Have Precedence. When motions are made to refer the same subjects to different committees, the motion to refer to a standing committee shall have precedence over a motion to refer to a special committee.

Rule 18. Question in Order of Priority. When a question is under debate no motion shall be in order except:

1. To adjourn.

2. To lay on table.

3. For the previous questions.

4. To postpone to a certain day.

5. To commit or refer.

6. To postpone indefinitely.

7. To amend.

Such several motions should have precedence in the order in which they are herein arranged; the first three to be decided without debate.

Rule l9. Adjournment—When in Order. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, except when a member is speaking, or the council is voting, or when it has been decided that the previous question shall be taken.

Rule 20. Cannot Be Amended. A motion to adjourn simply, cannot be amended, but a motion to adjourn to a given day may be and is open to debate.

Rule 21. Previous Question. When the previous question is moved and seconded, it should be put in this form: "Shall the main question be now put?" If this carries, all further motions and debate shall be excluded and the question put in this order; first, upon the amendments pending, and then upon the main proposition before the council.

Rule 22. Indefinite Postponement. When a question is postponed indefinitely, it shall not be again introduced into, or acted upon, by the council for the ensuing two months.

Rule 23. Who May Move a Reconsideration. Any member voting with the majority on any question may move for a reconsideration thereof during the meeting at which the same was passed; or any member voting with the majority or who was absent at the time the question was passed may move for a reconsideration thereof at the next regular meeting or special meeting called therefor and not thereafter.

Rule 24. Notice to Introduce Ordinances. At least one week's notice shall be given of the introduction of ordinances; except that the committee on ordinances may, at any regular meeting of the council, report ordinances.

Rule 25. Shall Have Three Readings. All ordinances shall receive three several readings in council, previous to their passage, and shall be acted upon in the order in which they were introduced, unless the council shall direct otherwise; and after an ordinance has been read the second time, it shall be subject to amendment or commitment, if the council so direct.

Rule 26. Committees to be Appointed by the Mayor. The standing committees of the city council shall be appointed biennially at the first regular meeting after election, and shall consist of not less than three members each; and the first person named on the committee shall be the chairman thereof.

The following shall be the standing committees of the council:

1. Committee on finance.

2. Committee on streets and alleys.

3. Committee on sewer.

4. Committee on water.

5. Committee on fire.

6. Committee on buildings and grounds.

7. Committee on band.

8. Committee on purchasing.

9. Committee on cemetery.

10. Committee on ordinances.

11. Committee on light.

12. Committee on police.

Rule 27. Special Committees. All special committees shall consist of three members each, unless some other number be named.

Rule 28. Reports of Committees. Standing and special committees, to whom references are made, shall in all cases report in writing the state of facts with their opinion thereon, which opinion shall be summed up in the form of an order, resolution or recommendation.

Rule 29. Rules—How Amended or Rescinded. No standing rule or order of the council shall be rescinded or changed without one week's previous notice, in writing, being given of the motion therefor; nor shall any rule be suspended, except by vote of three-fourths of the members elected to any city council.

Rule 30. Parliamentary Rules. The rules of parliamentary practices comprised in Robert's rules of order shall govern the sessions of the city council, in all cases in which they are applicable; and where they are not inconsistent with the standing rules of the council or the laws of the state.

Rule 31 Special Meetings and their Objectives. When a special meeting of the city council shall be called by the mayor, or otherwise, the purpose or object of the meeting shall be named in the call, and no other business except that specified therein shall be transacted at said special meeting.

Rule 32. Committee Shall not Expend More than Twenty-five dollars. Standing or special committees before undertaking to direct grading or other work on the streets or alleys of Centerville, or purchase material for such work, shall report the cost and manner of doing said work to the city council with their recommendations thereon; and no work or material shall be ordered, except by order of the city council; provided, however, that in cases of emergency such committees may make repairs on streets and alleys without such order when the cost does not exceed twenty-five dollars.

(1942 Rev. Ords. § 10).