Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
Amending Section 2.20 of the Madison General Ordinances to clarify procedures by which the Mayor may address the Common Council.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: Sec. 42 of Robert's Rules of Order sets out certain procedures when the chair of a deliberative body wishes to address the body. This new provision of Sec. 2.20 modifies those rules for the Mayor, or an Alder sitting as Chair, addressing the Council. The CCOC has approved this ordinance.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 2.20 entitled "Mayor to Be Presiding Officer" of the Madison General Ordinances Is amended to read as follows:
"2.20 MAYOR TO BE PRESIDING OFFICER; MAYOR ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL.
(1) The Mayor shall be the presiding officer. In the absence of the Mayor the president of the Council or the president pro tem (in order) shall preside at meetings of the Council.
(2) In instances in which the Mayor wishes to address the Common Council on a substantive matter and not merely in his or her role as Chair of the Council, the following procedures shall apply:
(a) If the Mayor wishes to address the Council briefly, for purposes of information or clarification on a matter before the Council, the Mayor may do so from the Chair, provided there is not an objection from an Alder to such address. The Mayor should preface such information or clarification by informing the Council that he or she wishes to provide such information and proceeding, unless there is an objection to the Mayor speaking from the Chair. If there is such an objection, the Mayor shall follow the procedure set out below.
(b) In the event the Mayor wishes to address the Council in an attempt to influence the vote on a matter before it, the Mayor shall relinquish the Chair until such time as the Mayor has concluded addressing the Council. The Mayor may then return to the Chair. Having once relinquished and resumed the Chair on any matter, the Mayor may not again address the Council on that matter.
(c) When the Mayor relinquishes the Chair, the Chair shall be assumed by the President of the Council or in the absence of the President, the President Pro Tem. In the absence of both the President and President Pro Tem, the Mayor shall designate an Alder to take the Chair.
(d) If an Alder assumes the Chair, the Alder may vote on the matter before the Council. Relinquishment of the Chair by the Mayor does not change the Mayor's right to vote.
(e) The procedure set forth in this subsection applies to any Alder who is in the role of Chair of the Common Council."