Title
Board Resolution Adopting Operating Rules
Body
WHEREAS, the Madison Water Utility Board is authorized under Section 13.01(3) of the
Madison General Ordinances (MGO) to make rules for its own proceedings; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Water Utility Board desires to conduct its business fairly,
effectively, and efficiently; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Water Utility Board must comply with MGO 33.01 “Boards,
Commissions, and Committees Procedures”; and
WHEREAS, the Madison Water Utility Board desires to conduct its business openly,
transparently, and with maximum opportunity for public involvement and participation for
the people of Madison,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Water Utility Board adopts the
following operating rules:
1. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the general rules and guidelines for Board
proceedings. Notwithstanding these general rules, however, other rules
contained in this resolution and adopted by the Board shall apply.
2. The President shall be responsible for establishing Board meeting agendas. The
President shall solicit input from all Board members, may solicit input from
others, and shall transmit agenda items to the General Manager, who shall
prepare a draft agenda for the President’s approval no later than the Friday of the
week prior to a Board meeting.
3. Agendas shall contain a period for public comment following the call to order and
roll call of Board members.
4. The President shall not vote unless the President’s vote would affect the
outcome of the matter before the Board, and shall not participate in making
motions. However, the President shall be allowed to ask questions and
participate in discussion of items that come before the Board.
5. The Board shall act on items referred to it by the Common Council by voice vote
and, where the votes are contested, by roll call vote in accordance with MGO
33.01(11)(a). In the case of a roll call vote, the Board's report to the Council shall
include a list of members who voted and the vote of each.
6. The Board is not required to act on informational items; however, the Board may
accept informational items on the Board's agenda.
7. The Board may, from time to time, establish subcommittees to accomplish
specific objectives. Such subcommittees and their membership shall be created
and dissolved through a resolution. No person may be a member of a
subcommittee who is not a member of the Board unless that person has been
nominated by the Board and confirmed by the Common Council.
8. At any Board meeting with only four voting members present, if two members
have discussed an agenda item outside of a publicly noticed meeting, that item
should be referred for the next meeting. When a non-Board meeting conducted
by Water Utility staff may reasonably be expected to be attended by Board
members, the text “A quorum of the Water Utility Board may be present” shall be
included at the top of the meeting notice. In the case of a subcommittee meeting,
the Chair of the subcommittee shall establish the agenda and see that meeting
minutes are taken. This rule does not apply to purely social events, provided that
Water Utility business is not discussed. Staff shall be given a minimum of three
business days to notice meetings and post the agenda.
9. These operating rules shall be reviewed and approved by the Board annually at a
meeting following the election of officers, allowing new officers to suggest
revisions. These rules and any subsequent revisions shall be filed with the City
Clerk.