RESOLUTION 3102

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners desire to establish rules and procedures for the conduct of its meetings to promote effective and efficient government; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners desires to encourage meaningful and orderly citizen input into the deliberative process of Board of Commissioners; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners desires to have meetings which provide for timely consideration of agenda items of interest to meeting attendees and which provide for timely completion thereof; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners deems the following rules and procedures to further the goals of Board of Commissioners.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the order of business of regular public meetings shall be as follows:

 

Call to Order at 7:00 P.M.

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Awards, Announcements and Presentations

Public Forum

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Disbursement Report and Check Register

Legislative

Finance

Administrative

Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning

Other Business

Board Administrative Reports and Comments

Adjournment

Executive Session

 

Any Board of Commissioners member may place an item on the agenda for motion and debate:

(i)     By notifying the person charged with the preparation of the agenda, and

(ii)   By providing a copy of the proposed motion or action to be considered with any informational material to the Township Secretary by 12:00 p.m. on the Friday before the scheduled Board of Commissioners Meeting or as otherwise directed by the Board President. The item to be considered shall first be set forth in the appropriate of the agenda by descriptive title and a copy of the proposed action or motion and informational material shall be appended to the agenda.

 

The agenda, with motions appended unless of standard content (motions to adjourn, approve minutes, etc.), shall be published and delivered to of each Board of Commissioners member by the close of the business on the Friday of the week preceding the scheduled meeting. At such time shall also be posted publicly in the Township building.

 

 

TOWNSHIP OF MARPLE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCEDURE

PUBLIC FORUM - 7:00PM to 7:30 PM at Board of Commissioner’s Regular monthly and work session meetings unless extended by the Board President or presiding Officer.

The public is invited to address Board of Commissioners on any matter including, particularly, agenda items. This will be the opportunity for public input on the agenda. The agenda is available at the Township Building by the close of business on the last business day of the week preceding the scheduled meeting, notwithstanding special meetings called by the Board.  The Agenda will also be posted on the Township’s Government Access Cable Channel and Website.

The public is required to register with the Secretary by 7:00PM the night of the meeting, their name, address, and subject of discussion. The Board President or presiding officer shall determine speaking order and duration according to the number of speakers and topics. The presiding officer may limit the time each person shall speak to 3 minutes, giving equal time to all. When a group of persons wishes to address the Board of Commissioners on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the President or presiding officer to request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group to address the Board of Commissioners and to limit the number of persons addressing the Board of Commissioners on the same matter so as to avoid unnecessary repetition.

All persons shall speak at the podium and shall identify themselves and their street address. In no case shall speakers be permitted to address the Board from the audience and only dialogue with the speaker at the podium shall be acknowledged.  Audience members are encouraged to follow proper decorum and allow those speaking all due courtesies.  Any audience member causing a disruption of the meeting shall be promptly removed.

Speakers are requested to furnish to the Secretary copies of any prepared statement/presentation.

All speakers shall address their comments to the Board President or presiding officer. The Board shall not permit the direct address of any staff member, Township Solicitor or Township Engineer.  The Board members shall also refrain from making comments to the speaker and engaging in direct conversation with the speaker unless directed by the Board President or presiding officer.

The Board President or presiding officer shall respond, if determined to be appropriate, to all questions raised by the speakers once the public forum is closed.  The Board President may defer to another Commissioner to provide an answer or ask a staff member to respond.  In no case shall the Board permit a staff member to respond without being recognized by the President.

 For items added to the agenda during the meeting, an opportunity to speak thereon will exist prior to the vote.

Unless otherwise required all proceedings will be governed by "Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised." All debates by Board of Commissioner members shall be limited to five (5) minutes in lieu of the ten (10) minute time limit as set forth in Robert's Rule of Order. The Chairman may upon application or request from a Board of Commissioners member, waive this provision.

RESOLVED, this 4^th day of January 2010