Chapter 2.08 TOWN COUNCIL RULES

The standing rules set out in this chapter shall be and the same are established for the conduct of the proceedings of the council of the town of Winthrop. (Ord. 1 § 1, 1924)

2.08.020 Convening of special meetings.

The town council may be convened in special session at any time in the manner prescribed by law, but no special meeting shall be held at any place other than that prescribed for the holding of the regular meetings. (Ord. 1 § 2, 1924)

2.08.030 Mayor to preside.

The mayor shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting of the council, shall call the members to order, shall preserve order and decorum, and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the chamber, may direct the same to be cleared of spectators. (Ord. 1 § 3, 1924)

2.08.040 Roll of council.

The clerk in calling the roll of the council, shall call the names of the members in their alphabetical order. (Ord. 1 § 4, 1924)

2.08.050 Election to office.

In all elections to office the roll shall be called. The votes of the members shall be given “viva voca” and shall be entered on the journal. (Ord. 1 § 5, 1924)

2.08.060 Questions of order.

All questions of order shall be decided by the mayor, subject to an appeal to the council. (Ord. 1 § 6, 1924)

2.08.070 Order.

If any member shall transgress any rules of the council the mayor or any member may call him to order, in which case the member called to order shall immediately take his seat and be silent, unless permitted by the council to make an explanation, and the council, if appealed to, shall decide the question of order. (Ord. 1 § 7, 1924)

2.08.080 Appeal.

An appeal for the decision of the mayor upon any question shall be allowed and put only upon the demand of at least two members. (Ord. 1 § 8, 1924)

2.08.090 Question on appeal.

Upon an appeal the question shall be “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?” The roll shall then be called, the ayes and noes taken and recorded in the journal. (Ord. 1 § 9, 1924)

2.08.100 Vote.

Every member present, when a question is put, shall vote, unless the council for special reasons shall excuse him. (Ord. 1 § 10, 1924)

2.08.110 Reduced to writing.

Every motion or proposition shall be reduced to writing if the mayor or any member shall so request. (Ord. 1 § 11, 1924)

2.08.120 Order of business.

The order of business shall be as follows:

A. Roll call;

B. The reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting, the correction of the same, if necessary, the signing thereof by the mayor and the attestation thereof by the clerk;

C. The unfinished business upon the table of the clerk;

D. Communications by the mayor;

E. Reports from committees;

F. Reports from the officers of the town;

G. Remonstrances and petitions for redress of grievances;

H. Petitions of all other kinds;

I. Presentation of new business by the members. (Ord. 1 § 12, 1924)

2.08.130 Suspending order of business.

The order of business described in Section 2.08.120 may be suspended or changed at any meeting for the time only, by a vote of the majority of the members present. (Ord. 1 § 13, 1924)

2.08.140 Previous question.

The call of the previous question shall be entertained only upon demand of two members, and while pending shall preclude all amendments and debates upon the main question, and shall be decided by a vote upon the following proposition: “Shall the main question be now put?”. (Ord. 1 § 14, 1924)

2.08.150 Decision of question.

Any question containing two or more propositions shall be divided upon the demand of any member. (Ord. 1 § 15, 1924)

2.08.160 “Ayes” and “noes” recorded.

Upon the call of any member, the ayes and noes upon any question shall be recorded upon the journal, but such shall not preclude amendments before the main question is put. (Ord. 1 § 16, 1924)

2.08.170 Protest in writing.

The mayor or any member shall have the liberty to protest against any ordinance or resolution which he may deem injurious to the public or any individual, and have the reasons for his protest entered upon the journal, but such protest and reasons therefor must be reduced to writing, signed by the protestant, and filed with the clerk within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the adjournment of the meeting at which said ordinance or resolution shall have been passed. (Ord. 1 § 17, 1924)

2.08.180 Motion to adjourn.

A. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, unless the council is engaged in voting.

B. Without Debate. A motion to adjourn or lay on the table shall be decided without debate. (Ord. 1 §§ 18, 19, 1924)

2.08.190 Ordinance or resolution recommitted when.

Any ordinance or resolution after commitment and report thereon may be recommitted at any time prior to the final passage thereof. (Ord. 1 § 20, 1924)

2.08.200 Filling blanks, etc.

In filling blanks of any resolution, order or ordinance presented to the council, the first name moved, the longest time stated and the largest sum presented, shall be first put. (Ord. 1 § 21, 1924)

2.08.210 Motion before the house.

When a question is under debate no motion shall be entertained except a motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, to postpone to a certain day, to commit or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order given. (Ord. 1 § 22, 1924)

2.08.220 Passing of ordinances.

All ordinances shall be read three times, and upon the passage thereof, the vote thereon shall be taken by ayes and noes, and entered upon the journal. When an ordinance is introduced it shall be read in full and no more at the meeting at which it is introduced, and this rule may be suspended for the time only by a vote of the majority of the members present; provided, that no ordinance or resolution shall be passed at the same meeting at which it is introduced; the object of the ordinance shall be briefly stated in the title, and no ordinance shall be revived or amended by its title only; but any ordinance revived or any section or sections of any ordinance amended shall be inserted at length in the ordinance reviving or amending the same. (Ord. 1 § 23, 1924)

2.08.230 Appointment of committees.

All standing committees of the council shall be appointed by the mayor, subject, however, to confirmation by the council, and special and select committees shall be appointed by the mayor unless otherwise ordered by the council. (Ord. 1 § 24, 1924)

2.08.240 Permission to retire.

No member shall leave a meeting of the council without permission of a majority of the members present. (Ord. 1 § 26, 1924)

2.08.250 Charges against town officers.

Charges against any of the officers of the town shall be in writing verified by affidavit, and after having been read, shall be laid on the table or referred to a committee for investigation without debate. (Ord. 1 § 28, 1924)

2.08.260 Manner of address.

When a member is about to speak, he shall arise and address the mayor by his official title; and when more than one member claims the floor at the same time, the mayor shall pronounce the name of the member entitled to speak. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question, except by unanimous consent of the council. (Ord. 1 § 29, 1924)

2.08.270 To lay on table.

All business brought before the council by motion, resolution or any other way and laid upon the table, shall be considered as finally disposed of, unless taken from the table by order of the council before adjournment of the third regular meeting subsequent to the meeting at which it was tabled. (Ord. 1 § 30, 1924)

2.08.280 Obtaining a quorum.

Whenever at the time appointed for the meeting of the council there shall not be a quorum present, it shall be lawful for the members present to order the town marshal to arrest the members absent or any of them, and cause them to appear forthwith at the place of meeting, and there to remain until the meeting adjourns or leave of absence is granted them. (Ord. 1 § 31, 1924)

2.08.290 Adjourned meeting.

It shall be lawful for any member or members, in number less than a quorum, who have assembled at the time and place appointed for the meeting of the council, to adjourn to a subsequent time. (Ord. 474 § 3(A), 1996: Ord. 1 § 32, 1924)

2.08.300 Mayor pro tem.

In the absence of the mayor at the time appointed for the meeting of the council, the councilmen shall choose a mayor pro tempore from among their own number. The mayor pro tempore shall have the same authority, rights, powers and duties as the mayor, but these shall continue only on the day on which he is chosen. (Ord. 1 § 33, 1924)

2.08.310 Parliamentary rules.

The rules of parliamentary practice as set forth in Robert’s Rules, shall govern this council in all matters to which they are applicable when not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the state of Washington, these rules or any ordinances of the town or order of this council. (Ord. 1 § 34, 1924)

2.08.320 Adjournment.

When any meeting of the council is about to be dissolved, every member shall retain his seat until the mayor shall have announced the adjournment. (Ord. 1 § 35, 1924)

2.08.330 Referred to committee.

All bills, petitions, reports and communications shall be referred to the mayor, without motion, to the proper committee, unless otherwise disposed of by the council. (Ord. 1 § 36, 1924)

2.08.340 Business at adjourned meeting.

No ordinance shall be passed, or contract entered into, or bill for the payment of money allowed, at any special meeting, or at any adjourned regular or special meeting. (Ord. 1 § 37, 1924)