§ 2-58. Motions; voting.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Motions stated. Prior to any debate on a matter, the members of the town board shall be entitled to a clear understanding of the motion before the town board. The person making the motion shall clearly state the motion. There shall be a second to any motion prior to any debate or discussion of the motion. Motions made in writing by a member of the town board and provided to the town clerk-treasurer prior to the meeting shall be provided priority in the appropriate order of business. The town chairperson may, if felt necessary, restate the motion prior to any debate and discussion. Any member of the town board, prior to a vote on the motion, may request that the motion and any amendments adopted to the motion be reduced to writing and submitted in writing to the members of the town board prior to the final vote on the matter.

    (b)

    Change of vote. No member of the town board may change his vote on any action item, business item, motion or question after the final result has been announced.

    (c)

    Motions with preference. During any meeting of the town board certain motions will have preference. In order of precedence they are:

    (1)

    Motion to adjourn. This motion can be made at any time and has first precedence. This is a non-debatable motion.

    (2)

    Motion to lay on the table. This motion may be made when the subject matter appropriate for tabling is to be debated or discussed. This motion is a non-debatable motion.

    (3)

    Motion to call previous question. This motion may be made at any time after the debate or discussion commences related to an action item, business item, motion or question that is properly before the town board. This motion is a non-debatable motion. This motion, if adopted, ends the debate and discussion at the meeting on the action item, business item, motion or question. The motion, if adopted, brings the town board to a direct vote with the first vote on any amendments, if any, and then to the main action item, business item, motion or question.

    (4)

    Motion to postpone to a date certain. This motion may be made at any time after the debate and discussion commences on an action item, business item, motion or question that is properly before the town board. This motion is debatable. This motion, if adopted, ends the debate and discussion at the meeting on the action item, business item, motion or question. This motion must establish a certain date and time when the debate and discussion before the town board will continue. The date and time established must be on a date and time for a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the town board.

    (5)

    Motion to a committee. This motion may be made at any time after the debate and discussion commences on an action item, business item, motion or question that is properly before the town board. The motion is debatable. This motion, if adopted, ends the debate and discussion at the meeting on the action item, business item, motion or question. This motion, if adopted, forwards the action item, business item, motion or question to a committee for further review and discussion. The committee must be a committee of the town board.

    (6)

    Motion to amend or divide the question. This motion may be made at any time after debate and discussion commences on the action item, business item, motion or question properly before the town board. The motion is debatable. This motion, if adopted, divides the main action item, main business item, main motion or main question pursuant to the method described and adopted in the motion to divide.

    (7)

    Motion to postpone indefinitely. This motion may be made at any time after debate and discussion commences on the action item, business item, motion or question properly before the town board. This motion is debatable. This motion, if adopted, ends the debate and discussion at the meeting on the action item, business item, motion or question.

    (8)

    Motion to introduce a matter related to the action item, business item, motion or question. This motion may be made at any time after the debate and discussion commences on the action item, business item, motion or question properly before the town board. This motion is debatable. This motion, if adopted, expands or adds to the debate and discussion of new items related to the main action item, main business item, main motion or main question pursuant to the method described and approved in the motion to introduce a matter related.

(Prior Code, § 2-3-15)