chair calls for a motion

[Guest Brian Roberts]

In a recent board meeting I attended, there was a matter that was on the docket to be voted on for approval or disapproval. The Chairman called for a motion to recommend the matter for approval/diapproval. The Chair repeated the "calling" twice and after a brief pause, the Chair annouced that the approval received no motion and therefore the matter died.

To give you some more background history, the matter was very controversial and no one was going to vote in favor, but, no one wanted to confront or vote Nay out of respect for the person related to the docket matter. So, the interpretation was that if no one mada a motion, then they wouldn't have to make the disapproving vote.

1. Is this an accepted procedure in "Robert's Rules of Order"?

2. It is now interpreted that the "No Motion" is the same as a majority vote of "Nay", is this correct?

3. What should have been done or can be done if it violates parliamentary procedures?

thanks,

Brian

[Robert B Fish]

A1. It's not too far off. I wold have preferred to say, "The next order of business is the [controversial item]. Is there a representative of the property committee to make the motion." [No response.] He/she might then ask again, giving the possibility that he had not been understood. Having no response he could say, "If that motion is not going to be moved by a member, the next order of business is ..."

A2. No. The matter was not decided one way or the other. If the motion was to authorize doing something, that authority has not been granted. If the motion was to undo somethig, that something has not been undone.

A3. At this point in time, nothing as a timely point of order needed to be raised...THEN.

However, you are free to raise the item again at the very next meeting (provided advance notice is not required such as amendments to the bylaws).

-Bob

[hmtcastle]

1. The rules are "relaxed" at meetings of "small" boards where not more than about a dozen members are present. That means discussion without a pending motion is okay and, at some point, it seems reasonable for the chair to ask if anyone is prepared to make a motion on the question. No motion, no vote, no harm, no foul.

2. No motion means no motion. It's not the same as defeating a motion.

3. No problem.

[Gary Novosielski]

2. It is now interpreted that the "No Motion" is the same as a majority vote of "Nay", is this correct?

No, that's not correct. In fact, the matter was never moved, and was therefore never before the board for consideration.

There are easily thousands of motions that could have been made at that meeting that were not. None of them is deemed to have been decided one way or another. They simply were not considered.