Tie Vote

[Guest Pat Batleman]

At last month's transportation advisory board meeting, a resolution was introduced. The first motion was to table and it was defeated with a tie vote. the second motion to approve the resolution was also defeated with a tie vote. The agenda for this month's meeting was just published and the original resolution is back on the agenda. The ruling faction of the board had two members absent at the last meeting. Had they been there, the vote would have been approved. Do I convey to the members a point of order citing Roberts' that the tie vote is a "no" vote; that if they are presenting a motion to reconsider, that should have been made at the same meeting; that putting the resolution back on the agenda for a new vote is contrary to Roberts'? The meeting is tomorrow afternoon (4/20)

[George Mervosh]

No. A defeated motion may be renewed (made again anew) at any subsequent session. RONR, p. 325ff

[Kim Goldsworthy]

At last month's transportation advisory board meeting, a resolution was introduced.

The first motion was to table and it was defeated with a tie vote.

the second motion to approve the resolution was also defeated with a tie vote.

Snapshot so far:

Motion made. Motion defeated.

The agenda for this month's meeting was just published and the original resolution is back on the agenda.

OK.

You think this is bad?

The ruling faction of the board had two members absent at the last meeting.

Irrelevant.

Had they been there, the vote would have been approved.

Irrelevant.

Do I convey to the members a point of order citing Roberts' that the tie vote is a "no" vote; ...

No, you don't. That rule is irrelevant to the current situation.

... that if they are presenting a motion to reconsider, that should have been made at the same meeting; ...

But it isn't a motion To Reconsider.

You are chasing the wrong squirrel.

... that putting the resolution back on the agenda for a new vote is contrary to Roberts'?

But it's not contrary to Robert's Rules.

Your description has yet to mention an irregular practice.

[Gary Novosielski]

At last month's transportation advisory board meeting, a resolution was introduced. The first motion was to table and it was defeated with a tie vote. the second motion to approve the resolution was also defeated with a tie vote. The agenda for this month's meeting was just published and the original resolution is back on the agenda. The ruling faction of the board had two members absent at the last meeting. Had they been there, the vote would have been approved. Do I convey to the members a point of order citing Roberts' that the tie vote is a "no" vote; that if they are presenting a motion to reconsider, that should have been made at the same meeting; that putting the resolution back on the agenda for a new vote is contrary to Roberts'? The meeting is tomorrow afternoon (4/20)

There is nothing "contrary to Robert's" in what you've mentioned. Although the motion was defeated at a prior meeting, it can be renewed (made again) at the next meeting.

You're right that the motion to Reconsider could only have been made at the same meeting, but that's because the same motion could NOT have been moved again at that time. That's what Reconsider is for. But that meeting is over now.

This is just renewing the same motion at a subsequent meeting, and there's nothing wrong with it.