Seconding a motion

[Guest Stan Better]

I am a member of a local municipality zoning board. I have a question about someone seconding a motion. At the end of a discussion of a proposed project brought to the board, one of the board members (A) made a motion in favor of approving the motion. Another member ( seconded the motion in favor of approval. When it came time to vote, the board member ( that seconded the motion voted against the motion.

I thought that if you second a motion that you are bound to vote in favor of the motion. Am I correct, or does the person seconding the motion have the right to vote against the motion that he seconded?

[Guest Edgar]

I thought that if you second a motion that you are bound to vote in favor of the motion. Am I correct, or does the person seconding the motion have the right to vote against the motion that he seconded?

Not only is the seconder free to vote against the motion (in fact, he may be seconding it only so that the assembly goes on record as opposing it), the maker of the motion is also free to vote against it (the only restriction on the maker being that he can't speak against the motion in debate).

[jstackpo]

Seconding only signifies that you think the issue (motion) should be discussed and, eventually disposed of (settled). Doesn't imply approval.

Quite possibly the seconder wanted the issue to come up officially so the zoning board could go on record in opposition of whatever it was.

[Tim Wynn]

As a side note, you don't make a motion to approve a motion. After having been made and seconded, and after any debate and amendment, the motion is put to a vote, unless it is otherwise disposed of.

[Rev Ed]

The sconder need not speak in favour of the motion nor vote in favour of it. The mover cannot speak against the motion, but can vote against the motion as well.

[David A Foulkes]

I concur with the four previous posters.