Guest Hollie Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:37 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:37 PM When there is a motion made to dispense with the reading of the minutes and an objection is made to the dispensing, is there a vote taken to determine the majority or should the minutes automatically be read due to the fact that there was an objection to the reading being dispensed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:42 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:42 PM When there is a motion made to dispense with the reading of the minutes and an objection is made to the dispensing, is there a vote taken to determine the majority or should the minutes automatically be read due to the fact that there was an objection to the reading being dispensed? It's a motion adopted by a majority vote - "If the assembly does not wish to carry out the reading and approval of the minutes at the regular time, it may, by majority vote without debate, "dispense with the reading of the minutes." The minutes can then be taken up by majority vote without debate at any later time during the meeting while no business is pending. If the minutes are not thus taken up before adjournment, they are read and approved at the following meeting, before the later minutes are taken up. A motion to "dispense with the reading of the minutes" is not a request to omit their reading altogether.." RONR (11th ed.), p. 474 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:46 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:46 PM I think this bears repeating: "A motion to "dispense with the reading of the minutes" is not a request to omit their reading altogether.." RONR (11th ed.), p. 474 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:59 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 06:59 PM Am I reading correctly that when there is a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes, followed by an object ... that the next course of action is to take a majority vote on whether to dispense with the reading or not? Thank you!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:03 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:03 PM Am I reading correctly that when there is a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes, followed by an object ... that the next course of action is to take a majority vote on whether to dispense with the reading or not? Thank you!!! No, the proper action is to take a vote on the motion, period. Objecting isn't necessary. If you object, vote no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:15 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:15 PM And if anyone votes "no" to dispensing of the reading of the minutes, do they get read regardless or is it by majority vote? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:16 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:16 PM No, the proper action is to take a vote on the motion, period. Objecting isn't necessary. If you object, vote no. Perhaps the chair was using the procedure of unanimous consent. And if anyone votes "no" to dispensing of the reading of the minutes, do they get read regardless or is it by majority vote? Well, it depends. "Dispense with the reading of the minutes" is a term of art in parliamentary law. It means to delay the reading and approval of the minutes until a later time. If that's what you mean, then a majority vote is required to adopt such a motion. If you instead mean that a member is making a motion to omit the reading of the minutes altogether, then the minutes must be read if anyone votes no. To omit the reading of the minutes altogether requires unanimous consent or a unanimous vote. (I'd also note that omitting the reading of the minutes altogether is a terrible idea, unless copies of the draft minutes have been distributed in advance.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:21 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:21 PM Perhaps the chair was using the procedure of unanimous consent. With the obsession on objecting, I felt it was a waste of time to mention it but thanks for covering all of the possible options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:31 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:31 PM Am I reading correctly that when there is a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes, followed by an object ... that the next course of action is to take a majority vote on whether to dispense with the reading or not? Thank you!!! No, the proper action is to take a vote on the motion, period. Objecting isn't necessary. If you object, vote no. The only time an "objection" as such would be appropriate is if the call to dispense with the reading was not in the form of a motion but (as is quite common) in the form of a unanimous consent request: "I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with." The chair would then say "If there is no objection...<pause>." and some member says "I object" or "Objection" The chair would then assume the motion (which is not debatable) and say "Objection is heard. Those in favor of dispensing with the reading of the minutes say Aye..." and so on.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:31 PM Report Share Posted May 15, 2014 at 07:31 PM Josh, that answers everything. Thank you very much. I appreciate all the input and clarifications made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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