Filling municipality board vacancies

[Guest D.Eugene]

We have a small board of six trustees and a mayor/president. Recently we got a new mayor who immediately attempted to try and control the outcome of our meetings, although he has no real input unless a tie vote. He has had to be reminded numerous times of what Robert's Rules of Order state concerning his position as president of the meetings. We currently have one empty seat and another becoming open at the end of this month. The president has made it clear that he wants to fill the two vacancies with people he can control and who will vote as he wishes. According to our state statutes the president appoints a nominee and the board votes to either accept or decline. If they decline, then he brings another appointee to the table and the board again votes to accept or decline. If the board declines that individual, then according to the statute the president can then choose either the first individual or the second individual the board voted down to fill the vacancy. The board voted unanimously to decline his first choice replacement. He became angry and said that next month we would address this again. He has repeatedly refused to acknowledge anyone who has asked to be considered other than those he personally chooses. Next month he has vowed to bring another of his choices to the board, and at the end of the month to again fill that vacancy with his pick! According to Robert's Rules of Order, board members can nominate someone for the board to vote on as a whole, can they not? Since we follow Robert's Rules of Order, are we allowed to fill vacancies in that manner, so as not to allow a president to fill the board with his own friends who will vote as HE wants them to? Or do our state statutes supersede our RRO rules? Does the board itself have any recourse with a president who wants to control it by filling positions with his personal friends? 

[Josh Martin]

According to Robert's Rules of Order, board members can nominate someone for the board to vote on as a whole, can they not? Since we follow Robert's Rules of Order, are we allowed to fill vacancies in that manner, so as not to allow a president to fill the board with his own friends who will vote as HE wants them to? Or do our state statutes supersede our RRO rules? Does the board itself have any recourse with a president who wants to control it by filling positions with his personal friends?

State statute supersedes RONR. If there is to be any recourse from the rule in question, it will have to be found in statute, not RONR.

[Steven Britton]

 Recently we got a new mayor who immediately attempted to try and control the outcome of our meetings, although he has no real input unless a tie vote. He has had to be reminded numerous times of what Robert's Rules of Order state concerning his position as president of the meetings.

 

As this was background to your actual question, you should also consider, if following RONR's small board or assembly's rules, the more formal rules are relaxed - thus, allowing the presider to make motions, speak in debate, and to vote. Check you own rules to see if this is permitted.

[Richard Brown]

I get the impression that this is a public body.  If so, I suspect that the answers to guest Eugene's questions will be found in his own council's (or board's) rules, his city's ordinances, and state law, all of which supersede RONR.