allowed discussion or questions from audience

[Guest Johnny]

What are Robert's Rules of Order as to allowing discussion or questions from the audience during a board meeting?  How long can someone speak?  If they are using profanity or bullying their point of view, does it have to be allowed?

[Richard Brown]

Absent a superior rule to the contrary, people who are not members of the body which is meeting, in this case the board, have no right to speak whatsoever except by permission of the board. The board can generally set whatever limits and conditions it desires on such comments.

That is sometimes handled by the adoption of a rule regarding comments by non-members and other times is handled on a case-by-case basis. Non-members can be permitted to speak with a majority vote or by unanimous consent.  such requests are often handled by the chair without objection.

Non-members may be granted the right to participate in debate by suspending the rules which requires a two-thirds vote.

Note some state laws require that certain bodies, such as homeowner associations, permit people who are members of the association, but not of the board, and an opportunity to address the board at board meetings.

 Edited to add: non-members who violate the rules or cause a disturbance may be ejected upon order of the chair, but a member may object to the removal and require a vote. In such a case, the guest can be ejected by a majority vote.

Edited April 23, 2019 at 07:32 PM by Richard Brown
Added last paragraph

[Chris Harrison]

Only members of the body which is meeting have any rights.  So at a Board meeting only Board members have any rights (unless your rules say otherwise of course).  Assuming these people are Board members the default speaking time is twice per question per day with 10 minute speeches (your rules may say otherwise).  If a member is using profanity the Chair or another member can call him or her to order.  As for "bullying their point of view" that is a very subjective thing.  A member can strenuously advocate for their position from one meeting to another while following the rules and proper decorum and that wouldn't necessarily be "bullying."

[Joshua Katz]

1 minute ago, Chris Harrison said:

As for "bullying their point of view" that is a very subjective thing.

Agreed. Interesting story: at a New England town meeting, a committee put forward a proposal (which I opposed vigorously, and ultimately defeated in my elected capacity). The first speaker in debate proceeded to call the committee names, make allegations about committee members arranging favorable deals for their children (unrelated to the matter at hand) and so on. There was only one microphone, and the chair couldn't hear if you didn't use a mic. I walked around to the other side of the microphone and raised a point of order, at which point, right into the microphone, he threatened to punch me for "sneaking up behind him." I made sure the First Selectman (my campaign partner, who was also Chief of Police) had heard him and left it at that. 

[Guest Johnny]

Thank you kindly.  In this particular case, it pertains to a condo association board meeting.  We have an antagonistic resident who often speaks with profanity, in a bullyish manner, and is usually more of a problem than part of the solution.  

[jstackpo]

Welcome to the ever exciting world of condominia where essentially random people are thrust together with nothing whatsoever in common, except the roof.  The roof leaks. But the folks living on the first floor don''t care about that, either!

[Guest Trifacto]

What if it's the other way around? What if a Board member calls out and attacks an audience member by name. Does the audience member have a right to respond or do they have to sit there and take it?

[Richard Brown]

Guest Trifacto, this thread is two years old.  We prefer that you ask your question by starting a new topic (thread)

[Guest Interested party]

On 7/14/2021 at 11:14 PM, Guest Trifacto said:

What if it's the other way around? What if a Board member calls out and attacks an audience member by name. Does the audience member have a right to respond or do they have to sit there and take it?

I’d like to know this as well. 

[Richard Brown]

Guests "Trifacto" and "Interested Parties", please post your questions as a new topic per the instructions in this thread by the forum administrator: 

 

[Weldon Merritt]

1 minute ago, Richard Brown said:

Guests "Trifacto" and "Interested Parties", please post your questions as a new topic per the instructions in this thread by the forum administrator: 

Guest "Trifacto" already has, here. Guest "Interested Party" also may follow that link.