Common Council Minutes

[Watson]

Marshfield has an Alderman - Mayor form of government with a full-time city administrator. RONR is the parliamentary authority. Connie Deford of NAP recently gave a presentation to the Common Council and interested city employees.

Minutes of the May 25 meeting were published in today's (06.12.2010) paper. I read:

"Motion by L.., second by S.. to approve the minutes of the Plan Commission of May 18, 2010."

"Motion by F.., second by E.. to approve the minutes of Main Street Marshfield for March 10, 2010 and April 7, 2010."

"Motion by S.., second by L.. to receive and place on file the Historic Preservation Plan."

"Motion by F.., second by S.. to postpone to a future meeting Resolution No. 2010-23 ... ."

Where do they get the idea that the Council has to "move to approve" and "receive and place on file?"

Has anyone ever heard of the motion to "postpone to a future meeting?"

[Chris Harrison]

Where do they get the idea that the Council has to "move to approve" and "receive and place on file?"

The minutes need to be approved. Although the minutes should usually be approved by unanimous consent after any corrections are dealt with it is not out of order to move to approve the minutes (RONR p. 343). After the Historic Preservation Plan is presented to the assembly is is redundant to then move to "receive" it (after all what happens if the motion is defeated? Would the assembly's memory be wiped so they didn't remember "receiving" the report? )

Has anyone ever heard of the motion to "postpone to a future meeting?"

A motion can be postponed until the next session (as long as the meetings are at least quarterly) but no further (RONR p. 175).

[Watson]

The minutes need to be approved. Although the minutes should usually be approved by unanimous consent after any corrections are dealt with it is not out of order to move to approve the minutes (RONR p. 343). After the Historic Preservation Plan is presented to the assembly is is redundant to then move to "receive" it (after all what happens if the motion is defeated? Would the assembly's memory be wiped so they didn't remember "receiving" the report? )

A motion can be postponed until the next session (as long as the meetings are at least quarterly) but no further (RONR p. 175).

[Watson]

Chris H.: Thanks for your post. The Common Council meets twice a month.To comply with the Open Meeting Law, would it not be necessary to postpone definitely to a specific meeting in order to place consideration of the Resolutioon on the published agenda?

My point on the minutes was that these are the minutes of committees of the Common Council. It seems to me that the committee should approve its own minutes, and then submit recommendations, if appropriate, to the Common Council, or move on behalf of the committee that the Common Council take a certain action. What business does the Common Council have voting to "approve" the minutes of one of its own subordinate committees?

[Chris Harrison]

To comply with the Open Meeting Law, would it not be necessary to postpone definitely to a specific meeting in order to place consideration of the Resolutioon on the published agenda?

Questions about how to comply with the law are beyond this forum's purview and should be directed to a lawyer.

What business does the Common Council have voting to "approve" the minutes of one of its own subordinate committees?

Bodies should approve their own minutes (although a body can delegate the approval to a subordinate body). Generally committees don't take minutes but the law may require it so you should speak to a lawyer who can advise you on that.

[Josh Martin]

What business does the Common Council have voting to "approve" the minutes of one of its own subordinate committees?

None, so far as RONR is concerned.

[Thomas Ralph]

It is not usual to make a motion to "receive" a report; it's just read out and filed.

The minutes should not specify the names of seconders.