Not voting on motion postponed to certain time

[Guest rentz]

At our last meeting, we postponed a motion to this upcoming meeting. Now, the committee who has been gathering information regarding the motion doesn't want to bring it up as they still don't have information they feel is necessary. What is the proper order to handle this? Do we need a 2/3rds vote to not vote? And, should the the motion be to postpone indefinitely?

[jstackpo]

The chair, if he knows what he is up to, should bring up the postponed motion automatically, as a "General Order".

When he does, just move to postpone it again. Or refer it directly to the committee; the committee can then bring up the issue whenever they are ready.

[David A Foulkes]

At our last meeting, we postponed a motion to this upcoming meeting. Now, the committee who has been gathering information regarding the motion doesn't want to bring it up as they still don't have information they feel is necessary. What is the proper order to handle this? Do we need a 2/3rds vote to not vote? And, should the the motion be to postpone indefinitely?

And I'd suggest you don't use Postpone Indefinitely, since that will kill the motion completely, and it can not be brought up again (renewed) for the rest of the session, typically until the next meeting.

[tctheatc]

At our last meeting, we postponed a motion to this upcoming meeting. Now, the committee who has been gathering information regarding the motion doesn't want to bring it up as they still don't have information they feel is necessary. What is the proper order to handle this? Do we need a 2/3rds vote to not vote? And, should the the motion be to postpone indefinitely?

If there is "information gathering" going on, why not refer it to a committee (either a standing one or one formed for this purpose). It seems like in reality that's what you're doing, why not make it official?

[Tim Wynn]

At our last meeting, we postponed a motion to this upcoming meeting. Now, the committee who has been gathering information regarding the motion doesn't want to bring it up as they still don't have information they feel is necessary. What is the proper order to handle this? Do we need a 2/3rds vote to not vote? And, should the the motion be to postpone indefinitely?

When you Postponed it to this upcoming meeting, you made it a general order for this upcoming meeting. The committee has no control over this motion. When it comes before the assembly, again, if you're not ready to vote on it, you can Postpone it, again, or you can Refer it to a committee (as has been stated by everyone).

The motion to Postpone Indefinitely is probably not what you think. Its purpose is to get rid of a motion without taking a direct vote on it.

[Gary Novosielski]

At our last meeting, we postponed a motion to this upcoming meeting. Now, the committee who has been gathering information regarding the motion doesn't want to bring it up as they still don't have information they feel is necessary. What is the proper order to handle this? Do we need a 2/3rds vote to not vote? And, should the the motion be to postpone indefinitely?

What committee?

If you Postponed it, then you presumably did not Refer it to a committee. If it was your intention to have a committee consider it then you could have done that but, from your question, there does not seem to be any committee that properly has the matter under consideration at this time.

When the matter comes up under General Orders at your next meeting, as it must, you can then choose to Refer it, to deal with it immediately, to Postpone it again, or to dispose of it in any other way you like--including adopting it of course.

[Rob Elsman]

If there is "information gathering" going on, why not refer it to a committee (either a standing one or one formed for this purpose). It seems like in reality that's what you're doing, why not make it official?

That's absolutely right. Indeed, I would hold that the committee has no assignment to do anything at all while the motion is still in the control of the parent assembly.