Voting

[Guest Henry]

When voting on a "Consent Agenda" consisting of the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, and approval of expenditures when products or services have already been received and checks have been written and signed pending mailing, how can a member object to and vote "Nay" on a single expenditure which the member cannot support in good conscience? What form of vote should the member make? Voting "Yea" means concurrence with all items and voting "Nay" means disapproval of all items.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

When voting on a "Consent Agenda" consisting of the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, and approval of expenditures when products or services have already been received and checks have been written and signed pending mailing, how can a member object to and vote "Nay" on a single expenditure which the member cannot support in good conscience? What form of vote should the member make? Voting "Yea" means concurrence with all items and voting "Nay" means disapproval of all items.

First, you pull out that exceptional item from the consent agenda (a.k.a. a consent calendar).

Once you isolate that item, then you can vote on the consent agenda (or not vote, but use general consent), and then entertain separately that unique item.

[Guest Henry]

First, you pull out that exceptional item from the consent agenda (a.k.a. a consent calendar).

Once you isolate that item, then you can vote on the consent agenda (or not vote, but use general consent), and then entertain separately that unique item.

Your proposed method is relatively the same as our city council procedures that permit "separate discussion" of the primary items on the consent agenda. However, without majority support to pull out a single expenditure item within the whole group of expenditures for consideration and separate approval, I am remain uncertain of the proper vote to cast.

[Gary Novosielski]

Your proposed method is relatively the same as our city council procedures that permit "separate discussion" of the primary items on the consent agenda. However, without majority support to pull out a single expenditure item within the whole group of expenditures for consideration and separate approval, I am remain uncertain of the proper vote to cast.

You do NOT need a majority vote to pull something from the consent agenda. All you need is to withdraw your consent. In other words, on the demand of a single member, the item must be removed from the consent agenda, and treated according to the regular rules, which would (typically) make it debatable, amendable, and would require a separate vote, etc.