Thomas White Posted January 4, 2011 at 05:57 PM Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 at 05:57 PM Our Charter, ordinances and Rules prescibe all matters be addressed by standing committees. One member of the City Council wishes to conduct an information session with all Council Members and City Officials to report on what was learned at a conference. Can an individual member of a body conduct a meeting and invite other members of the body and City Officials? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:23 PM Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:23 PM Our Charter, ordinances and Rules prescibe all matters be addressed by standing committees. One member of the City Council wishes to conduct an information session with all Council Members and City Officials to report on what was learned at a conference. Can an individual member of a body conduct a meeting and invite other members of the body and City Officials? Thank you.Nothing in RONR prohibits a member from getting his buddies together and giving them information just as long as no business is conducted in the name of the City Council. Your rules may say otherwise and if so you will need to look to someone who is familiar with those rules for the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:37 PM Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:37 PM And in the case of a city council, the city's lawyer may be of help with any state legislation as well. However, there is nothing wrong with council members holding "information sessions" in order to gather as much information as possible in order to be well informed when making decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:49 PM Report Share Posted January 4, 2011 at 06:49 PM And in the case of a city council, the city's lawyer may be of help with any state legislation as well. However, there is nothing wrong with council members holding "information sessions" in order to gather as much information as possible in order to be well informed when making decisions.Although, since it is a City Council there very well might be some law applicable to the Council that would put limits on how this meeting could be called and conducted. The Council member should make sure to check with the lawyer before holding this meeting to make sure all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 5, 2011 at 12:38 AM Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 at 12:38 AM Our Charter, ordinances and Rules prescibe all matters be addressed by standing committees. One member of the City Council wishes to conduct an information session with all Council Members and City Officials to report on what was learned at a conference. Can an individual member of a body conduct a meeting and invite other members of the body and City Officials? Thank you.The problem you will have with this is nothing to do with RONR, but your state's Sunshine Laws. If a quorum of Council members are present in one place talking business, even if you don't call it a "meeting", the state law probably does, which means you may have to meet all your notice requirements to the public and the press, call the meeting to order, take minutes, and a bunch of other stuff. Check with your city attorney before you try anything like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted January 5, 2011 at 12:58 AM Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 at 12:58 AM The problem you will have with this is nothing to do with RONR, but your state's Sunshine Laws. If a quorum of Council members are present in one place talking business, even if you don't call it a "meeting", the state law probably does, which means you may have to meet all your notice requirements to the public and the press, call the meeting to order, take minutes, and a bunch of other stuff. Check with your city attorney before you try anything like this.I would have cut the middle sentence of that post. It's one thing to suggest that there may be applicable laws and the poster should consult a lawyer, but speculating on what those laws might say should be avoided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 5, 2011 at 01:11 AM Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 at 01:11 AM I would have cut the middle sentence of that post. It's one thing to suggest that there may be applicable laws and the poster should consult a lawyer, but speculating on what those laws might say should be avoided.Fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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