HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-23-2010 Rules Report DefinitionsDefinitions
Censure — a formal vote by a majority of the Town Council expressing disapproval of a member's
conduct.
Lay on the Table - is a motion is can not be debated and cannot have any subsidiary motion
applied to it. The motion temporarily suspends further consideration/action on the pending
questions. No motion that has another motion adhering to it can be laid on the table by itself; if laid
on the table it carries with it everything that adheres to it.
Move the Previous Question - is a motion to bring the council at once to a vote on the immediately
pending question and on such other pending questions as may be specified in the demand. It is the
proper motion to use for this purpose, whether the object is to adopt or to kill the proposition on
which it is ordered, without further debate or motions to amend.
Order - a formal opinion or will of the council expressed by order or command and adopted by
vote. An order does not regulate or govern people nor does in provide a penalty for its violation.
Ordinance — any Town Council enactment that regulates or governs people and provides a penalty
for its violation. Ordinances have the effect of law.
Petition — a citizen initiated request to the Town Council for passage of a particular measure.
Point of Information — raised by a councilor when he/she would like to ask a question pertaining to
the topic under discussion.
Point of Order — raised by a councilor when he/she believes there has been an infraction of the
Rules of the Council or believes that improper decorum has occurred.
Point of Personal Privilege — raised by a councilor when he/she believes they cannot participate in
the preceding because of noise, personal comfort, etc.
Postpone to a Certain Time (or Postpone Definitely) - is a motion to allow for limited debate
which must not go into the merits of the main question any more than is necessary to enable the
assembly to determine the propriety of the postponement
Postpone Indefinitely - is a motion to takes precedence of nothing except the main motion to
which it is applied, and yields to all privileged, incidental, and other subsidiary motions. It cannot
be amended or have any other subsidiary motion applied to it except the previous question and
motions limiting or extending the limits of debate. It is debatable and opens the main question to
debate.
Proclamations — an enactment of the town council only for the purpose of congratulating or
thanking individuals or organizations for their accomplishments or contributions to the community
or marking important holidays, occasions, or events.
Public Forum — an opportunity for a resident of the town to address the town council about any
matter relevant to the governance and operation of the town.
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Public Hearing — a legal requirement carried out by the town that gives residents an opportunity to
comment on an issue before the town council.
Reconsideration - is a motion by a councilor to reconsider at vote that has been taken by the
Council. Only a councilor who voted with the majority on the question can ask for reconsideration.
Request for Information — a formal action by a member of the Town Council of the Town
Manager for administrative, operational, or financial information related to the Town of Watertown.
Reprimand — a formal vote by the majority of the Town Council expressing displeasure of a
member's behavior. A reprimand is considered a lesser level of disapproval than a censure.
Resolution- a formal expression of the opinion or will of the city council, adopted by vote. A
resolution differs from an ordinance, in that a resolution provides direction while an ordinance
permanently amends the code of the city and enforcement of that code
Take from the Table - is a motion to consider an order of business that has been laid on the table.
It can only be made the council meeting at which the order of business was laid on the table. The
motion is not debatable and can only be consider unless some business has been transacted since the
question was laid on the table.
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