GO
CHIEFS!
Train Wreck of a Meeting PART ONE BY GREG WALTERS
Two weeks
ago the Raytown Board of Aldermen had what can only be described as a “Train
Wreck of a Meeting”. Motions were made
and voted upon that were contrary to City Ordinances. Items were removed from the agenda without a proper vote to do so.
The worst
case of malfeasance was the mishandling of the notorious monument sign
resolution.
The Board
began the meeting by moving the Monument Sign Resolution to front of the agenda. A lengthy discussion
ensued in which both sides completely vetted positions in favor and opposition of the sign.
The vote
was called. The resolution failed by a vote of 5 NO / 4 YES / 1 ABSTAIN.
Board to Re-Consider Ordinance
At the end
of the meeting Ward 3 Alderman Janet Emerson made a motion to reconsider the
vote.
Problem
was, Raytown’s Code of Ordinances only allows someone on the prevailing side to
call such a question*.
Emerson had abstained on the earlier vote, which disqualified her from making
the motion. However, the Chairman of the meeting, Mayor Michael McDonough, allowed the vote.
*Sec. 2-493. - Parliamentary procedure of public meetings.
The mayor shall have a
seat in and preside over the board of aldermen, but shall not vote on any
question, except in the case of a tie, nor shall he preside or vote in cases
when he is an interested party. The duly appointed or elected chairman of each
board, committee, commission or other subunit of the city shall have a seat in
and preside over the meetings of such body.
All meetings of the board of aldermen and
the boards, committees, commissions, and other subunits of the city shall be
conducted in accordance with and governed by state law, the ordinances of the
city, and, where not inconsistent therewith, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly
Revised.
(Code 1969, § 2-32; Ord. No. 110, § 4, 2-21-1967; Ord. No. 155-69, § 4,
9-16-1969; Ord. No. 1609-77, §§ 1, 2, 9-20-1977; Ord. No. 2502-83, § 2,
3-1-1983)
This time
the resolution passed with only three votes against it. Those votes being Aldermen
Greene, Walters and Ward.
Before the vote was cast Alderman Greg Walters asked if the resolution had been
amended. City Administrator Damon Hodges replied it had not been amended but it
had been discussed in the earlier debate.
The
resolution contained two proposals. The first proposal called for an
expenditure of $44,900.00 to build the monument sign. The second proposal
called for $32,109.oo.
A motion to amend was not made. This meant the Board had not given any clear direction as to which proposal to use.
The sign
issue is now back on the agenda at the insistence of Ward 3 Alderman Janet
Emerson. The reason for placing it back on the agenda is to fix all of the
procedural errors made during the last meeting.
It is interesting to note that on this week’s
agenda the amount set aside for the electronic billboard/monument sign has been increased to $47,500.00.
Our View . . .
This is one issue in which public opinion does matter. We have heard from
many Raytowners loud and clear. All of the comments, emails and phone calls we
have received are opposed to the construction of the electronic message
board/monument sign.
Most say they would rather see the money spent on our Police Department
or on improving our city streets.
Here are the telephone numbers to the Raytown Board of Aldermen. Let them
know what you feel.
Ward 1 - Frank Hunt 301-2829
Ward 1 - Greg Walters 517-6852
Ward 2 - Jason Greene 255-8407
Ward 2 - Jim Aziere 521-9596
Ward 3 - Ryan Myers 215-8847
Ward 3 - Janet Emerson 737-5050
Ward 4 - Mary Jane V.B. 737-2799
Ward 4 - Bill Van Buskirk 737-2799
Ward 5 - Derek A. Ward 245-4022
Ward 5 - Bonnaye Mims 965-0141
Train Wreck of a Meeting PART TWO BY PAUL LIVIUS
The second train wreck of last week’s meeting was a proposed
ordinance before the Board to amend the city’s ordinance on tethering of dogs.
City Prosecutor Ross Nigro made a rare appearance at a Municipal Committee Meeting to suggest new language for the ordinance. The current
ordinance, Nigro said, was not enforceable.
The new ordinance would shorten the time an animal can be
tethered.
Alderwoman Janet Emerson brought a motion to table the
ordinance. The motion passed by a vote of 6 yes to 4 no.
The Mayor allowed the vote even though it was "our of order". City meetings are
governed by Roberts Rules of Order (see the ordinance noted in the previous
story).
The rule is very simple. Emerson’s motion was to table. However, the motion is subsidiary to a prior motion to be made
by a proponent of the bill. In this case, the Tethering Ordinance came through the Municipal Committee. Any one of those members should have been recognized to introduce the bill to the entire body of the Board of Aldermen.
Once a proper motion has been made to adopt, any Board member can make a motion to table. In other words, the Mayor allowed the motion to table before the the issue had come forward for discussion. It was "out of order".
The Board of Aldermen, Mayor and City Staff need to get their act together. It is evident the rules are not being followed. Follow the rules as set up in our City of Code Ordinances. Motions made out of order, with no discussion, leaves a bad impression. The people in Raytown deserve much better.
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