Sunday, January 19, 2020

GO CHIEFS!
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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".

Our View . . .
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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