HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-OR-14Ordinance 2008-OR- / ~T
An Ordinance Rescinding Ordinance No. 88-OR-10 and
Resolution 00-R-010 and Ordinance 93-OR-023 and Resolution 1993-
R-004
An Ordinance Establishing Rules of Order and Procedures
For Public Comment At Meetings of the Jeffersonville Citv Council
WHEREAS, the Jeffersonville City Council is obligated to establish rules of
procedure for conducting meetings for the purpose of doing the business of the people
of the City of Jeffersonville;
WHEREAS, the Jeffersonville City Council recognizes and understands that
Indiana Law does not mandate that citizens be permitted to participate and offer
discourse during public meetings;
WHEREAS, the Jeffersonville City Council believes that public input is essential
to the process of representative democracy;
WHEREAS, the Jeffersonville City Council is desirous of providing a public forum
within the frameworks of free speech and public decorum and public expediency;
WHEREAS, the City of Jeffersonville has adopted numerous procedures
regarding council procedure and public discourse dating back to 1968;
WHEREFORE, the Jeffersonville City Council, in order to guarantee fairness,
continuity and expediency adopt the following rules of procedure and decorum:
Section One: Meeting Dates and Time:
The Common Council shall meet on the first and third Mondays of each
month beginning at 7:30 p.m. unless public notice setting forth alternative
dates and times is published pursuant to the Indiana Open Door Law;
Section Two: Presiding Officer and Procedure:
The Mayor shall serve as the chair of said meetings. In his absence the
President of the City Council shall preside. If a quorum is present the
meeting shall be called to order and shall proceed as follows:
A. Call To Order;
B. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance;
C. Roll Call;
D. Approval of Minutes;
E. Approval of Agenda;
F. Public Comment- Related to Agenda Items;
G. Public Comment- Not Related to Agenda Items;
H. Council Comments;
I. Approval of Claims;
J. Approval of Purchase Orders;
K. Department Head Reports;
L. Old Business;
M. New Business;
N. Committee Reports-Council Comments;
O. Public Comment- Not Related to Agenda Items; and
P. Adjournment
Section Three: Roberts Rules of Order: All meetings of the Jeffersonville City
Council shall be conducted pursuant to Roberts Rules of Order
insofar as same are applicable.
Section Four: Public Comment: Public comment shall be conducted in the
following manner:
A. Any individual that wishes to address the council, mayor or
make general comments as permitted in this ordinance,
shall sign up on the date of the meeting, but prior to the
meeting being called to order;
B. No individual shall be permitted to speak more than three (3)
minutes;
C. No individual shall be permitted to yield his or her time to
speak to another individual;
D. An individual who speaks pursuant to agenda Item "D" shall
limit their comments to addressing an issue that has been
placed upon the council's agenda for the meeting during
which the individual wishes to speak. An individual who
speaks pursuant to agenda Item "G"shall be permitted
to speak upon any issue. However, said speaker's
comments shall be subject to all other provisions of this
ordinance.
E. The President of the Jeffersonville City Council shall be
obligated to time each speaker and notify each speaker that
their time has expired.
F. The City Council may extend the time for public comment at
any time upon vote of the majority of the council members in
attendance;
G. The City Council may limit discussion, comment or debate
upon motion of a member and upon vote of the majority in
attendance;
Section Five: Public Decorum and Order: Free speech and interaction
as between the public and elected officials is the framework
of our government and earmarks the evolution of our
country. However, free speech does not include the
following:
No one, member of the public or government, shall be
permitted to:
A. Engage in gratuitous profanity during their
discourse;
B. Engage in the gratuitous use of racial slurs or
undertake gratuitous attacks upon individuals or
groups based upon race, color or creed;
C. Become loud, insolent or angry such that their
behavior constitutes disorderly conduct as
defined by Indiana Code; and
D. Undertake personal attacks against members of
government by engaging in `name calling', baiting
or engaging in conduct that would otherwise be
liable, slanderous or defamatory.
Section Six: Punishment: If any individual violates Section Five of this
ordinance they shall be subject to summary removal from said
meeting.
Section Seven: Severabilitv Clause: If any provision of this Ordinance or
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unlawful
or otherwise invalid such invalidity does not affect other provisions
or applications of this Ordinance which can be given effect without
the invalid application or provision and to this end each such invalid
provision or application of this Ordinance is severable it is hereby
declared to be the intent of the Jeffersonville City Council that this
Ordinance would have been issued had any such unlawful or
othervvise invalid provision or application not be included.
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
approval.
Voted Against:
Passed this~~ day of 6 ;~rj~ 2008.
M1Le d}
M yor Thomas a igan
Attest:
~~? ~~~ v~
Peggy Wilder, Clerk-Treasurer
Presented by me, Peggy Wilder, as the Clerk and Treasurer to the Mayor of said
City of Jeffersonville, Indiana on this ~~~~ day ofh ate, 2008.
~,~
Pegg i er, Clerk-Treasurer
This ordinance approved and signed by Thomas Galligan, Mayor of the City of
Jeffersonville, Indiana on this 0 day of MARC!-F , 2008.
Thomas Galligan, Mayor