At the June 5th 2023 Town Council meeting Chairman Farrell explained why he denied multiple calls of ‘Point of Order’ at the May 15, 2023 meeting. Farrell explained that residents have no standing to call for a ‘Point of Order’
In Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), a point of order may be raised if the rules appear to have been broken. This may interrupt a speaker during debate, or anything else if the breach of the rules warrants it. The point is resolved before business continues.
Farrell went on to state that it would be different had a councilor called ‘Point of Order’. The fact is Councilor Ron Dunn did call for a ‘Point of Order’ which was ignored by Farrell. Farrell dismess the call stateing that no rules had been broken. If Councilor Dunn called for a point of order, why was he not allowed to address the rules that he perceived were broken?
What rules could have been broken? From the ‘FY12 Town Council Rules of Order’ posted on the Town Council website
Role of the Chairman:
- to assist in expediting all bussiness in every way compatible with the rights of the members, as by allowing brief remarks when un-debatable motions are pending or calling a brief recess to permit restoration of order or clarification of an obscure point if the Chair thinks it advisable;
- to restrain the members when engaged in debate with the rules of order;
- to enforce on all occasions the observance of order and decorum among the members, deciding all questions of order (subject to an appeal by any two (2) members) unless the Chair prefers to submit the question for the decision of the council;
Was there a lack of decorum? Members of the public seem to believe there was, was it a rules violation? Councilor Dunn was never given the opportunity to clarify what his point of order pertained to.