2014 City Council RulesRules Governing Meetings
1 Precedence of Rules
2 Quorum
3 Suspension of Rules
4 Repeal or Amendment of Rules
5 Recognition of Mayor
Duties of the Presiding Officer
6 Duties of the Presiding Officer
7 Order of Succession of Presiding Officer
Council President
8 Council President Election and Duties
9 Council Vice -President Election and Duties
Meeting Format/Requirements
10 Calling Meetings to Order
I I Order of Business
12 Minutes of Previous Meeting
13 Terms of Expression
I4 Two -Reading Rule
15 Conduct
16 Public Comment
17 New Business
18 Recess
19 Priority of Motions
20 Order and Manner of Speaking
21 Charter Objection
22 Reconsideration
23 Order During Debate
24 Deciding Votes
25 Roll Call Votes
26 Method of Recording Roll Call Votes
27 Ending Time of Meeting
Amended June 5, 2014
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
COUNCIL RULES
2014-2015 SESSION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Council Committees
28 Committee Appointees to be Notified
29 Finance Committee -Reference and Report
30 Reference to Committees
31 Committee's Ditty to Meet and Report
32 Non -Member Attendance at Committee Meetings
33 Reports of Committees and Certification by Clerk
34 Reports to be in Writing — Copies
Council Administration
35 Timely Filing Rule
36 Ordinances — Enacting Style — Forms and Numbering
37 Proposed New Ordinances
38 Limitation of Amendments
39 Clerk of the Council
40 Custody of Books, Documents and Papers
41 Video Record of Previous Meeting to be
Included as Part of the Minutes
42 Papers Addressed to City Council
Miscellaneous & Council Seating
43 Seating Arrangements
44 Remote Meeting Participation
45 Minutes of Executive Session
Appendices
Orders -Council Committees
COntmitteC on ECOnomle & Community Development. Housing and band Use
Finance Committee
Committee on Hearings, investigations, and Practices
Committee on Public Safety
Committee on Rules, Orders, Appointments, and Ordinances
Committee on Social Services, Veterans, Culture, and Recreation
Amended June 5, 2014
37. PROPOSED NEW ORDINANCES.
Every proposed new ordinance or ordinance amendment (matter) to be submitted for City
Council action shall:
a) Be forwarded to the Mayor and Council President for placement on the agenda of
the City Council.
b) Be referred by the City Council to the committees of the Council and any other
boards, authorities or commissions of the City as is deemed appropriate by the
Council for action, approval and/or recommendation. In any event, no matter shall
be voted on by the City Council until it has been referred to the Committee on
Elections, Rules, Ordinance, Orders and Claims (Ordinance Committee).
c) At or before the meeting at which the Ordinance Committee considers any matter
for approval and/or recommendation the City Solicitor shall examine the matter's
forin and legal character. If there is disagreement between the City Solicitor and
the sponsor regarding the correct form or legal character that is not resolved
within 30 days after the scheduled meeting of the Ordinance Committee at which
the matter shall be on the agenda or if the approval of the City Solicitor does not
occur within 30 days of said meeting, the sponsor may request of the chair of the
Ordinance Committee that the matter be placed on the agenda of the Ordinance
Committee for a discussion of whether or not the Committee will approve and/or
recommend the matter to the City Council.
38. LIMITATION OF AMENDMENTS. No motion or proposition on a subject different from
that under consideration shall be admitted under color of an amendment.
39. CLERK OF THE COUNCIL. The Clerk of the Council shall be appointed by the City
Council. In the case of a vacancy, the Mayor shall submit to the City Council the name of an
individual who, upon receiving a majority vole in the City Council, shall serve as clerk pro-
tempore.
40. CUSTODY OF BOOKS, DOCUMENTS AND PAPERS. The books, documents and
papers belonging to the City Council shall be in the care of the Clerk of the Council, who shall
keep an accurate list thereof and no book, document or paper shall be taken therefrom by any
person without giving notice to the Clerk, who shall enter the names of the persons taking the
same in a book kept for that purpose.
10
Organizational Meeting of the City Council
Jan. 5, 2016
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACIMSETTS
Councilors:
• President William H. Dwight, Al -Large
• Vice -President Ryan R. O'Donnell Ward 3
• Jesse M Adams, At -Large
• Maureen T. Carney, Ward 1
• Dennis P. Bidwell, Ward 2
• Gina Louise Sclarra, Ward 4
• David A- Murphy, Ward 5
• Marianne L LaBarge, Ward 6
• Allsa F 14e1n, Ward 7
Northampton City Council
Minutes of the Organizational Mooting
of Jan, 5, 2016
6:30 pm held In City Council Chambers
212 Main Street, Northampton
The meeting was presided over by
former City Council President William H. Dwight.
I. Swearing in of the Administrative Assistant to the city Council:
Councilor LaBarge moved to open the nominations and move the appointment of Pamela L.
Powers as the City Council Administrative Assistant; Councilor Adams seconded the motion.
The motion was approved on a voice vote of 9 yes, 0 No.
Councilor Carney moved to close the nominations; Councilor Sclarra seconded the motion; the
motion was approved on a voice vote of 9 Yes, 0 No.
Justice of the Peace and Ward Plve City Councilor David A. Murphy swore In the Administrative
Clerk. Councilor Dwight noted that the action of swearing In a new clerk every two years
was done as required as required by the former city council rules. The newly proposed rules,
if appointed, will not require the AA to be sworn except when the position Is open and a new
clerk Is hired.
2. On a roll call, the following councilors were present:
Jesse M. Adams, At -Large City Councilor
Dennis P. Bidwell, Ward Two Coundlor
Maureen T. Carney, ward One Councilor
William H. Dwight, At -Large City Councilor
Alisa F. 19eln, Ward Seven City Councilor
Marianne L. LaBarge, Ward Six City Councilor
David A. Murphy, Ward Five City Councilor
Ryan R. O'Donnell, Ward Three City Councilor
Gina -Louise Sclarra, Ward Four City Councilor
3, Open Meeting Law Refresher TralnIng
The purpose of the Open Meeting Law Is to let the public know that deliberations are being
done on city matters. The laws require that the public be Informed what Is being done, why It
Is being done, and how It Is being done, All meetings where city matters will be deliberated
must be open to the public. There needs to be adequate notice that Is detailed enough to let
the public know what wl'I be discussed.
A meeting Is a deliberation by. a public body that Is within the jurisdiction of that body. A
meeting could Include e-mail. The number one way that a violation occurs Is by the body's
use of e-mail. Any time a quorum discusses an Item outside of a posted meeting, they have