NEW RULES WOULD GUIDE COUNCIL MEETINGS

Citizens addressing the Cape Girardeau City Council at public meetings will have their comments subject to a time limit according to new procedural guidelines under council consideration.

In January, a committee comprised of Councilmen Melvin Gateley, Melvin Kasten and Al Spradling III was appointed to consider possible changes to council procedures. The group this month presented its recommendations, which will be considered for adoption next month.

Although there are few changes in the guidelines, committee members are hopeful that by bringing the issue to the council's attention, more orderly and efficient meetings will ensue.

"It's a beginning, and we at least clarified some things in the guidelines," said Gateley. "If it's finalized, I think these are going to be some things that will help the general public.

"It's not limiting or prohibiting people from speaking, but it makes it fair for everyone."

Proposed changes in the guidelines include:

Agenda items must be submitted on the Friday preceding a regular council meeting. Any member of the council may move at the meeting to add additional items to the agenda, but such a motion must be approved by the council at the time it adopts the agenda at the start of the meeting.

At every council meeting, a single time will be allotted for citizens to address the council regarding issues either on or not on the agenda.

Each speaker shall be limited to five minutes, which may be extended by consent of the council.

The typical method of voting by council members is a voice vote, but other methods include ballot or roll call vote. The method of voting is administered by the city clerk, who conducts roll call.

The idea that council meetings should be more closely regulated surfaced last year following several meetings that left citizens and council members frustrated.

Gateley suggested the council adopt more structured guidelines similar to those in place in other Missouri cities, and the committee was formed to review council policies.

The city charter sets forth that the "council shall determine its own rules and order of business," but goes no further to specifically command decorum.

In the procedural guidelines, the presiding officer's responsibilities include to "maintain order and decorum, limit length and repetitive orations, but allow all interested parties an opportunity to discuss and present their position."

Gateley said review of the guidelines should help the mayor, who presides at meetings, and the entire council conduct more efficient and fair meetings.

"Certainly the presiding officer has a great responsibility in seeing to it that these things are carried out, but he has to have the insistence of other council members," Gateley added. "I feel very confident that everyone's aware of the procedures now.

"Everybody has a copy of it, and everyone I think agrees with the ideas. There will be enough of us, including myself, to be watchdogs along with the public, and I feel very good about it."