THE PUBLIC MIND: SCOTT CITY COUNCILWOMAN REPLIES ON PROCEDURAL MATTER

To the Editor:

At the Sept. 16, 1991, council meeting in Scott City, a high school business teacher attempted to instruct the city council on proper procedure in the conduct of city business. She stated that she was invited by a newly formed house numbering committee. She also stated that she was neutral about the house numbering. Committee members present were Ron Oller, Chairman, La Donia Phelps, Randy Newell and Fred Gramm.

It is my opinion that the business teacher may be familiar with Robert's Rules of Order but did not properly prepare herself concerning the city code.

Research of the city laws, section 135.090, shows except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, the proceedings of the city council shall be controlled by Robert's Rules of Order, as revised.

The following exception is found in section 135.100. This section gives the presiding officer of the city council power to decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the city council. Any member may appeal to the council from a ruling of the presiding officer upon a question of order. If the motion for an appeal is seconded, the member making the appeal may briefly express his ruling, but there shall be no debate on the appeal and no other member shall participate in the discussion. The presiding officer shall then put the question to a vote as to whether the decision of the chair shall be sustained. If a majority of the members present vote "aye," the ruling of the chair is sustained, otherwise it is overturned.

Section 135.120 allows another exception. This section allows any business to be called up out of order by consent of a majority of members present. If would seem that this consent may be implied or may be voiced. If the chair calls an item out of order and there is no objection, the majority of the members present had no objection.

The question of order was meant to invalidate the vote by the council to proceed with the housing numbering plan except in the area of Country Club. In view of the above, it appears that the self proclaimed "expert" on Robert's Rules of Order may have been "out of order."

I have never in my life been involved in something as truly negative as trying to serve this community has been in my short time as city councilman.

The presence of that teacher did serve one purpose for this councilman. I will read very diligently the code of our city so that perhaps in future meetings, one person will not be allowed to totally disrupt a meeting. How dare this council be taken to task! It is my personal feeling that it was not procedure being taken to task, it was "let us see if we can further discredit the city council and mayor" because they are asking us to change our house numbers and we don't like it.

I urge the citizens of Scott City to realize that we, as a council, would do nothing to harm our city. Second, please realize that our decisions are based upon what is good for all and not what is convenient for a few.

We cannot please everyone. There are elections every year for seats on the city council. People who run for election to city office should be caring and interested in the performance of good government. Your vote is important.

I, for one, would like to get on with the future of our city. Thanks to the teacher, as misguided as her intentions may have been, we will begin changes to the archaic section of our city code pertaining to order of business.

Brenda K. Moyers

Councilman Ward I

Scott City