ToadBook

Time to hit the truth button. It's been said but it needs to be noted.

• If our Council doesn't follow the ordinances why should we?
• What other rules are they breaking?
• If our Council doesn't behave with decorum why should we?
• If Councilors yell at the Mayor and attorneys trying to keep order when does Village get business completed? (Need a hint? It doesn't!)

Know This: When you read ordinances the word SHALL is mandatory (1-2-1)

Know This: There are consequences for NOT following the laws. 0-90 days in jail and fines up to $500.

2-2-2 4 (d) Enforcement. The Chief of Police or ... shall carry out all orders of the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining the order and decorum of the session. Upon orders from the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to place any person who violates the provisions of this section under arrest and cause him to be prosecuted upon the complaint of the presiding officer in the Municipal Court...

I'm gonna leave this here: How embarrassing that our Council can't behave.

2-2-2 4. Decorum. (a) The Mayor shall preserve the order and decorum, decide all questions of order and conduct the proceedings of the meetings in accordance with the parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised unless otherwise provided by ordinance.

(b) Councilors. While the governing body is in session, the members shall observe order and decorum and neither delay nor interrupt the proceedings of the Council nor disturb any member while speaking nor refuse to obey the orders of the Council or its presiding officer.

(c) Public. While the governing body is in session, no person shall act in a disorderly manner nor, while addressing the governing body, shall any person make any personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks. The presiding officer may bar anyone acting improperly from continuing his address to the governing body.

Get Educated - Meetings and Agendas

Know This: You can not roll any old way as a Councilor at a Council Meeting. There are rules in place. At a minimum decorum and professionalism should play a roll.

Let's Play a Game

Ask yourself these questions and see if you are correct. The Village ordinances that govern these answers are included. .

And more importantly – ask yourself these questions and see if the Council is behaving correctly.

Q. In what manner is Village business conducted?

A. 2-2-2 B. 1 It is the intent that a meeting be conducted on as informal basis as is practicable to expedite Village business. Business will be conducted generally following good parliamentary procedure at the discretion of the presiding officer.

Know This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_procedure Parliamentary Procedure means Councilors and Mayors can not roll any old way.

How embarrassing the way some people behave in meetings.

Q. Who runs the meetings? Who recognizes speakers and manages the meetings?

A. 2-1-2 A. Hint - separate powers! Yes! The Mayor!

Q. If a Councilor wants to speak what is the process?

A. 2-2-2 2b. Each Councilor desiring to speak shall address the presiding officer (the Mayor) and, after being recognized, confine himself or herself to debate, avoiding personalities and indecorous language

(Emphasis mine!)

Q. Are interruptions ok? Can a councilor or a Mayor interrupt at will?

A. 2-2-2 2c A Councilor having been recognized shall not be interrupted except to call him or her to order. If called to order, he or she shall cease speaking until the point of order is decided, after which he or she may proceed.

(Emphasis mine!) Know This: Yelling at the Mayor, Interrupting, Screaming "Point of Order" and not stopping the debate are all against our ordinances.

Yes! Really!

How embarrassing for us to have to watch Councilors yell at attorneys when they don't like the answer. (And remember attorneys are paid to keep everyone out of trouble by the way).

Isn't it time Councilors follow their own ordinances? Remember the ordinances are written by Councilors.

Mayor! Please! 2-2-2 B 1. Strict adherence to the following rules will, however, be invoked at the request of any member of the governing body at any time on any or all issues.

AGENDAS and MEETINGS – GET EDUCATED

Let’s Play a Game. Ask yourself these questions and see if you are correct.

And more importantly – ask yourself these questions and see if the Council is behaving correctly. The Village ordinances that govern these answers are included.

**Hint* Refer to previous education about separate powers.*

Q. Who Sets the Agenda in Bosque Farms for Council meetings?

A. The Clerk Administrator along with the Mayor. 2-2-2 A. 4. All reports, communications, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, documents, or other matters to be submitted to the governing body shall be delivered to the Clerk at least nine days prior to each meeting, whereupon the Clerk shall immediately arrange a list of such matters according to the order of business.

Q. Can the Council request to have something on the agenda?

A. Yes. See above. Also 2-2-2 A. 4. Additional items may be added to the agenda by majority consent of the members of the governing body.

KNOW THIS It does not say they MUST be added prior to the meeting. The idea of having a rolling quorum being illegal is still relevant. This means the Council has to be VERY CAREFUL how they "demand" items be on the agenda (their words!)

Q. Is there a set order to the agenda? A. Yes. See 2-2-2 C.

Q. Who works with other governments? A. 2-6-4 D. Coordinates and/or serves as liaison to the public or other agencies in the development and implementation of special programs and projects as assigned by the Mayor. And 2-1-2 B. 3. The Mayor.

Q. What does the Mayor Pro-Tem Do? A. 2-1-3 NOTHING until the Mayor is unable to do his/her job.

KNOW THIS Insisting you be called Mayor Pro-Tem is just grandstanding.

KNOW THIS There is no Mayor Pro-Tem until there is a Mayor Pro-Tem.

Get Educated: This is a Latin phrase pro tempore, meaning for the temporary moment. So until you must stand in as Mayor, you are ONLY a Councilor. Period. Only when the mayor is unavailable are you Mayor Pro-Tem.

Apologies are Needed

Let's hit the Truth Button long and hard on this topic!

There is a darling elderly lady who has stopped going to Council Meetings and who had her heart broken at a Council Meeting.

The public who boo-ed her down and yelled at her to sit down and shut up should be ashamed.

How embarrassing that some people think it's ok to behave this way. My momma taught me to treat elderly with respect

The Councilor who pumped her fist and encouraged the poor behavior directed against this lady should have charges filed against her. (2-2-2 among other state laws) (Ahem... cough cough... DeSmet)

No! I haven't forgotten and neither has this darling older lady who has been a mainstay in Bosque Farms.

And what prompted this behavior? What did she say that was so despicable that it resulted in being boo-ed, yelled at to sit down and shut up?

This lady said essentially 'why can't we all get along?' She called upon everyone's better nature to be better!

There are no words for this. And if you are one of those people who behaved so terribly Apologize Now!

This lady has lived here her whole life. She has dedicated countless hours to attending meetings, running elections, supporting the PD, refereeing, donating to local organizations (Scouts etc), etc etc etc

I guess we should have known what kind of government we were in for when this happened.

M. Zamora’s response:

He has still included someone from Peralta. Overlooking that -

Short. Succinct. Offered a better date for himself. And ended with a positive Thank you,

Most importantly - No Councilors or Mayor included so no reason to worry about violating open meeting acts! No hints, no clues to how he might vote, no clues to other Councilors.

High Five! M. Zamora.

There are THREE things wrong with this email but let’s just address this one!

DEMANDING

Is this appropriate? Is this an appropriate way to address anyone?

This email is to a Mayor, the Clerk/Administrator, three other councilors and part time person tasked with helping in a variety of ways.

Is this how you would speak to your co-workers? Is this how you would speak to your employees?

What has anyone on this list done that demands you speak or write to them so rudely?

Is it appropriate to DEMAND something when you are just a councilor?

The way this works is you are one of four votes. (One of five if there is a tie).

The Council takes care of the budget and votes on final decisions of hiring/firing.

The Mayor takes care of the daily Village business and sets up meetings and runs the agenda.

So since when did Councilor J. Bruhn get asked to set up a meeting with other agencies?

• Hint - Ask at the Village for the vote on this item- Did the Council vote to have Councilor Bruhn set up a meeting with other agencies? Is there an agenda item that the Mayor asked for this help?