Ok, #Worcester folks, gather round, because it's time for another round of one of @niccommawoo's and my favorite subjects: knowing the #worcpoli official rules.
@niccommawoo We'll reference here the Worcester City Council Rules (voted each term) found online off the City Clerk page here: worcesterma.gov/uploads/a6/56/…
@niccommawoo Councilor King helped us out here by citing the rule he's using; it's Rule 30, which is reconsideration.
@niccommawoo IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are familiar with Robert's Rules of Order, you may have an understanding of reconsideration.
But no, our rules of reconsideration are different.
But no, our rules of reconsideration are different.
@niccommawoo The overarching rule (everywhere) is (essentially) "decided is decided, and you don't get to keep bringing something up over and over again just because you don't like the decision."
@niccommawoo For the #Worcester City Council, that's ninety days. Lose a vote, you have to wait 3 months to bring it up again.
(For #Worcester School Committee, it's six months.)
(For #Worcester School Committee, it's six months.)
@niccommawoo That is true EXCEPT if there is a motion to reconsider.
A motion to reconsider is just "let's do that vote again."
A "yes" vote is "let's do that vote again."
A "no" vote is "no, let's stay with the original vote."
A motion to reconsider is just "let's do that vote again."
A "yes" vote is "let's do that vote again."
A "no" vote is "no, let's stay with the original vote."
@niccommawoo Under the rules of the #Worcester City Council, a motion to reconsider is in order:
1. anytime during the meeting at which the vote was taken; OR
2. by the filing of such a motion by 5 pm Thursday after the meeting at which it was decided.
That would have been 5 pm yesterday.
1. anytime during the meeting at which the vote was taken; OR
2. by the filing of such a motion by 5 pm Thursday after the meeting at which it was decided.
That would have been 5 pm yesterday.
@niccommawoo (Those of you who know Robert's Rules: Yes, in Worcester [both Council and Committee] it can be filed by ANY member, regardless of how they voted the first time! On the Committee, we have to file within 48 hours.)
It goes on the next agenda, it generally is taken first, and it is NOT debatable. That means that the Councilors DO NOT DELIBERATE the item; it's a straight up or down vote right off the bat.
And again, if they vote YES, that reopens (in this case) the budget for deliberation; if they vote NO, the vote on the budget stays as voted this past Tuesday.
#worcpoli
#worcpoli
And that's what is happening Tuesday.
PS: Procedural note: if reconsideration is done at the original vote, you've already reconsidered and it can't be done again, thus the vote goes into effect immediately.
If you happened to be watching the #Worcester School Committee yesterday at about 6, that's what we did on the budget:
1. we voted the bottom line (unanimously yes)
2. we voted to suspend our rules to reconsider (we have to do this; Council does not) (unanimously yes)
3. we voted against reconsideration (unanimously no)
#worcpoli #Worcester
2. we voted to suspend our rules to reconsider (we have to do this; Council does not) (unanimously yes)
3. we voted against reconsideration (unanimously no)
#worcpoli #Worcester
@threadreaderapp unroll please
And for those particularly interested in this Tuesday’s Council, relevant point:
