Minutes 04/12/1967 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 11, 1967 in Cradock between George Washington Highway and Alwin Road has~ nine nice hemes, two commercial buildings, and'two dental offices, and it is badly in need of curbs and gutters. I cannot understand why this block was skipped overwhen they were ~nStalled near by on other streets, even though the other streets have less traffic. Ho~ing that You will check in~o this and see that we get some curbs and gutters, thanking you in ~dvance~ I remain" Motion of Mr. Barnes to receive as information and refer to a conference of Council on this matter, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 67-107 - The following communication from the City Clerk was read: "The terms of office of the following members of the Museum Board will empire on May 1, 1967: Zolman Blachman, 312 East Road * Mrs. Peter M. Axson, 312 Maywood Drive Mrs. Van Kent Heely, 2S1 Riverside Drive" Donald C Kilgore- Motion of Mr. Eastes to refer to a conference was adopted, without dissenting vote. 67-108 - Motion of Hr. Smith that the following ooinion of the City Attorney regarding his right to speak and make motions from the chair, be mad~ a part.~df the Council records was adopted, without dissenting vote: "At its last meeting the Council asked the City Attorney to determine whether the Mayor had~J the right to speak and make motions from the chair. The proceedings of the City Council are governed by the Constitution of Virginia, the Charter of the City, the general statutes of Virginia, the ordinances previously adopted by the City Council and Robert's Rules of Order. Robert's Rules of Order states that it con~tit~es a general guide to parliamentary procedure and that any rule set forth therein may be modified or superseded by any by-laws adopted by the particular body concerned. It goes without saying that they are also subordinate to any federal, state or local laws which may apply to a particular body. The rules state that the presiding officer should not ondinarily make motions or speak on pending matters in order to preserve an air of impartiality; but at page 241 it says that the ~hairman "need not wait for motions of routine, or for a motion to be seconded when he knows it is favored by others, yet if this is objected to, it is favored instantly to request the forms ofparliamentary law to be observed." however, this is all subject to Section S of Chapter 2 of the Charter which states "the Mayor shall preside over the meetings of the Council and shall have the same right to vote and speak therein as other members." Therefore, according to the Charter, the Mayor's right to s~eak is as broad and unrestricted as that of any other co~mcilman. The purpose of such a provis~gn is to permit the Mayor to express his views on a given matter as fully as any other councilman. Since the Mayor is elected by the people it is important to the voters of the City that they be as fully informed as to the position of the Mayor on given questions in order to determine his fitness to retain office or to be re-elected to the council. In conclusion, it is my opinion that although it may not be in the best parliamentary tradition, nevertheless, the Mayor does have the right to speak and make motions from the chair, To require the Mayor to temporarily vacate the chair everytime he sought to speak on a question would so disrupt the council meeting as to also be violative of good parliamentary proc6dure. As stated in Robert's Rules of Or~ the rules of parliamentary procedure are devised to expedite the orderly dispatch of business not to impede it," 67195 (action deferred) Motion of Mr. Barnes to concur in the recommendation of the City Manager to adjourn this meeting until 11:30 A,M, on ~ednesday, was adopted, without dissenting vote. APPROVED - President City Clerk