Utica Common Council Defines "Rules Of Order"
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: December 10, 2012
The Utica Common Council met today to discuss city permits, but there
were other issues on some of the members minds. Councilman Frank Vescera
recently wanted to present a petition during a meeting. But the council
majority chose to waive his presentation, which he says is illegal. But
other board members disagree. They say there are "Rules of Order,"
which they say the councilman did not follow.
"There's tons of opportunities to speak during the council meeting, whereas a council member should not take the initiative to take the public's time away from them," says Frank Meola, Common Council majority leader.
"The "Rules of Order" were being broken, they were not being followed. So the only approach that I had left in me was to go to privilege of the floor, but it stemmed from the council trying to waive something that was not in their power to do," says Frank Vescera, Common Councilman, D-1.
The "Rules of Order" say council members can talk up to 3 minutes during the "Presentation of Remonstrances, Petitions and Appeals."
"There's tons of opportunities to speak during the council meeting, whereas a council member should not take the initiative to take the public's time away from them," says Frank Meola, Common Council majority leader.
"The "Rules of Order" were being broken, they were not being followed. So the only approach that I had left in me was to go to privilege of the floor, but it stemmed from the council trying to waive something that was not in their power to do," says Frank Vescera, Common Councilman, D-1.
The "Rules of Order" say council members can talk up to 3 minutes during the "Presentation of Remonstrances, Petitions and Appeals."
