| Subject: Re: town meeting |
Author:
Dennis
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Date Posted: 13:48:07 05/26/03 Mon
In reply to:
Bob
's message, "town meeting" on 21:26:56 05/25/03 Sun
I agree with you. And it doesn't necessarily have to cost extra money.
The long-time moderator, Mr. Frank Krawzyk, was a man I had a lot of respect for. He was completely removed from town business and town politics. He was no-nonsense and absolutely above reproach. He practiced a very sensible policy. Most of the time (like 19 out of 20 times), a voice vote is just fine. But if there were *any* question, he would call for a division of the hall (that's where people stand up). And, most importantly, he recognized the sensitive votes and he himself insisted on a written ballot for those items.
I wish Gary McCarthy (the Town Clerk who filled in for Frank during his tragic illness), and Leo Gaudette (who was elected to Moderator for the last few years) would have followed this policy. I hope Dave Martin does. However, having said that, it is absolutely the Moderator's prerogative.
UNLESS --
a) There is a call from the hall for a division, which only requires ten people to stand up after the Moderator makes his determination on the voice vote.
b) Or there is an amendment offered on the main motion (or whatever motion is being voted on) to "fix the method of voting." This must be in written form and requires a simple majority.
The last time these procedures were called into action was a couple of meetings ago when the Town Hall Proposal (the one on Loon Hill) was defeated. There was a very close voice vote -- and a 2/3 vote was required. The Moderator (Leo Gaudette) called it in favor of the ayes. I stood up and asked others to stand up for a division. That also gave me the time to submit "fix-the-method" amendment (because the vote was still open, because of the required division of the hall). The ensuing voice vote (requiring a simple majority) was close -- and I think Leo saw the position he was in. If he ruled the nays won, which would have dismissed to "fix-the-method" amendment, we could have just called for another division and filed another amendment to fix the method on fixing the method. So he just ruled that the ayes won and we proceeded to a written vote.
Anyway, the written vote carried by about twenty, but not nearly enough for 2/3 and was defeated. Mind you, the written result was the exact opposite of the initial call on the voice vote.
I'm perfectly happy to invoke these procedures again. And so should you be (anybody can do it). But let me warn you about going to the well too often. This should be saved for when it's really needed. Otherwise, your just wasting the attendees' time, and they won't vote for a written ballot if it's really needed.
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