Rise to the point of order, 'It is President Hayes, not Mayor Hayes'

As I attend regularly scheduled Arlington Heights Village Board 

meetings, something seemed out of order in which the board was 

handling meeting protocol. In particular it was the manner in 

which main motions were introduced at meetings to execute 

village business. 

Upon further inspection of the Village Municipal Code I 

discovered the following language in Chapter 2 Elected Officers, 

Article 2 The Board of Trustees,  Section 2-206 Rules of Procedure, rule 1: 

'The Board is to be governed by parliamentary law as laid down 

by Robert's Rule of Order'.  


Also in,Chapter 6 Boards and Commissions, Article I General  Provision, Section 6-112 (a), Proceedings:

'Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rule of 

Order unless otherwise provided for in approved procedures'.

What is Robert's Rule of Order?

Henry M. Robert (1837-1923) was a General in the US Army. He 

began researching the subject of parliamentary law and developed 

rules to conduct meetings that ensured democratic participation. 

In essence Robert's rules provide common rules and procedures for 

deliberation and debate. This is in order to place the whole 

membership on the same footing and speaking the same language. 

The conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of 

the whole membership - the right of the deliberate majority to 

decide. 

Complementary is the right of at least a strong minority to require 

the majority to be deliberate - to act according to its considered 

judgment AFTER a full and fair "working through" of the issues 

involved. Robert's Rules provides for constructive and democratic 

meetings, to help, not hinder, the business of the assembly.(Robert's Rule of Order)

On several occasions I noticed that the Board Chairman, President 

Hayes, does not always follow the rules as laid out in Robert's 

Rules Book as prescribed by The Municipal Code. The obvious 

infraction is the board always addresses President Hayes as a 

Mayor. There is no Mayor in Arlington Heights, only a President.

So what is going on? 

I decided to address the Board:

July 18, 2016 Board Meeting:

Please view this as a 'rise to the point of order'. It seems that 

sometimes the Village Board does not follow Robert's Rules of 

Order in managing main motions while conducting Village 

Business.

According to Arlington Heights Municipal code 2-206 and 6-

112(a) , the Board is to be 'governed by parliamentary law as laid 

down by Robert's Rules of Order'. Maybe there is some provisions 

in the code that changes Roberts Rule of Order, in how to handle a 

main motions, but since I am no lawyer, I sure could not find any.

Two simple Examples of Board not Following Roberts Rules of 

Order;

One, It is President Hayes not Mayor Hayes, we have no mayor in 

Arlington Heights. For example, the proper way to introduce a 

main motion is to say, 'Mr. President (or President pro-tem) I move 

that...' Then the motion is clearly repeated by the President.

Two, Once a main motion is made, then seconded, it is then fully 

repeated by the President and then discussion begins. At that point 

the main motion is now owned by the Assembly, it is not owned by the motion maker, to make changes to the motion. So, if Trustee A makes the motion, then Trustee B seconds it. Trustee A does not own the main motion to make changes to it.

There are only two ways to change a Main Motion, once it is under discussion:

One, The president calls for a vote and the main motion is either 

voted up or down. Then a revised main motion is reintroduced.

Two, There is a move to amend the existing main motion, second 

it, then the President repeats the amendment, discussion begins of 

the amendment. The President calls for a vote on the amendment; 

then a vote on the main motion. Each has to pass for the changes to 

be effective.

These are fundamental rules of Robert's Rules of Order to handle a 

main motion.

But when I hear the Parliamentarian who I presume is the Village 

Attorney ask, during the Committee of the Whole, on July 5, in 

creating Liquor Class L, “was there an amendment on that”? There 

should be no question if there was an amendment.

This question shows a clear sign that we are not following Robert's 

Rule of Order in managing main motions.

I do not believe anyone is being malicious. No one is born with the 

knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order. But it is a little surprising 

that a Board with a cumulative experience on the Board 

approaching a century; does not know the basics how to manage a 

main motion under Robert's Rules of Order.

Closing

So I ask the Board from now on to please always follow Robert's 

Rules of Order when making and passing main motions and 

amendments. This is to be done so it is clear what is being voted 

on. Also it is clear what is being voted on to the people that are 

listening in the audience.