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The Mayor, Pam Triolo, is trying to learn Robert's Rules of Order. It is difficult even for our city attorney to understand the rules as she has readily admitted. Have you ever just tried doing research on a subject that is addressed in Robert's Rules?
Lately, the Mayor has called MANY Points of Order when Commissioner McVoy or Mulvehill have spoken on certain subjects to get their points across during discussion or debate. She has come down hard on their right of free speech and as elected representatives of the residents who voted them into office, we want to hear what they have to say. They have the right to repeat themselves after everyone has spoken to the motion. The "filibuster" complaint is impossible to prove here and in most cases, there is absolutely no reason to delay a vote as this new commission has already made up their minds.
On a Point of Order, there has to be a clear violation of the rules and that person calling the Point of Order should cite the rule that has been broken. And I don't accept some flippant bullet point here. Infraction of the rules, or improper decorum in speaking must be raised immediately after the error is made. The Chair would make a decision and if in doubt, would then ask the commission. Politics should not come into play. Let's get some democracy back into the playbook.
The mayor, along with the commission, have now reduced the time of our general meetings to 4 hours. We will see how long that works out. If the commissioners are on point, they have every right to express their views and can not be shut up just because an opposing side does not want to listen or because it has been discussed previously. I can unequivocally say that if Rachel Waterman pulled these stunts she would have been tarred and feathered by politicos in this city.
In addressing A point of Order, Robert's Rules says:
•Another member can interrupt a speaker who has the floor and call a Point of Order.
•It doesn't need to be seconded.
•It isn't debatable.
So, the next time any commissioner is speaking to the subject and giving reasons for his either being in favor or disfavor of a motion and there is heckling or jeering in the chamber and the Mayor does not quiet the chamber, that commissioner whose rights have been impugned should call it. We have a civility rule in place that is being completely ignored by some and it needs to be in play for every citizen who speaks at the lectern as well. Refer to the city attorney to remind everyone of this civility resolution.
Rules are put in place to protect rights, and when the rules aren't followed, those rights can get trampled. Fortunately, Robert's Rules says that any member who notices a breach of the rules has a right to call immediate attention to the fact and insist that the rules be enforced by raising a point of order. Under no circumstances should "undue strictness" be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation.
Remarks must be courteous in language and deportment - avoid all personalities, never allude to others by name or to motives, something the Mayor accused Suzanne Mulvehill of doing when she said that Mulvehill was not asking a question--that she was "preaching." "You're not asking--when I hear you ask something I will answer you," said Triolo to Mulvehill.
It is the Chair who sets the example of how people are treated, not only on the dais but the treatment of those residents in the chamber. No one should ever get trashed in this process.
To Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteYou have done too much good for you to be subjected to the catcalls and humiliation of people who are far below your level of evolution as a complete human being.
Your immediate righting upon election of the Ship Lake Worth in relation to mistakes of previous commissions on water, electricity, and the beach give you a legitimate claim to respect and gratitude of all present and future residents.
Your careful study of issues is exemplary for commissioners everywhere.
Your heartfelt advocacy for victims of domestic violence show you to be a compassionate person who goes beyond what is required of an officeholder.
Avoid contemptuous attempts by your lessors to drag you into the gutter with them by invoking your right to Point of Order and demanding that the Mayor follow the civility ordinance when she chairs meetings.
Too many meeting have gone to midnight and beyond. Setting a time limit for Commission meeting was appropriate. I agree Commissioners are entitled to express their views on the agenda item being discussed. It is time consuming, however, to bring back into the discussion decisions and votes that were made at previous meetings. Those actions are unproductive and just take the process backwards.
ReplyDeleteIt's your call, mayor. However, you have been very heavy handed since you took the gavel. IMO.
ReplyDeleteNo one jeered or personally attacked Mulvehill on the Sustainability Manager. The majority of the commenters just disagreed with her. That is life. I don't remember her or this blog's author saying anything against the poor treatment received by Maxwell over the past four years. The real issue is the commission has changed and Mulvehill has a difficult time with that. The first time she was the lone commissioner on a 4-1 vote, she left the dais and slammed the door going out of the conference room into the hallway. If one chooses to be in public office, one needs to develop a thick skin.
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Scott Maxwell. Maxwell was not treated meanly. Name an incident. Gimme a break. If anyone can take care of himself it is he. There is no reason why someone should have to develop a thick skin. There is proper decorum. There is a Civility Resolution. Everything should be fairly simple. I never witnessed a door slamming so I can't speak to that. All I see is bullying from the dais. What you will see on this blog is my point of view and I do have a thick skin but it doesn't mean that I or anyone else has to put up with rude people at the city commission meetings. Sorry. This is NOT just your house.
ReplyDeleteDidn't she run saying she'd listen to everyone? Wasn't being pushy and steamrolling people the rep they tried to pin on Waterman? I guess it's ok if you use the rules to stomp on other people's rights, the banks taught us that.
ReplyDeleteI have been to commission meetings and listened to McVoy repat himself over and over. It got so bad one night that I could repeat everything he was saying as if it was a script. I am so happy that our mayor is not letting that happen. McVoy knows what he is doing and he needs to be stopped. I have no respect for him.
ReplyDeleteMulvehill needs to understand that she has to regain respect from these new commissioners. Putting Cara's boy on our CRB was the last straw for me.
The Mayor is not "Steamrolling" anyone. She is putting an end to the continual lecturing and repetition that has been flowing from the dais for too long. She has shut down Maxwell on several occasions when he started rehashing the past or got off topic. The goal is to shorten the meetings so more members of the public can stay until the conclusion.
ReplyDeleteMcVoy is a scientist and as such, he thinks much more analytically than most of us. He doesn't come to quick conclusions. As he speaks, he is formulating the pros and cons of the issue as they roll around in his mind. You have to understand where he is coming from instead of being so negative. He is not mean-spirited up there. He is trying to do a good job for ALL of the residents here, not just some of them and not just you.
ReplyDeleteThe city manager resume fiasco was not his fault but rather a commission that went on and on and got no where slow. Everyone up there is guilty of slowing up the process in one way shape or form.
Next, Mayor, I am rather sure that you are trying as well. Everyone has a different personality on the dais and sometimes, on any given day, it is hard to deal with them all.
For the anonymous poster above who says that they have no respect for Mr. McVoy for talking too long, I say it's better than someone making a snap judgment on an important issue. It is sad commentary when you can say that about someone who is a good person and has made no mistakes for the City.
There are such things as Parliamentarians who hire out their services. The City Atty. should not wimper at the task as she is hired to do that week after week after week.
ReplyDeleteHa, my code word came up as DILIGENCE now hows that for the City Atty.?
Commissioner Amoroso could be more effective and a better communicator on the dias if he could remember that he was not the only elected official sitting up there. He needs to be able to work with the other commissioners and remember that Suzanne and Christopher received more votes than he and Mayor Triolo.
ReplyDeleteCommissioner Mulvehill was re-elected with 2516 votes.
Commissioner McVoy was elected with 2962 votes.
Commissioner Amoroso was elected with 1774 votes.
Mayor Triolo was elected with 1585 votes.
Excellent point but they are too arrogant to understand that.
ReplyDeleteAnons @ 4:06 PM and 4:36 PM - unfortunately you cannot compare the raw numbers from elections in two different years, especially when one was part of a General Election (2010) and one was a Municipal Election (2011). That is like comparing apples and oranges. No one is too arrogant to understand that comparison.
ReplyDeleteThe data you should look at is the percentage of votes cast for each candidate in their election. Looking at the individuals that way shows:
Mulvehill - 53.38%
McVoy - 53.34%
Amoroso - 59.67%
Triolo - 52.66%
This information comes directly fromt he PBC Supervisor of Elections web site so no one can say the numbers were manipulated. The proper analysis provides a different picture.
Sorry--I disagree with the above. You can have 2 people voting and the candidate gets all 2 votes and wins by 100%. What does that prove? It is the numbers that show up, not the percentage.
ReplyDelete