ADOPTED - APRIL 12, 2005

Agenda Item No. 14

 

Introduced by the County Services Committee of the:

 

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGES TO THE BOARD RULES

 

RESOLUTION #05-090

 

WHEREAS, a Subcommittee of the County Services Committee has reviewed the Board Rules and recommended certain changes; and

 

WHEREAS, the County Services Committee has reviewed the Board Rules, the recommendations of the Subcommittee, and is recommending the attached changes.

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners approves the attached changes to the Board Rules, effective upon adoption.

 

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Celentino, Copedge, De Leon, Schor, Severino, Vickers

    Nays:  None                 Approved 3/15/05

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

                                                                                                     

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD RULES

2005

 

                                                                                                 

 

 

                                                Adopted, as revised:  January 2, 1996

             April 30, 1996                                                  

             March 27, 1997

             May 28, 1997

                                                                                    December 11, 2001               

                                                                                    February 26, 2002

                                                                                    December 10, 2002

                                                                                    May 27, 2003

                                                                                    February 2, 2004

                                                                                    -----------,  2005

 


RULES OF THE INGHAM COUNTY BOARD

OF COMMISSIONERS

 

2005

 

I.

BOARD MEETINGS - TIME & PLACE

 

A.  REGULAR AND ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETINGS.  The Board shall convene for the purpose of holding meetings in the Ingham County Courthouse in the City of Mason or elsewhere at the discretion of the Chairperson, provided proper notice is given to the public pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267, as amended, on the following days, which meetings shall convene at 7:30 o'clock in the evening, except as otherwise provided in these Rules:

 

1.         The first business day of each January.

 

2.         The fourth Tuesday of each January.

 

3.         The second Tuesday of each February.

 

4.         The fourth Tuesday of each February.

 

5.         The second Tuesday of each March.

 

6.         The fourth Tuesday of each March.

           

7.         The Tuesday immediately following the second Monday of each April, this being the Statutory    Equalization  meeting.

 

8.         The last Tuesday of the month of April.

 

9.         The second Tuesday of each May.

 

10.       The fourth Tuesday of each May.

 

11.       The second Tuesday of each June.

 

12.       The fourth Tuesday of each June.

 

13.        The fourth Tuesday of each July.

 

14.       The fourth Tuesday of each August.

                       

15.       The  fourth Tuesday in September.

 

16.       The second Tuesday of each October, this being the Statutory Annual Meeting which shall be held in     the Courthouse, Mason.

 

17.       The fourth Tuesday of each October.

 

18.       The second Tuesday of each November.

 

 

 

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19.  The fourth Tuesday of each November.

 

20.  The second Tuesday of each December.

 

All above listed meetings shall be considered regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners.  Any other meetings not listed above shall be special meetings or adjourned sessions of the regular meetings, depending upon the means and methods used in calling said meeting.  Unless the Board otherwise provides, the motion to "adjourn" any meeting of this Board, whether special or regular, shall mean to adjourn to the next succeeding regular meeting on the list above cited.

 

B.  SPECIAL MEETINGS.  The Board shall convene for the purpose of holding special meetings only upon the written request of at least one-third (1/3) of the Commissioners, to the County Clerk, specifying the time, date, place and purpose of such meetings.  When a special meeting is called by written request, as provided above, the County Clerk shall give notice to each of the Commissioners within 48 hours in one of the manners provided as follows:

 

       -  via a confirmed facsimile transmission to the commissioner’s residence

       -  via personal delivery of the notice of the special meeting to the commissioner

       -  leaving the notice of the special meeting at the residence of the commissioner

       -  email to address previously supplied for such purpose by the commissioner

                                                                                                                       

      The Clerk shall post at least 18 hours before the meeting a Public Notice as required by 1976 PA 267.

 

C.  MEETINGS ON LEGAL HOLIDAYS.  Any regular or adjourned meetings of the Board, which fall upon a legal County holiday, shall automatically be set over to the next secular day following that is not a legal holiday, at the same time and place indicated for the original meeting.

 

II.

 

CHAIRPERSON

 

A.  ELECTION.  At the first meeting of each calendar year, the Board shall be called to order and shall thereupon elect, from among its members, a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson Pro Tem, who shall take office and assume their respective duties immediately upon their election; provided that at the first meeting of each newly elected Board, the first order of business shall be the administration of the Constitutional Oath of Office by the County Clerk to the members-elect if this has not previously been accomplished.  The concurrence of a majority of all members of the Board shall be necessary for election.  The officers shall hold their respective offices for a term of one year, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified as set forth above.

 

B.  DUTIES.  The Chairperson (and during his/her absence the Vice-Chairperson) shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and shall decide all questions of order, subject to appeal to the Board.  Upon his/her election, the Chairperson shall appoint all standing and special Committees, subject to the approval by a majority of all members of the Board.  The Chairperson shall arbitrate all jurisdictional disputes between Committees, subject to these rules and subject to appeal to the Board.  The Chairperson shall be a member ex-officio of each standing Committee and special Committee, except as otherwise provided herein.  The Chairperson shall not have the right to vote on any Committee except where he/she is expressly named a member of that Committee.  The Vice-Chairperson Pro Tem shall assume the duties of the Vice-Chairperson when the Vice-Chairperson is serving as the Chairperson.

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The Chairperson, after informing the Vice-Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Pro Tem, is authorized to have proclamations prepared honoring employees retiring from County service, persons retiring from service on County boards, and to issue proclamations honoring certain occurrences in conformity with state, national and other local government proclamations.  The Chairperson shall only do so when such proclamations cannot go through the Committee structure in a timely manner.  In no way shall such proclamations commit the County Board of Commissioners, in any way, to any type of contractual arrangement and/or require the County to expend any funds other than the cost for the preparation of the proclamations.

 

C.  ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS.  The Chairperson of the Board shall have the power to administer an oath to any person concerning any matter submitted to the Board or connected with the discharge of their duties, to issue subpoenas for witnesses and to compel their attendance in the same manner as Courts of Law.

 

III.

 

CLERK OF THE BOARD

 

A.  OFFICIAL CLERK AND DUTIES.  The duly elected Clerk of Ingham shall be ex-officio the Clerk to the Board.  He/she or his/her duly appointed deputy, shall perform all duties ordinarily pertaining to such office, including, but not limited to, the following duties prescribed by law:

 

1.         To record all the proceedings of the Board electronically on disk, cd, dvd or other media, and placed    on the Board website

 

2.         To make regular entries of all Board resolutions and decisions upon all questions.

 

3.         To record the vote of each Commissioner on any ordinance, resolution or appointment or e election of  an officer, submitted to the Board.  Any other question or motion shall be recorded if requested by any      member present.

 

4.         To perform legally required duties on accounts acted upon by the Board and to comply with the Claims              Processing Resolution #82-167.

 

5.         To certify, under the Seal of the Circuit Court of the County, or the official County Seal, without charge,              copies of any and all resolutions or decisions on any of the proceedings of the Board, when requested    by the Board or any member thereof, or when required by any other person upon payment of ten cents            (10¢) per folio therefor, and such certified shall be prima facie evidence of the matters therein set forth.

 

6.         To perform such other and further duties as the Board may by resolution, from time to time, require.

           

7.         To perform all posting functions required by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.

 

The Clerk or one of his/her duly appointed deputies shall be present and take minutes at all meetings of the Board.  In the absence of the Clerk, or an appointed deputy, the Chairperson, with the approval of the Board's members present and voting, shall appoint a Board member to act as Clerk Pro Tem until the Clerk or his/her duly appointed deputy arrives.

 

 

 

 

 

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IV.

 

A.  STANDING COMMITTEES.  The Board of Commissioners shall have the following standing Committees with the following number of members:

 

                        COMMITTEES                                                                       MEMBERS

 

                        County Services                                                                                   6

                        Finance                                                                                                6

                        Human Services                                                                                    6

                        Law Enforcement                                                                                 6         

                        Judiciary                                                                                               6

 

 

B.  DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES.  Standing Committees shall have and perform the following specific duties:  

 

1.  County Services Committee.  It shall be the duty of this Committee to:  work in conjunction with the Controller or his/her designee to ensure adequate and full implementation and administration of standing Board policy affecting the various County departments, offices and agencies with which the Committee serves as liaison; study and advise the Board with respect to matters of long range planning; recommend changes in the Board rules and the organizations and procedures of the Board; recommend adoption of County ordinances; study and advise the Board as to acquisition, disposition, construction, and repairs of all County buildings and grounds; recommend acquisition and disposal of all County equipment, furniture, furnishings and supplies; study and advise the Board with respect to the conservation of energy and other natural resources; acts as liaison to the following County departments, offices, and agencies:  County Clerk, Drain Commissioner, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Management Information Systems, Equalization/Tax Services, Financial Services, Department of Development, Purchasing, Facilities, Road Commission, Parks Board, Board of Public Works, Plat Board, Boundary Commission, Board of Canvassers, Election Scheduling Committee, Board of Election Commissioners, Capitol Area Rail Council, Capital Region Airport Authority, Historical Commission, Fair Board, Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Board Coordinator, Controller, Economic Development Corporation, Women's Commission, and all staff operating the County buildings within the County.  This Committee shall also work in conjunction with the Controller or his/her designee to study and advise the Board with respect to all matters dealing with compensation, wages and salaries for all County officers and employees whose salaries are not otherwise fixed by law; study and advise the Board on all matters relating to labor relations and the relationship between the County and its employees; and recommend action on claims related to the Human Resources Department.  This Committee shall act as liaison between the Board and all County employee associations, the Human Resources Department, Capital Area Michigan Works, and the Equal Opportunity Committee.  The County Services and Finance Committees shall, on no less than an annual basis, review and develop bargaining parameters for labor negotiations; provided however, that all Commissioners shall be notified in advance of when the review shall be held, and shall be given opportunity to provide input.  The bargaining parameters being established shall be reported to the Board of Commissioners for its concurrence.  The establishment of parameters may be discussed in closed session as provided by law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2.  Finance Committee.  It shall be the duty of this Committee to:  study and advise the Board with respect to all appropriations for State, County and general purposes, review and recommend to the Board a budget for County operating expenses by a date specified in a Board resolution for the ensuing year; study and advise the Board with respect to all matters pertaining to bonds, investments and insurance of the County, its officers, employees and agents; study and advise the Board with respect to all financial contracts not otherwise provided for by resolution and/or these Rules; study and advise the Board with respect to apportionment of all tax levies, erroneous land descriptions, correction and respreading upon the rolls of all taxes which for any reason have been rejected by the Auditor General, and, with the assistance of the Department of Equalization, equalization of valuation assessments among the various townships and cities in the County; recommend action on all claims submitted to the County for payment pursuant to Resolution  #82-167; and study and advise the Board with respect to all grants submitted for approval by the Board, including any grant in which the County has direct or indirect involvement (including those where the Board is requested to waive rights in favor of another organization).  This Committee is not created pursuant to 1923 PA 301, MCLA 46.61.  This Committee shall not serve as liaison to any particular County departments, offices, or agencies, but rather, shall study and advise the Board of the financial ramifications of any proposed action involving the appropriation or transfer of County funds, not otherwise provided by law or Board resolution.  The County Services and Finance Committees shall, on no less than an annual basis, review and develop bargaining parameters for labor negotiations; provided however, that all Commissioners shall be notified in advance of when the review shall be held, and shall be given opportunity to provide input.  The bargaining parameters being established shall be reported to the Board of Commissioners for its concurrence.  The establishment of parameters may be discussed in closed session as provided by law.

 

3.  Human Services Committee.  It shall be the duty of this Committee to:  work in conjunction with the Controller or his/her designee to coordinate all human services in the County and to ensure adequate and full implementation and administration of standing Board policy affecting the various County departments, offices and agencies with which the Committee serves as liaison; review and recommend the budgets for each department; review and recommend on matters dealing with solid waste issues; recommend policies relating to the use of human services in the County; make recommendations regarding present and future programs and recommend action on claims related to those departments, offices and agencies with which the Committee serves as liaison, except as otherwise provided by law.  Human services, for the purposes of these Rules, shall encompass the duties and functions of the Cooperative Extension Service, Department of Human Services and Board, Health Department, Board of Health, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Veterans' Affairs Committee, Community Mental Health Board, Medical Examiner, Human Services Advisory Committee, Capital Area District Library, and the Michigan Mid-South Health Systems Agency.  The Committee shall act as liaison between the Board and the departments, commissions and boards listed above.

 

4.  Law Enforcement Committee.  It shall be the duty of this Committee to:  work in conjunction with the Controller or his/her designee to ensure adequate and full implementation and administration of standing Board policy affecting the various County departments, offices and agencies with which it serves as liaison; study and advise the Board with respect to all matters pertaining to the law enforcement system within the County, and in particular, those departments, offices and agencies with which the Committee serves as liaison; recommend action on any and all claims, complaints, or requests of such departments, offices or agencies.  The Committee acts as Liaison to the Animal Control Department,   Emergency Operations, the  Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and the 911 Advisory Committee.

 

 


 

 

 

 

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5.  Judiciary Committee.  It shall be the duty of this Committee to:  work in conjunction with the Controller or his/her designee to ensure adequate and full implementation and administration of standing Board policy affecting the various County departments, offices and agencies with which it serves as liaison; study and advise the Board with respect to all matters pertaining to the judicial system within the County, and in particular, those departments, offices and agencies with which the Committee serves as liaison; recommend action on any and all claims, complaints, or requests of such departments, offices or agencies.  The Committee acts as Liaison to Circuit Court, District Court, Jury Commission, and Probate Court.

 

C.  GENERAL DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES.  In addition to the foregoing, the standing Committees shall have and perform the following other duties:

 

1.         Each standing Committee, except the Finance Committee, shall in the first instance, review all     appropriation requests most directly related to its own functions before such appropriation requests     are referred to the Finance Committee and make recommendations concerning the same to the Finance       Committee and the Board.

 

2.         Each standing Committee shall act as liaison between the Board and the various County offices, boards              and agencies respecting matters under the jurisdiction of the Committee as prescribed by these Rules,           except as the Board otherwise directs.

 

3.         Each standing Committee shall have and perform such other duties as the Board, from time to time,        may require.

 

D.  SPECIAL COMMITTEES.  There shall be, in addition to the standing Committees, such other special Committees as the Chairperson, from time to time, may appoint and establish subject to approval by the Board.  The membership of all such special Committees shall automatically be vacated upon a new Board of Commissioners taking office.

 

E.  COMMITTEE MEETINGS.  Meetings of a standing or special Committee may be convened by its Chairperson or by a majority of its members at any time upon reasonable notice to its members and to the Chairperson of the Board, provided the notice complies with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.  A quorum is required to conduct business.   A quorum shall consist of the Committee’s members noted below.  In order for a Committee to move a matter to the Board of Commissioners for consideration, a majority of those voting is required but there shall always be a requirement of not less than the numbers noted in the below chart:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Number of Committee Members Appointed and Serving

Quorum Requirement

Minimum Number of Affirmative Votes Necessary to Recommend Action to Board

Number of Affirmative Votes Necessary to Take Final Action**

3

2

2

2

4

2

2

3

5

3

2

3

6

3

3

4

7

4

3

4

8

4

4

5

9

5

4

5

 

**  (such as the County Services Committee voting on a grievance)

 

Further, final action of a Committee other than referring a matter to the Board of Commissioners, such as the County Services Committee voting on a grievance, shall require a majority vote of the total Committee compositions (four Commissioners would have to vote in order for a final action in case of a seven member Committee, and three Commissioners would have to vote in order to take such final action for a five member Committee).  All Committee meetings shall be open, except that a Committee may vote to go into closed session as provided by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.  Each Committee shall have a prepared agenda at least one day prior to the Committee meetings, which shall include, as far as is practicable, all items to be considered by the Committee; the agenda shall be posted on the Courthouse bulletin board and shall be made available to the public on request as provided by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.  The Chairperson of each Committee shall either prepare an agenda in cooperation with the department heads, or shall delegate that authority to the appropriate staff.  All Committees shall keep minutes of their meetings as required by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267, and said minutes shall be permanently kept on file with the Clerk of the Board.  Every Committee or Subcommittee shall provide an opportunity for public comment at the beginning and end of each agenda.  Each person shall be permitted to speak for three (3) minutes, except that if it appears a large number of people wish to speak at a meeting the Chairperson may ask those wishing to speak to identify themselves and if there are more than 20 may announce that the allotted time per person will be two (2) minutes, except where extended privileges are granted by the Chairperson.  Members of the public desiring to speak shall be required to identify themselves.

 

  1.  An audiotape shall be made during the conduct of regularly scheduled Committee meetings except during closed session held pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.  Taping may be temporarily paused during a meeting at the direction of the Chairperson of the Committee.  Such tape shall be kept in the Board of Commissioners office for public access for at least six months from the date of the meeting after which time it may be erased or overwritten.  The commitment of staff time shall be limited to providing access to the original tape, or to provide a copy upon request at a rate allowed under the Freedom of Information Act.

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F.  CONSENT AGENDA.  At the discretion of the Committee Chairperson, all of the resolutions and actions of the Committee which are on the agenda may be acted upon in one vote; provided, however, that any member of the Committee may identify specific resolutions and actions which are not to be included in the one vote but which are to be discussed and voted upon separately.

 

Prior to the Committee Chairperson calling for a vote on the consent agenda, Commissioners shall have the opportunity to identify those resolutions and actions which are not to be included but which are to be discussed and voted on separately.

 

V.

 

CONDUCT OF BOARD MEETINGS

 

A.  QUORUM.  A majority of the members of the County Board of Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the ordinary business of the County, and questions which arise at meetings shall be determined by the votes of a majority of the members present, except upon the final passage or adoption of a measure or resolution, or the allowance of a claim against the County, in which case a majority of the members elected and serving shall be necessary.

 

B.  ORDER OF BUSINESS.

 

1.  Agenda.

 

             1.    Call to Order and Roll Call

             2.    Pledge of Allegiance

             3.    Time for Meditation

             4.    Reading and Correction of Minutes

             5.    Addition of Items to the Agenda

 

             6.    Petitions and Communications

             7.    Limited Public Comment

             8.    Consideration of Consent Agenda

             9.    Committee Reports

           10.    New and Miscellaneous Business

           11.    Late Committee Reports and Late Individual Resolutions

           12.    Special Orders of the Day

           13.    Limited Public Comment

           14.    Commissioner Announcements

           15.    Consideration and Allowance of Claims

           16.    Adjournment

 

2.    Specific Agenda Priorities.  All matters shall be placed upon the agenda of the Board within a specific section as listed immediately above by the Clerk of the Board.

 

Consent Agenda.  At the discretion of the Board Chairperson, with approval of the Board, all of the resolutions and actions of the Board which are on the agenda may be acted upon in one roll call vote; provided, however, that any member of the Board may identify specific resolutions and actions which are not to be included in the one roll call vote but which are to be discussed and voted upon separately; and provided further that resolutions and actions requiring a roll call vote and or a 2/3 vote shall not be included in the one vote but shall be discussed and voted upon separately.

 

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Prior to the Board Chairperson calling for a vote on the consent agenda, Commissioners shall have the opportunity to identify those resolutions and actions which are not to be included but which are to be discussed and voted on separately.

 

3.  Agenda Deadline.  All information to be placed on the agenda must be received by the Clerk of the Board from Committees no later than noon on the fifth day immediately preceding the Board meetings.  For the second Board meeting of each November, being the fourth Tuesday, all information to be placed on the agenda must be received by the Clerk of the Board from Committees no later than 12:00 noon on the eighth day immediately preceding said Board meeting.  On or before the fourth day before each Board meeting, the Clerk shall mail or provide electronically to each Commissioner the agenda for the meeting, arranged as described in these Rules, and briefly describing all matters to be considered, including a copy of all Committee reports and individual resolutions to be acted upon at said meeting.  No Committee report or individual resolutions, other than reports on routine claims, shall ordinarily be considered unless a copy thereof has been mailed or provide electronically to each Commissioner with the agenda or otherwise delivered to each Commissioner not later than the third day prior to the meeting.  Late Committee items shall be distributed to all Commissioners at the beginning of the Board meeting and shall be announced by title and added to the agenda with appropriate agenda numbers.  A five minute recess may be granted at the request of any Commissioner prior to the consideration of late items.  Individual resolutions, which have not been moved at Committee, shall ordinarily be referred to Committee unless 2/3 of the members present vote to allow the resolution to be considered by the Board immediately.

 

C.  RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS.

 

1.          Speaking Priorities.  The sponsor of any properly moved and seconded motion, resolution, ordinance, or report, shall have the right to speak for up to three (3) minutes, after the formal introduction but             prior to any discussion of the matter on the floor.  In any case where there may be more than one              sponsor to a particular motion, resolution, ordinance or report, it shall be in the discretion of the     Chairperson which person shall exercise the right given by this rule to first speak on the pending      matter.  Before speaking, each member shall address himself/herself to the Chairperson.  If two or              more members seek recognition to speak at the same time, the Chairperson shall designate the order in              which they shall speak.  No member, while addressing the Board, shall be interrupted, except to be       called to order; and thereupon, he/she shall immediately cease talking and be seated.  Every         Commissioner shall vote on all questions unless excused by the Chairperson.  The Chairperson shall     vote on all questions unless excused by the Board.

 

D.  MOTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.  No motion shall be debated or voted upon unless seconded.  It shall then be stated by the Chairperson before debate.  Any motion may, with the permission of the person who moved and seconded it, be withdrawn at any time before the same has been adopted.  Every motion shall be put in writing at the request of any member of the Board.  All motions, resolutions, Committee reports and amendments or substitutes thereto shall be entered at large upon the minutes unless withdrawn.

 

1.         Voting.  The vote on any question shall be taken by a yea and nay roll call when called for by any           member of the Board.  Closed sessions may be held, provided the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267, is    adhered to.

 

 

 

 

 

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2.         Order of Precedence of Motions.  When a motion is seconded and before the Board, no other motion               shall be received except the following:

 

            a.         To fix the time to which to adjourn

            b.         To adjourn

            c.         For the previous question

            d.         To lay on the table

            e.         To postpone indefinitely

            f.          To postpone to a date certain

            g.         To refer

            h.         To amend

 

            These motions shall have precedence in the order as above named.

 

3.         Motions to Adjourn.  A motion to adjourn shall always be in order except while a vote is being taken     on any other motion already before the Board, or when a member has the floor; provided, that there              shall be other intervening business or a change in the circumstances between the two motions to  adjourn.

 

4.         Motions to Reconsider.  A motion for the reconsideration of any question shall be in order if made on    the same day or at the Board meeting next succeeding that on which the decision proposed to be             reconsidered was made; providing, however, that a second reconsideration of any question or a              reconsideration at a later date may be had with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected       and serving, but in such event the moving member shall file written notice of his/her intention to move          for a reconsideration in the office of the Clerk of the Board at least one day before making such a    motion.

 

5.          Reports and Motions Requiring Signatures.  All reports of Committees shall be in writing and the           names of the members of such Committees concurring in such reports shall be noted thereon.  Every              written resolution or motion shall have noted the name of the member or members introducing the     same.

 

6.         Resolutions and Ordinances.  Resolutions shall be considered in the order in which they are received      unless otherwise ordered by the Board, in accordance with Section V, Sub-section B, Number 2.  All             resolutions and motions for the appropriation of money and all proposed County ordinances shall be      presented to the Board in writing.

 

7.         Division of Question.  Upon request by any member, any question before the Board may be divided      and separated into more than one question; provided, however, that such may be done only when the           original is of such a nature that upon division, each of the resulting questions is a complete question  permitting independent consideration and action.

 

E.  APPEAL FROM DECISION OF CHAIRPERSON.  When an appeal is taken from the decision of the Chairperson, the member taking the appeal shall be allowed to state his/her reason for doing so.  The question shall be then immediately put in the following form:  "Shall the ruling of the Chairperson be sustained?"  The question shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present, except the Chairperson, upon the request of any member, shall not preside over such a vote.

 

 

 

 

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F.  REFERRAL TO COMMITTEESIt shall be the duty of the Chairperson to refer all petitions, communications, resolutions, motions and other business that may come before the Board to the proper Committee unless objection be made by some member, in which event a motion made and adopted with reference to the subject shall preclude the Chairperson's action.

 

G.  DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE.  The Board may, by a majority vote of all its members, discharge any

Committee from further consideration of any matter referred to the Committee for general referral if the

motion to discharge was properly placed upon the meeting agenda at which action is desired.  Any motion to

discharge that does not appear on the agenda of the meeting at which action is desired, shall require a two-

thirds (2/3) vote of all members elected and serving for passage.

 

H.  MOTION TO CLEAR THE FLOOR.  If, in the judgment of the Chairperson, there is a confusion of Parliamentary procedure existing, the Chairperson shall have the right to request a "motion to clear the floor" which motion, if made and seconded, shall be undebatable, shall take precedence over all other motions, shall be forthwith put by the Chairperson, and, if carried, shall clear the floor completely and with the same effect as if all matters on the floor were withdrawn.  The motion to clear the floor shall not be reconsidered; but its passage shall not limit the right of any member to move the reconsideration of any other matter in the same manner as, but for the passage of the motion to clear the floor, would be in accordance with these Rules.

 

I.  PUBLIC MEETINGS.  Board meetings shall be open to the public as required by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.

 

J.  COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR.  Only members of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners shall be given the floor to speak during any Board meeting except:

 

1.         Anyone who desires to speak under Subsection B, Number 1, and J of this article; and

 

2.         County officials and/or personnel may speak with the consent of the majority of the Board members       present; and

 

3.         Any person who, with the consent of the Chairperson of the Board and/or the Chairperson and/or a       majority of any Board Committee, has been given permission to be listed in an appropriate place on the       agenda for the purpose of that presentation at the meeting.

 

4.         Under public comment, each person shall be permitted to speak  for (3) three minutes, except that if it    appears a large number of people wish to speak at a meeting the Chairperson may ask those wishing to     speak to identify themselves and if there are more than 20 may announce that the allotted time per     person will be two (2) minutes, except where extended privileges are granted by the Chairperson.

 

K.  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY.  Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, 1979 edition, shall govern all questions of procedures which are not otherwise provided by the Rules, or by State law.

 

L.  USE OF CELL PHONES.  During meetings of the Board, including Committee meetings, all cell phones or other electronic devices shall be turned off or set to “mute” or “vibrate” in order to avoid disruption.


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Commissioners choosing to answer cell phone calls shall leave the table, and if necessary, the room, in order to avoid disruption. Notices of Board and Committee meetings shall include a request that all cell phones or other electronic devices be turned off or set to “mute” or “vibrate” in order to avoid disruption during the meeting. Disruption of a meeting by inappropriate use of a cell phone may be addressed in the same manner as other inappropriate disruptions.

 

VI.

FINANCE

 

A.  SALARIES.  The salary of each elected official shall be fixed by the Board according to the provisions of the law.

 

B.  BOARD COMPENSATION.  Members of the Board and its Committees shall be compensated for their duties and their Committee work at such rates and such amounts as the Board, by resolution, in accordance with State Law, shall determine.

 

C.  EXTRA COMPENSATION.  The Board shall not grant or authorize extra compensation to any public officer, agent or contractor after the services have been rendered or the contract entered into.

 

D.  BUDGET LIMITATIONS.  Except as may be otherwise required by law or Board Resolution, no County board, agency, or officer whose budget is in whole or in part subject to the jurisdiction of the Board shall exceed or commit itself to exceed its budget or any line item thereof without prior approval of the Board.

 

VII.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

A.  ASSISTANCE TO THE CHAIRPERSON.  The Clerk and/or  his/her designee shall provide such secretarial and stenographic assistance to the Chairperson of the Board and to the Chairperson of each Committee in the performance of their Board authorized duties as they may reasonably request.

 

B.  FORM OF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS.  All written reports and communications to the Board and its Committees and members from any office, agency or employee of the County shall be upon 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper punched for standard notebook use.

 

C.  NOTICE OF BOARD ACTION.  When the Board has acted upon a written request or demand for action presented to the Board from other than among its membership, the Clerk shall promptly notify the person or agency making the request or demand of the Board's action thereon.

 

D.  SCHEDULE OF CLAIMS.  At the beginning of each regular and adjourned regular meeting of the Board, the Controller shall provide the Board with a schedule of the claims to be considered for allowance or disallowance in accordance with Resolution #81-249.

 

E.  MINUTES.  A copy of the minutes of each Board meeting shall be prepared and transmitted to each Board member promptly.  The County Clerk or his/her designee, shall prepare minutes as required by the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All resolutions finally adopted by the Board in each calendar year shall be consecutively numbered immediately by the Clerk of the Board in the order of their adoption, which number shall be prefixed with the last two digits of the year of its adoption and a hyphen.  Thus, the third resolution adopted in 1982 would be designated "RESOLUTION NO. 82-3".  As each resolution is finally adopted, the Clerk of the Board shall assign its proper number, which shall appear at the head of said resolution as finally adopted in the minutes as shown above.

 

F.  BUDGET AND SALARY DETAIL.  When the tentative budget and when the budget itself is submitted to the Board by the Finance Committee, as provided in these Rules, the Controller shall provide each member of the Board with a copy of the full budget and salary schedule and such other information as required in the Uniform Budgeting Act, 1978 PA 621.

 

G.  MEMBERS' MANUAL.  As soon as possible after the adoption of these Rules, the Board Coordinator to the Board shall make available the following information:

 

1.         Names, addresses and telephone numbers (home and business) of all Board members.

2.         The most current Board Rules, as amended.

3.         All County ordinances (except bonding ordinances).

4.         All Board resolutions of continuing effect which relate in any manner to County affairs.

5.         All statutory deadlines for action respecting taxes within the County.

6.         All statutory deadlines for Board action, other than respecting taxes.

7.         The positions, names and addresses and telephone numbers (home and business) of all Board                            appointees, with the date of their original appointment to said board and the date which their                              current term expires.

8.         The notebook or manual shall also include such other information as the Board, by resolution,

            from time to time directs.

9.         The County Ethics Policy

 

The Board Coordinator to the Board shall update this information as necessary.  

 

H.  COPIES OF PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY.  The Board Coordinator to the Board shall provide each member a copy of Mason's Rules of Order.

 

VIII.

 

TITLES AND SUBTITLES

 

A.  The title and subtitles of these Rules, and the citations appended thereto, are for convenience only, and shall not be considered as part of these Rules.

 

 

IX.

 

AMENDMENT TO AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE RULES

 

A.  These Rules may be amended, suspended, or rescinded only by a majority vote of all of the Commissioners elect.  They shall remain in effect until rescinded or amended.

 

B.  Any amendment to these Rules properly presented to the Board of Commissioners and adopted, shall take immediate effect unless otherwise stated by the Board at the time of adoption.