[Amended 4-27-1993 by Res. No. 231-1993]
A. 
The order in which matters shall be considered by the Legislature is as follows:
(1) 
Calling of the roll.
(2) 
Moment of prayer.
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
(3) 
Pledge of allegiance to the flag.
(4) 
Approval of the journal of the previous meeting.
(5) 
Presentation of petitions and communications.
(6) 
Proclamations.
(7) 
Presentation of formal committee reports.
(8) 
Public forum: speakers shall register with the Clerk of the Legislature prior to the calling of the roll. The President of the Legislature shall determine the length of time per speaker prior to each meeting.
(9) 
Introduction of local laws.
(10) 
Consideration of motions, resolutions and notices.
(11) 
Consideration of unfinished business.
B. 
There shall be a Chaplain of the Monroe County Legislature who shall serve as the spiritual counselor for the Legislature and who shall offer the prayer at the beginning of each meeting of the Legislature. The Chaplain shall be appointed by the President to serve for one calendar month during which a regular meeting of the Legislature is scheduled. The appointment by the President shall be upon the recommendation of a different legislator each such month, alternating month-to-month between legislators of the two major parties. The leader of each major party caucus shall determine the manner in which each caucus' recommending legislators are chosen.
[Added 11-23-1993 by Res. No. 556-1993; amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
Upon the direction of the presiding officer and in the order of business, the Clerk shall read all petitions and communications and the title of all local laws and resolutions. After the title of a local law or resolution is read, the presiding officer or any Legislator may request that it be read in full. Written motions which are not read by the Legislator offering the same shall be read in full by the Clerk before being offered.
The rules governing debate shall be as follows, except that matters not covered by these rules shall be governed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
A. 
To be recognized, a Legislator shall stand in place and shall not speak until recognized by the Chair.
B. 
Debate shall not begin on a local law, resolution or otherwise debatable motion until it has been moved by a Legislator and seconded by another Legislator.
C. 
A Legislator may speak as often on a question as he/she is recognized by the Chair. However, no Legislator shall speak for more than five minutes in total except by permission of the presiding officer.
D. 
No Legislator shall speak or stand while another is speaking unless the latter yields to the former.
E. 
No person shall pass between a Legislator who is speaking and the presiding officer.
F. 
All debate and all questions shall be directed to the presiding officer.
G. 
Those addressing the legislative body shall refer to Legislators and members of the county administrative staff by their title or by the prefix "Mr." or "Madam" followed by their proper name, except the Presiding Officer shall be addressed as "Mr. President/Madam President" or "Mr. Chairman/Madam Chairman," as appropriate.
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
Debatable motions shall be as follows:
A. 
The main motion. The main motion is a motion by itself or one to adopt a local law or resolution before the Legislature. It may be amended and requires a majority vote except where otherwise required by law or these rules. A motion may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before a vote is taken.
B. 
An amendment to the main motion or an amendment of such amendment. An amendment is a motion to change or modify the main motion or an amendment of it. An amendment shall not be amended more than once. Amendments shall be disposed of in inverse order before voting on the main motion, and require a majority vote.
C. 
To commit. This motion is used to refer a matter to committee or back to committee. The motion may be amended and requires a majority vote.
D. 
To reconsider. The purpose of this motion is to reconsider a motion that was previously carried or lost. It may be made only by one who voted with the prevailing side, but may be seconded by anyone. No question can be reconsidered more than once. It may not be amended and requires a majority vote. (Note: two votes are required: first, on whether the original question shall be reconsidered, and if passed, second, on the original motion.)
E. 
To sever. This motion is used to divide a question into two or more logical parts. It may be amended, and requires a majority vote.
F. 
Point of order. A point of order is not properly a motion, since it is used by a Legislator to object to an aspect of procedure. It is always in order, except during roll call, and requires an immediate ruling from the presiding officer. The form is, "Mr./Ms. President, a point of order please." The Presiding Officer then says, "Please state your point of order." The Legislator then states his/her position, and the presiding officer then sustains or denies the point of order. The form is, "I sustain (or deny) your point of order." If the Legislator is not satisfied with the ruling of the presiding officer, the Legislator may appeal the decision by stating, "I respectfully appeal the decision of the Chair to the Legislature." The presiding officer then addresses the Legislature as follows: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" At this point, debate is in order, and the presiding officer may discuss the issue without substituting another member in his/her place. At the conclusion of debate and upon the direction of the presiding officer, the Clerk shall call the full roll call. A majority or tie vote of those present sustains the decision of the presiding officer. The presiding officer shall be entitled to vote on the appeal of the decision of the Chair.
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
G. 
To discharge a Committee. This motion is used to remove a matter from the consideration by one or more of the standing or special committees of the Legislature it may be amended and requires a majority vote.
The following motions are not debatable:
A. 
To lay on the table. This motion is used to postpone a subject under discussion to some time in the near future. It is not amendable and requires a majority vote. When a subject is to be reconsidered, a motion is in order to remove the matter from the table.
B. 
To adjourn. This motion is always in order except when a speaker has the floor, during roll call, or immediately after it has been voted down. It requires a majority vote.
C. 
The previous question. This motion is used to close debate and may be made by any Legislator when debate has become long drawn out. It is made in the following manner: "Mr. President, I move the previous question." Without a second the Presiding Officer then asks the Legislative body, "Shall debate be closed and the question now be put?" The Clerk then calls the full roll call, and if two-thirds (2/3) of those present vote in the affirmative, the question under debate and then before the legislative body is immediately voted upon in the usual manner without further debate.
All voting on local laws, resolutions and motions shall be by voice vote, in the following manner:
A. 
The Clerk shall call the roll on every occasion when requested to do so by any Legislator.
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 117-1994]
B. 
No Legislator shall leave his/her seat, refuse to vote or abstain from voting on a local law, resolution or motion unless excused from voting pursuant to this rule. No Legislator shall speak during roll call except to request to be excused from voting.
C. 
Any Legislator requesting to be excused from voting shall make a brief statement of the reasons for making such a request, and the presiding officer shall excuse from voting any member who, in the opinion of the presiding officer, has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the matter to be voted upon.
D. 
Any Legislator desiring to leave the meeting shall first obtain permission from the Presiding Officer.
E. 
A majority of the total Legislature (i.e., 15 votes) is required to pass any local law, resolution or motion except where otherwise required by law or stated in these rules. When the number of votes cast for and against any proposition is equally divided, the question shall be deemed to be lost, except in the case of an appeal of the decision of the Chair, as set forth in § 545-17F.