[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Madison as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Town Meetings — See Ch. 126.
[Adopted 7-28-1980]
The Madison Board of Selectmen hereby finds that it is desirous, for purposes of orderly conduct of its business, for certain rules to be established which set forth the perimeters by which the public may have additional input into the actions of its municipal officers.
The Madison Board of Selectmen does hereby declare that the public shall not be allowed to address the Board unless recognized by the Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. The Chairman or Acting Chairman shall limit the discussion of matters brought before the Board to the Board members, Town Manager, department heads of the Town and any other persons recognized as having a direct interest in the matter before the Board. "Direct interest" is defined to mean a close personal interest or expertise as contrasted with the general interest of the public. The Chairman or Acting Chairman may recognize members of the general public provided a motion has been placed before the Board and discussion has been exhausted among the Board members, Town Manager, department heads of the Town and any other persons recognized as having a direct interest in the matter before the Board.
The Chairman and/or Acting Chairman may rule on any questions arising as to whether a person will be recognized as having either a direct or indirect interest in matters before the Board. Members of the Board who disagree with the ruling of the Chairman or Acting Chairman may challenge the ruling by vote.
At all times the public is expected to behave in an orderly manner and not to disturb the progress of the meeting by unnecessary noise, conversations and/or visual distractions.
Any person violating this policy shall be declared by the Board as being disorderly and shall be required to leave the meeting and possibly subjected to prosecution in accordance with 17-A M.R.S.A. § 501-A.
[Adopted 3-20-1978; printed as last amended 12-13-1999[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Interim amendments to this policy were adopted 7-28-1980, 6-1-1988, 10-29-1991, 8-10-1992, 8-23-1993and 6-24-1996.
The Madison Board of Selectmen does hereby enact the following policy in order to establish a clear understanding of the way Selectmen's meetings will be conducted.
A. 
The Town Manager will prepare the agenda of meetings two business days prior to a meeting.
B. 
All items to be on the agenda shall be submitted to the Town Manager three business days prior to a meeting.
C. 
The Town Manager shall use his/her discretion and the advice of the Chairman in determining the items to be place on the agenda and their order.
D. 
The order of business shall be as follows:
(1) 
General Assistance Hearings (6:30 p.m. in the Town Manager's Office).
(2) 
Salute to the flag.
(3) 
Roll call (7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room or Manager's Office).
(4) 
Consent agenda.
(5) 
Approval of minutes.
(6) 
Old business (Selectmen's concerns from immediately preceding meeting).
(7) 
New business.
(8) 
Items of communication.
(9) 
Selectmen's concerns.
(10) 
Adjournment.
E. 
The agenda, and such additional information as deemed appropriate by the Manager with the advice of the Chairman, shall be ready and available for the Selectmen to pick up in the Town Manager's Office two business days before a meeting.
F. 
The agenda shall be posted two business days prior to a meeting and shall be available to the press at this time.
G. 
Notice of regular Selectmen's meetings and emergency meetings shall be given to the public in the manner prescribed by 1 M.R.S.A. § 406.
H. 
Consent agenda presented for approval or ratification shall include items such as Treasurer's disbursement warrant (date), licenses and permits, such as beano, sealed tickers, liquor licenses, renewals, etc. (specifically defined by date, type of permit, application and location/premises); line extension agreements; grants, quit-claim deeds to clear property titles. To qualify as an item for the consent agenda to the regular agenda, it is moved by majority of the Selectmen.
A. 
All meetings shall be conducted by the Chairman, or, in his absence, by whomever the Board elects as Acting Chairman.
B. 
The agenda shall be followed except when the Chairman determines otherwise and the Board concurs.
C. 
All members, including the Chairman, shall have equal voting privileges and may make motions.
D. 
Any questions of procedure shall be resolved by the Chairman who shall use Robert's Rules of Order as a guide.