Frequently Used Terms
Consent Agenda: One or more
ordinances and/or resolutions that can be acted on at one time under a single
motion.
Refer / Time: When Council delays
taking any action on a piece of legislation until a future meeting.
Declaring an Emergency: Allows Council to
dispense with the requirement that a piece of legislation be read at three
separate Council meetings, and allows the legislation to go into effect earlier
than 30 days from passage of the legislation.
Suspension of the Rules: Allows Council,
upon a two-thirds vote, to temporarily suspend or set aside the Rules of
Procedure for Council. This motion is most commonly used to pass
legislation as an emergency (see above).
Amend: A proposal to alter the
text of an ordinance or resolution by substituting, adding, or deleting
language.
Legislation: An official act of
Council that takes the form of either an ordinance or a resolution (see
below).
Ordinance: A formal act of
Council. Examples of ordinance topics include: authorizing the Director
of Public Service to enter into a contract for the construction of a project,
approving a union agreement, approving a conditional use application, or
amending the Codified Ordinances of the City.
Resolution: A formal expression of the
opinion or will of Council. Examples of resolution topics include
congratulating a local high school that has won a state championship,
supporting or opposing a bill pending before the Ohio General Assembly, or
approving the appointment of members of a board or commission.
Substitute Offered as an
Amendment: An amended version of an ordinance or resolution that
replaces an earlier version before Council.
Motion: A formal request for
consideration of a proposal for action by Council members. Examples include
a motion to pass an ordinance, a motion to amend, or a motion for time.
Second: An indication by a member of Council, other than the
member who made the motion, that he or she agrees that the proposed
motion should be considered.
Executive Session: A closed-door session of Council for the purpose of discussing
a particular confidential matter, in accordance with law.
Roll Call: When the names of
Council members are called out by the Clerk of Council to confirm their vote on
the previous motion.
Public Hearing: When a hearing is
held before Council or a committee of Council on a particular piece of
legislation. Members of the public wishing to testify before Council at a
public hearing are asked to first take an oath to swear or affirm that the
testimony they will provide is the truth.
Public Speaking Period: The portion of a
regular Council meeting where members of the public are invited to address
Council for three minutes on topics that are germane and relevant to Council
business. Members of the public are asked to provide their name and address,
and to refrain from making personal attacks or disrespectful remarks.
Minutes: The official record of
a meeting of Council or a committee of Council.
Committee: A smaller group of
members of Council that meet to consider legislation before it is considered or
voted upon by all of Council. Standing committees are established by the
Rules of Procedure of Council and have five members each. Special
committees are appointed by the President. Committee meetings take place
on Monday afternoons.
Quorum: The minimum number of
members who must be present to officially conduct business. A quorum of
Council is a majority of the all of the members of Council, a quorum of a
committee is three members.
Abstain: When a member of Council
elects not to vote on a particular motion.
“Aye” or “Yea”: an
affirmative or favorable vote on a motion.
“Nay” or “No”: a
negative or unfavorable vote on a motion.
Roberts Rules of
Order: A manual on parliamentary procedure. In the absence of any
provision governing matters of business in either the Rules of Procedure of
Council, the laws of the State of Ohio, or the City Charter, Roberts
Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the standard of parliamentary
procedure for Council.
Chairperson: The member of
Council who presides over a particular committee and its meetings. In the
absence of the Chairperson the Vice-Chairperson shall preside over the
committee.
President: The member of
Council who presides over Council and its meetings. In the absence of the
President, the Vice President shall be the presiding officer. In the
absence of either the President or the Vice President the President Pro Tem
shall be the presiding officer.