Rule 1.005 - Procedure in Debate.

(a)

Recognition. Every member desiring to introduce a bill or resolution, to present a petition or other matter, to make a report or a motion, or to speak on any matter, shall address the Chairperson. A member shall not proceed further until recognized by the Chair. If two or more Councilmembers seek recognition at the same time, the Chairperson shall determine which is entitled to the floor.

(b)

Order During Debate. Only members of the Council may participate in debate on any bill, resolution or motion or other matter pending before the Council, unless, upon request by any Councilmember, another person is recognized to speak by the Chairperson for the purpose of clarification or information. No Councilmember shall speak more than once upon any subject until every other Councilmember wishing to speak shall have spoken and every Councilmember shall confine himself to the subject under debate.

(c)

Voting; Abstention. No Councilmember shall vote on any question on which the Councilmember is prohibited from voting by the Howard County Public Ethics Law. Upon the motion of any member, the vote on any question or motion or other matter shall be taken by the yeas and nays and entered in the journal. Although it is the duty of every Councilmember who has an opinion on a question to express it by voting, a Councilmember may abstain, since no Councilmember can be compelled to vote.

(d)

Roll Call. In any roll call, the Administrator shall call the roll of the Council Members, in alphabetic order, after the Chairperson has been called.

(e)

Third Reader. A Councilmember may first explain a vote, then cast the vote. At the call for the vote any Councilmember may pass; however, after the roll has been completed by the Administrator, the Administrator shall again call those names of the Council Members who may have passed upon the first call. After all votes have been cast, the Chair thereupon may ask the Council if any one desires to change his vote. If there are any members changing their vote, the Administrator will so record the change of the Councilmember's vote.

(Res. No. 140, 1994; Res. No. 11, 2011)