City Council May Have Violated Roberts Rules of Order, Can Control Own Guidelines

According to the Hyattsville City Charter, Article II, Section C2-3 it takes six affirmative votes of the City Council to pass any legislation, ordinance or laws.

Apart from that, the Council regulates itself, and doesn't have to operate under previously stipulated regulations, the charter states.

At its first meeting on May 16, Hyattsville's new City Council, with couldn’t agree upon who should work with Tartaro on the board’s executive committee.

Council members Matthew McKnight (Ward 3) and Paula Perry (Ward 4) were both nominated for the spot of council president, but the council was unable to make a choice and decided to table the matter until its May 23 meeting.

McKnight took five votes, while Perry garnered four. Tartaro did not vote.

But talk around Patch has some wondering if McKnight has already won the bid.

Former Councilman Chris Currie (Ward 2) .

"The only rule of procedure regarding Council voting that is in the City Charter stipulates that at least 'six affirmative votes shall be necessary for the passage of all ordinances, resolutions or laws,'" Currie said. "It doesn't say anything about electing Council officers (which is not an affirmative vote, in any case). The section on Council officer positions only states that 'the Council shall proceed to organize by electing two of their number president and vice president of the Council.'"

Currie served on the City Council from 2003-2007. He did not publically support any candidate in the 2011 elections.

"During my tenure on the Council, the Council's enacted policy was that Roberts Rules of Order would provide rules of procedure for Council business except when superseded by the City Charter or another act of the Council," Currie further commented. "As far as I know, the Council has not overturned that policy. Roberts Rules are clear that, if a quorum is present, a majority of those present and voting shall be sufficient to make the act an act of the body."

So, technically, McKnight should've been established as Council president, Currie asserts

Resident Jim Groves agreed with Currie, citing the City Charter.

“The City Charter … taken as it is written would stipulate that Matt should have been elected with five votes out of the nine present,” he commented.

New Mayor Marc Tartaro declined to cast a vote to break what was initially perceived as a deadlock on the matter, saying that he believed it should be a Council decision, not one for the mayor to weigh in on.

The Council meets at 7:30 p.m. on May 23 at City Hall. Election of Council officers is listed as an item on the agenda for the meeting.