Attachment

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA MAY 4, 2015 - 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 15 LOOCKERMAN PLAZA DOVER, DELAWARE INVOCATION BY REVEREND THEODORE HENDERSON PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MAYOR CHRISTIANSEN AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS 1. OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED BY THE HONORABLE WILLIAM L. WITHAM JR. - RESIDENT JUDGE - SUPERIOR COURT COUNCIL - THIRD DISTRICT - FRED A. NEIL 2. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANDIDATES A. OPENING STATEMENTS B. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS /TM S:\AGENDAS-MINUTES-PACKETS-PRESENTATIONS-ATT&EXH\COUNCIL-AGENDAS\2015\05-04-2015 SPECIAL.WPD THE AGENDA ITEMS AS LISTED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.

CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE PRESIDING OFFICER/ COUNCIL PRESIDENT INFORMATION

SELECTING A COUNCIL PRESIDENT CITY OF DOVER CHARTER - ARTICLE II. MAYOR AND COUNCIL Sec. 9. Meetings of Mayor and Council--generally. At the annual meeting held on the second Monday in May, the members of council shall elect one of their members to serve as council president, such term to be in effect until the next regularly scheduled annual meeting or until a successor is elected. The council president shall serve as vice-mayor. Council president shall preside over regular and special council meetings. The mayor shall preside over the annual meeting and quarterly town meetings, and at the annual meeting present a state of the city message and offer mayoral appointments for council confirmation. The mayor, upon recommendation from the council president, will present council appointments for council approval. In the event of absence of the council president, then the senior member of council in terms of length of service as a councilman shall assume the duties of the council president and shall be designated council president acting. In the event that two or more members of council have the same seniority in terms of length of service as a councilman, then the members of council shall vote and elect one of those as council president acting. Council president acting shall fulfill all of the duties and responsibilities of council president during his/her period of unavailability or absence. (Amd. of 7-12-2005 (S.B. 126)) Sec. 15. Council president/vice-mayor, duties of. At each annual meeting, the council shall elect one of their number as council president who shall also serve as vice-mayor. During a vacancy in the office of mayor or during the absence or disability of the mayor, the vice-mayor shall have all the powers and duties of the mayor, except as hereinafter provided. The council president and vice-mayor shall retain his/her right to vote as councilman at all times although he/she may be acting as the mayor, unless the mayor’s absence appears to be indefinite or extended, in which case council shall pass a resolution appointing the vice-mayor as mayor until the mayor's position is either filled in accordance with section 13 hereof or the mayor returns to his/her duties, which resolution shall provide that the vice-mayor shall have the right to approve or disapprove council action in accordance with section 10 hereof, in which case the vice-mayor shall lose his/her vote as councilman until further action is taken by council. (Amd. of 7-12-2005 (S.B. 126))

PRESIDING OFFICER/COUNCIL PRESIDENT INFORMATION PAGE 2 PRESIDING OFFICER (Robert’s Rules of Order) A. The presiding officer of an assembly - especially of a large one - should be chosen principally for the ability to preside. This person should be well versed in parliamentary law and should be thoroughly familiar with the bylaws and other rules of the organization - even if he or she is to have the assistance of a parliamentarian. At the same time, any presiding officer will do well to bear in mind that no rules can take the place of tact and common sense on the part of the chairman. B. Among the duties of the presiding officer are to maintain order, to expedite the business of the assembly, and to see that the rules of the assembly are enforced. C. To perform these duties, it is important that the presiding officer be familiar with the fundamental rules of parliamentary law, the charter, bylaws and standing rules of the organization. The President should: D. Open the meeting at the appointed time by taking the chair and calling the meeting to order, having ascertained that a quorum is present. E. Announce in proper sequence the business that comes before the assembly. F. During debate, keep his/her seat and pay attention. G. Make clear the precise question the assembly is to decide, take the vote, announce the results, and then announce the next business in order. The chair should take special care to make sure that the members always understand what the immediately pending business is - the exact question to be voted on the next time a vote is taken. Failure of presiding officers to do so is one of the greatest causes of confusion in meetings. It is far better to risk taxing the patience of an assembly by repeating the wording of a motion on which all may be clear, than to risk taking a vote whose effect may be unclear to even a few members. H. Take the affirmative and negative votes on all questions, except courtesy resolutions. I. Remain impartial and fair. J. Protect the assembly from obviously frivolous or dilatory motions by refusing to recognize them.

PRESIDING OFFICER/COUNCIL PRESIDENT INFORMATION PAGE 3 K. Not exercise their rights as a member when doing so would lessen the confidence of the assembly in their fairness. While a commanding presence and knowledge are essential in procedural matters, the president of an ordinary deliberative assembly, especially a large one, should, of all the members, have the least to say upon the substance of pending questions. While providing strong leadership, they should be fair. The president should never be technical or more strict than is necessary for the good of the meeting. Good judgment is essential; the assembly may be of such a nature, through its unfamiliarity with parliamentary usage and its peaceable disposition, that strict enforcement of the rules, instead of assisting, would greatly hinder business. But in large assemblies where there is much work to be done, and especially where there is likelihood of trouble, the only safe course is to require a strict observance of the rules. L. Not express their opinion or debate while in the chair. M. Recognize members who are entitled to the floor. N. Enforce the rules relating to debate and those relating to order and decorum within the assembly. O. Expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of members, including unanimous consent. P. Decide all questions of order, subject to appeal - unless, when in doubt, the presiding officer prefers initially to submit such a question to the assembly for decision. Q. Respond to inquiries of members relating to parliamentary procedure or factual information bearing on the business of the assembly. R. Authenticate by his/her signature, when necessary, all acts, orders, and proceedings of the assembly. S. Declare the meeting adjourned when the assembly so votes or - where applicable - at the time prescribed in the program, or at any time in the event of a sudden emergency affecting the safety of those present. T. Be thoroughly familiar with the duties of the presiding officer of an assembly. S:\CLERK'S OFFICE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES\INFORMATIONAL MEETING-COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANDIDATES\Presiding Officer - CP Information.wpd