Dear Mayor, Council Members, Village Manager and Village Attorney,
Last night’s meeting was upsetting to watch but also violated many aspects of Roberts Rules of Order. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide ” for fair and orderly meetings and conventions”. A point of order can be used amongst many other things to call attention to” infraction of the rules or improper decorum in speaking”.
The Mayor had to listen to old charges of supposed misconduct by members of the public as well as a council member. She had every right to defend herself and to ask the village attorney to state the chain of events and facts. To have a point of order called in the middle of Ms. Knudsen’s response to Mr. Lehman which on his part was an attack ( speaking directly to a council member in a personal and accusatory manner and also not allowed) seemed an attempt to silence and/or curtail the mayor’s right to speak on her behalf. Fortunately, she was not silenced.
I would also like to add that according to Roberts Rules ” the agenda and all committee reports are merely recommendations” and liaisons to committees are to report back to the governing body and do not have independent powers.
Mr. Voigt’s continued stance that the mayor had done something illegal after this allegation was addressed by Mr. Rogers back in November has taken away from all the positives that have been accomplished by the current council. I don’t understand it but I do know it is not in the town’s best interest and it is not the way to treat a colleague.
Sincerely, Linda McNamara
