The Ellis County Press: Was Adams second legal?

Was Adams second legal?
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Editor on 01/15/2009 11:17:00


_The Ellis County Press_
WAXAHACHIE - A slaughterhouse in west Ellis County was defeated by county
commissioners Monday, Jan. 12, but questions about a parliamentary vote to spend
thousands on advertising in a local daily newspaper were raised after the
court's regular meeting.
The decision by commissioners and County Judge Chad Adams, R-Midlothian, to
authorize spending no more than $3,000 on an eight-page advertising feature in
the _Waxahachie Daily Light_ was called into question after Adams, elected in
2002, seconded the motion by Commissioner Heath Sims, R-Waxahachie, to approve
the expense.
Robert's Rules of Order, which govern meetings like the ones county
commissioners conduct, stipulates the chairman of a governing body - in this
case the five-member court - has the same right to make motions and vote on
matters.
"Yes, the chairman, if a member, has the same right to make a motion as any
other member," states Parliamentary Procedure Online. "In small boards of not
more than about a dozen members present, the chairman usually participates the
same as other members. However, in larger assemblies, the chairman has a duty to
remain impartial, so would usually not make a motion directly. The chairman
could say, for example, "The chairman will entertain a motion to..." and then
wait for a member to make it, or "Is there a motion to suspend the rules that
interfere with hearing the speaker at this time?"
The questions came up after Adams called for a second to Sims' motion and
received none.
After a silent pause, Adams seconded and called for the full vote, which passed
unanimously.
A discussion topic presented by _The Ellis County Press_ on allowing other
newspapers to compete for tax dollars for advertising sections preceded the
vote.