Rules of Procedure

Rule 1 Meetings

Except as hereinafter stated, regular meetings of the city council shall be held on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month at 7 pm. Whenever a meeting falls on a legal holiday, it shall be held the following night at the same time. Whenever a meeting falls on the evening before New Year's Day, it shall be held the next night following the holiday at the same time. No meeting shall be held on the fourth Monday of December. except as otherwise provided by ordinance.

"In the event of a public emergency or other condition which renders it impossible for the Council to hold any meeting in the City Hall, the Council shall be permitted to conduct its meetings at the Emergency Management Operation Center or the Leominster High School."

Special meetings of the City Council shall be held at the call of the Mayor, as provided in Section 2-6(b), on the call of the Council President, or on the call of any three members of the City Council, by written notice delivered in hand or to the place of residence or business of each member at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set, and which includes notice of the subject(s) to be acted upon at such meeting.

At any Special City Council meeting there must be a Public Forum held prior to the meeting.

The City Council shall conduct its public hearings on the first and third Monday evenings of the month or on any evening which is convenient for the public and the Council. All subcommittee meetings shall be scheduled at the discretion of the subcommittee chairperson and shall only be called to discuss or act on items presented to the Council President for action by the full Council and referred to that subcommittee during the normal course of Council business. Notice of subcommittee meetings shall be posted at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the time set.

Except as may be otherwise authorized by law, all sessions of the City Council, and of any committee thereof, shall be open to the public and to the media.

A full accurate, written, up-to-date record of the proceedings of the City Council shall be kept and shall be available for examination of the public. It shall include a record of each roll call vote.

Rule 2 Presidency

On the first Monday in January of each year, or on the following business day if said Monday is New Year's Day the council shall meet for the purpose of electing a President at an organizational meeting at a time to be announced by the City Clerk on a public agenda. The meeting shall be called to order by the City Clerk or, in case of a vacancy in that office or his or her absence, by the senior member of the council present, who shall preside until a President is elected by nomination from a member of the council.

If a vacancy i.e. death, resignation or removal from office of the President shall occur at any other time during the year, the Vice President shall forthwith, at the next regular meeting (or the next scheduled meeting that would meet the requirements of posting a public meeting under any applicable law) of the City Council, after the vacancy occurs, preside over the meeting until a President is elected and accept nominations to fill the vacancy. If the Vice President is absent of such meeting, the City Clerk would preside over the meeting to accept nominations for President until a President is elected. If in addition to the Vice President, the City Clerk were absent from such meeting the senior member of the council would then preside to accept nomination for President until a President is elected. (Article III City Council Sec. 2-15)

On the first Monday in January of each year, or on the following business day if said Monday is New Year's Day the council shall meet for the purpose of electing a Vice President at an organizational meeting at a time to be announced by the City Clerk on a public agenda. The President shall accept nominations from members of the Council and have a vote until a Vice President is elected.

If a vacancy i.e. death, resignation or removal from office of the Vice President shall occur at any other time during the year the President shall forthwith, at the next regular meeting (or the next scheduled meeting that would meet the requirements of posting a public meeting under any applicable law) of the City Council, after the vacancy occurs, accept nominations by members of the City Council and vote to fill the vacancy until a Vice President is elected. If the President is absent of such meeting the City Clerk would preside over the meeting to accept nominations for Vice President until a Vice President is elected. If in addition to the President, the City Clerk were absent from such meeting the senior member of the council would then preside to accept nomination for Vice President until a Vice President is elected. (ARTICLE III CITY COUNCIL Sec. 2-15.1)

The first order of business shall be for the City Clerk to call the roll of members. The Clerk shall then open nominations for the Presidency. Each nomination must be made and seconded by one or more Councillors. When no further nominations are received from the floor, a motion to close nominations will be in order.

After ten ballots, if no nominee is elected, the Council shall adjourn to 7 pm the following day or time set by the City Clerk to resume election.

Immediately following the election of a President, he/she shall take the chair and continue as presiding officer. The President of the City Council shall serve for a period of one year. No President may serve for more than two years in succession.

The President of the City Council shall preside at all meetings of the City Council, regulate its proceedings and decide all questions of order. He/she shall have such other powers and duties as may be provided by charter, by ordinance, or by other vote as any other City Councillor. In the event of the absence or disability of the Council President, the Vice-President shall act as Council President. The Vice-President shall also be responsible for the reviewing of previous meetings' minutes.

The President shall preside fairly and shall be arbitrator of all points of debate or challenge. He/she shall decide all matters of parliamentary procedure and Rule accordingly.

He/she shall vote on all matters before the Council. He/she shall not enter into debate on any matter. He/she shall offer explanation or clarification on motions before the Council. If the President wishes to debate or speak before the Council, he/she must relinquish his/her chair to the Vice-President; if Vice President is absent, then to a member of his choosing. Upon conclusion, the President shall resume his chair.

Rule 3 Committees

There shall be eight standing committees of the Leominster City Council that shall address matters within City Council jurisdiction:

Ways and Means and Veterans Affairs Committee
Legal Affairs Committee
Finance Committee
Public Safety and Traffic Committee
Public Service Committee
City Property Committee
Public Schools Committee
Small Business and Economic Development Committee

Ways and Means & Veterans Affairs Committee - Responsibilities

Ways and Means and Veterans Affairs Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall meet with the Mayor quarterly, or when necessary, in order to keep the City Council and Executive Office in active and ongoing communication regarding appointments, reappointments, personnel initiatives, internal matters at the discretion of the Mayor, the Community Development Block Grant Program, federal and state grants as well as revenue sharing programs. The Ways and Means Committee shall also recommend to the Council licensing requests and election dates. This committee shall serve as liaison to the Veterans Office in sharing important Veterans matters with the Council.

Legal Affairs Committee - Responsibilities

Legal Affairs Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall determine and recommend action to the Council on all matters dealing with proposed ordinances, amendments to zoning, special permits under Council jurisdiction, special acts of legislation and resolutions appropriate to the committee.

Finance Committee - Responsibilities

Finance Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall gather information, make a determination and recommend action to the City Council on all matters pertaining to communications and petitions involving finance and appropriations.

Public Safety & Traffic Committee - Responsibilities

Public Safety and Traffic Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall determine and recommend action to the Council on all matters dealing with public safety including the Fire Department, the Police Department and the Emergency Management program. This committee shall also meet quarterly, or when deemed necessary, with the Police Department Traffic Department to discuss traffic matters citywide.

Public Service Committee - Responsibilities

Public Service Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall gather information within Council jurisdiction, make a determination and recommend action to the Council on matters pertaining to public service, which include functions of the Department of Public Works, Streets - both accepted and unaccepted - as well as the Sewer and Water system and the Cemetery.

City Property & Property Oversight Committee - Responsibilities

City Property and Property Oversight Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall gather information within Council jurisdiction, make a determination and recommend action to the City Council on all matters dealing with the purchase or acquisition of land, public land surplus for sale, land donation to the City, the use of City property, leases assigned through City departments and commissions, along with formal assessment of that oversight.

Public Schools Committee - Responsibilities

Public Schools Committee shall consist of three members.

This committee shall meet with the superintendent and a delegation of School Committee representatives quarterly, or when necessary, on matters pertaining to the budget, building and grounds maintenance or capital initiatives, or any matters the school department feels they wish to share with Council.

Small Business & Economic Development Committee - Responsibilities

The Small Business and Economic Development (SBED) Committee shall consist of three members.

This SBED Committee shall ensure that all economic planning is objective. The SBED Committee shall strive to create a positive economic climate and opportunities to encourage economic growth. The Committee shall determine and recommend action to the Council on all matters dealing with economic growth and development, economic policy, planning strategies and environmental protection.

Rule 4 Special Committees

A special committee may be appointed by the President of the City Council or by a majority of the City Council. Each special committee must act only on the matters for which it was created. The President of the City Council will be the designating authority for all special committees. The President of the City Council may serve as a member or as chairman of any special committee.

Rule 5

No committee shall sit during the sitting of the City Council without special leave.

Rule 6

Every committee to which a subject is referred shall report thereon within two months from the time of referral or ask for further time. At four month intervals thereafter, all petitions shall be placed upon the calendar for a report of any action. Within two years following the date a petition is presented to the City Council, it shall be finally acted upon by the City Council, or given leave to withdraw. Reports shall be in writing and signed by a majority of the committee; if requested by a majority of the Council.

Rule 7

All standing committees shall meet regularly before each Council meeting, at the discretion of the chairperson or any two members of the standing committee. All records of meetings and information dealing with committees shall be kept by the chairman of that committee.

At any meeting of a standing committee, there shall also be posted notice of a meeting of a "Committee of the Whole" which shall consist of the entire membership of the City Council. In the event that less than a quorum of the City Council is present at such time, no committee of the whole shall take place. In the event that a quorum of the City Council is present at such time, the meeting shall proceed as a joint meeting of the standing committee and the committee of the whole, and the minutes shall reflect that a joint meeting took place. The chairman or acting chairman of the standing committee shall also serve as the chair of the committee of the whole at such joint meetings, unless the committee of the whole determines otherwise.

This Rule shall not preclude the City Council from meeting at any time as a committee of the whole, pursuant to these Rules and/or chapter 63 of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure.

Rule 8 Order of Business

The order of business shall be as follows:

Report of the records of previous meetings.
Communications from the Mayor
Appointments
Petitions, applications, licenses, remonstrance's shall be called for and disposed of by reference or otherwise.
Reports of committees.
Old Business, including hearing reports held prior to regular meeting
New Business
Tabled petitions upon which action is proposed.
Community Calendar

Rule 9 Rules of Order of Business

The order of business shall be disposed of in the order designated. All business shall be disposed of immediately and in accordance with the Rules of procedure.

All petitions listed on the agenda shall be followed by the committee or committees to which the petition shall be referred. Designation of committee referral shall be made by the City Clerk and President of the City Council. In the event the President of the City Council has not determined his preference of referrals before agenda publication, the Clerk will designate referrals. The President shall have the power to designate additional committees at the request of the City Council.

Any petition not applicable to the City Council should not be placed on the Council Agenda. Therefore the Council President and the City Clerk shall meet or confer to set the agenda for a subsequent regular or special council meeting. If, in the President's determination, a petition requests action of the Council which is outside of the Council's lawful jurisdiction, the President, City Clerk or designee of the President may contact the petitioner(s) and state the reasons why said petition cannot be acted on by the Council. The petitioner(s) may be requested to voluntarily withdraw the petition, and any petition so withdrawn shall not be placed on the Council's agenda. If the petitioner(s) refuse to withdraw said petition, however, the petition shall be placed on the agenda and taken up in the Council's regular course of business, and the Council may vote to indefinitely postpone the petition or take any other action which the council deems appropriate.

Rule 10 Motions

After a motion is seconded and stated by the chair, it shall be disposed of by vote of the Council, but the maker may withdraw his or her motion before a decision or amendment.

When a question is under debate, the chair shall receive no motion except

To adjourn,
To lay on the table,
To move the previous question,
To commit or refer,
To amend,
To postpone to a date certain,
To postpone indefinitely,
To recess

which motions shall have precedence in the above order. The above motions numbered 1, 2 and 3 are not debatable. A motion for the previous question requires a two-thirds vote, while the other motions listed above require a majority vote.

A motion to lay on the table is in order when the Council wishes to temporarily suspend consideration of a particular matter, in order to act on more immediate or emergency business, and to return to the tabled matter later in the same or a subsequent meeting. A motion to indefinitely postpone is in order when the Council does not wish or lacks jurisdiction to consider a particular matter.

A motion for the reconsideration of a vote shall be debatable, but such a motion shall not be considered unless made by a member voting with the majority in the original vote, nor unless such motion is made at the meeting at which such vote is passed, or notice of an intent to make such motion is given at said meeting, in which case the motion shall be made at the next Council meeting, and only one motion for the reconsideration of any vote is permitted.

Rule 11

Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern in modes of proceeding not otherwise provided for.

Rule 12

No member in debate shall mention another member by name or mention any constituent by name, but may describe him/her by the ward he/she represents or resides in, the place he/she sits in or such other designation as may be intelligible, respectful and in an appropriate manner.

Rule 13

No member shall be interrupted by another, but by calling order, to correct a mistake or for explanation. If any member in speaking, or otherwise transgresses the Rules of the Council, the President of the Council, or any member, shall call the offender to a point of order. The President shall then designate if the point of order is valid and Rule accordingly.

Rule 14

When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be considered by the Council, and not otherwise.

Rule 15

Every motion shall be reduced to writing if the chair so directs or if any member of the Council requests it.

Rule 16

No member shall vote or serve on any committees or any question where his/her private right is concerned distinct from the public interest.

Rule 17

When a member yields the floor to another member, the floor will be yielded to that member and not necessarily returned to the original member after explanation, subject to the discretion of the President. The President of the Council is not bound by personal agreement.

Rule 18

Every matter which comes before the City Council shall be put to a vote, the result of which shall be recorded. Every member of the City Council present shall be required to vote on every question coming before the City Council, unless specifically excused by reason of interest. In the event a member refuses to vote on any question or motion prior to being excused from voting by the Council, his refusal shall be considered as a negative vote.

Rule 19

No member may leave the Council Chambers without permission of the President or when his/her presence is necessary to make a quorum.

Rule 20 Orders & Resolutions

All papers addressed to the Council shall be presented by the President or by a member in his/her place and they shall lie on the table to be taken up in the order in which they are presented unless the Council otherwise directs.

Rule 21

All by-laws passed by the City Council shall be termed "ordinances" and the enacting style shall be "be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Leominster."

Rule 22

The title of all bills and resolutions shall be prefixed upon their introductions.

Rule 23

In all votes by which the City Council shall express anything by way of command, the form of expression shall be "ordered," and whenever it shall express opinions, principles, facts or purposes, the form shall be "resolved."

Rule 24

Whenever an ordinance, order or resolution or vote which is required by law to be presented to the Mayor shall be finally passed by the City Council, the City Clerk shall present the same after its passage without unnecessary delay, and shall enter upon the records of the City Council, the date upon which it was presented and approved

Rule 25

Whenever any ordinance, order or resolution relating to any subject which may be properly examined and reported upon by an existing committee of the City Council is presented, it shall upon presentation, unless otherwise ordered, stand referred to such committee. Every order or resolution appropriating money, authorizing the expenditure thereof, to be charged to an existing appropriation shall upon presentation stand referred to the standing Committee on Finance.

Rule 26

All resolutions shall require two reading unless said resolution is deemed to be an emergency.

Order authorizing the levying of a tax and orders or resolutions authorizing loans and ordinances shall have two readings.

Rule 27

No petitions will be entered under suspension of the Rules unless they are of an emergency nature or for the purpose of setting up a hearing. Any petition presented under suspension of Rules must have attached an emergency preamble stating purpose of the emergency. Ref. Sec. 3-9(b) city charter. The preamble must be voted upon first before acting on suspension of Rules.

Rule 28

Should the chairman of a Council committee contemplate action on tabled petitions, said action proposed for the next regular meeting, he/she will notify the office of the City Clerk prior to the closing hour for business pertaining to that meeting and stating:

The number and original date of the tabled petition.
A summary of the contents of the petition.

Rule 29

Tabled petitions or communications on which no action is proposed by the committee chairman after sixty days of the filing of the original petition or communication, may be placed on the Council agenda upon request of three members of the Council in writing to the City Clerk by noon Thursday prior to the regular City Council meeting. At the Council meeting a majority vote of the Council is required to approve a motion to "remove from the table" and placed on the calendar for action. Final disposition of the petition or communication will require a simple majority only where appropriate.

Rule 30 Use Of Term "Regular Course"

Any Councillor may request regular course for any item, matter, or measure (as defined in the City Charter) before the Council for the first time.

Once regular course has been requested, no further discussion, debate, or comment is allowed, except that said item, matter or measure may be referred to the appropriate city board and or department head.

No consenting vote is necessary to implement regular course.

Rule 31 amendments of Rules & Procedure

In order to amend, delete or add to these Rules of procedure, they must first be presented in petition form to the Council; a majority vote of the Council is required.

Rule 32

Whenever the Mayor wishes to speak during a City Council meeting he/she shall approach the City Council Chamber and raise his/her hand to the Council President in order to be recognized. The City Council President shall allow all City Councillors to finish debating the petition or communication on the floor and at that point the Council President shall recess the City Council meeting to allow the Mayor to speak specifically on the petition or communication under consideration by the Council. Furthermore, he/she will not be allowed to interrupt the City Council meeting but will be recognized by the Council President upon the meeting being called to recess.

Rule 33

DVD'S, Audio or Video Tapes of City Council Meetings may be destroyed after two years. No DVD's Audio or video tapes shall be destroyed if the subject council meeting or hearing, or the record itself, is the subject of ongoing litigation or a pending public records request. Such records may thereafter be destroyed in accordance with this Rule and the Public Records Law.

Adopted January 03, 2022 amended Rules

September 24, 2001 (Rule Number 12)
March 10, 2008 (Rule Number 33)
January 5, 2009 (Rules Number 3, Number 7, and Number 11)
January 26, 2009 (Rule Number 1)
June 28, 2010 (Rule Number 10)
July 22, 2013 (Rule Number 32)
September 9, 2013 (Rule Number 26)
January 6, 2014 (Rule Number 3)
May 11, 2015 (Rule Number 8)
January 4, 2016 (Rule Number 3)
January 3, 2017 (Rule Number 3)
February 27, 2017 (Rule Number 34)
July 24, 2017 (Rule Number 34 rescinded)
January 22, 2018 (Rule Number 3)
September 24, 2018 (Rule Number 1)
January 3, 2022 (Rule Number 1 and Rule Number 2)