Subject: Misuse of Robert's Rules in Middletown

Misuse (actually an abuse) of Robert's Rules of Order at the Middletown Township Committee's January 6, 2008 meeting.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOF0zekQNhg

Election of Mayor:
Based on the guidelines provided by "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure" by Alice Sturgis, proper procedures to elect the Mayor of Middletown, New Jersey were not followed.
Enclosed are the outlined procedures from Chapter 18 "Nominations and Elections" p150-152 and the procedures not followed
1. "To open nominations the presiding officer may say: "Are there nominations for the
office..."
* (Done satisfactory by the Township Clerk).
2. "Any member may rise and say, for example, "I nominate ..."
* (Done satisfactorily by Mrs. Brightbill in her nomination of Mr. Scharfenberger).
3. "Nominations do not require seconds ... but it is permitted for other members to
give endorsing statements"
* (Done somewhat satisfactorily. Mr. Wilkins seconded Mrs. Brightbill's nomination.
This was not required).
4. "The presiding office should repeat the request for further nominations...."
* (Not followed by the Township Clerk. The clerk never made a request for further
nominations).
5. "...And pause to allow ample opportunity for members to present nominees."
* (Not followed by the Township Clerk. The Clerk never provided ample time for
members to present nominees. The Clerk hastily closed the nomination).
6. "When there appear to be no further nominations for a particular office, the chair
may declare nominations for that office closed."
* (Mr. Short made clear that he had a nomination to make. The Town Clerk stated
that Mr. Wilkins' motion closed the nominations and did not permit Mr. Short from
making a nomination before closing the nominations).
7. "A motion to close nominations is not required but, if made, requires two-thirds
vote for adoption."
* (Not followed. Mr. Wilkins seconded Mrs. Brightbill's nomination, which was not
required, but then promptly motioned the nominations be closed. Since the motion
was made, this required a two-thirds vote for adoption to close the nomination;
which was not done).
8. "The presiding officer should not recognize a motion to close nominations or
declare them closed if any members are rising to be recognized for the purpose of
making a nomination".
* (Not followed by the Township Clerk. It was clear that Mr. Short was rising to be
recognized for the purpose of making a nomination and the Clerk did not give him
the same courtesy to present his nomination as she had in receiving the first
nomination).

A non-partisan person