CMO Council Procedures & Meeting Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is an 'executive session' in the context of municipal council meetings?
- A meeting chaired by the mayor only
- A closed session exempt from public attendance for specific legal purposes (Correct answer)
- A session for senior staff to brief the council
- An emergency budget meeting open to the public
Correct answer: A closed session exempt from public attendance for specific legal purposes
Executive sessions are closed meetings permitted by law for topics such as personnel matters, litigation, or real estate negotiations.
Question 2: If a quorum is lost during a council meeting due to members leaving, the presiding officer should:
- Continue the meeting with members present
- Take a brief recess in hopes of restoring quorum
- Declare the meeting adjourned for lack of quorum (Correct answer)
- Allow public comment to proceed without a quorum
Correct answer: Declare the meeting adjourned for lack of quorum
Without a quorum, the council cannot transact official business and the meeting must be adjourned.
Question 3: The consent agenda is used primarily to:
- Bundle non-controversial routine items for a single vote (Correct answer)
- Allow public comment on multiple items simultaneously
- Schedule emergency items without prior notice
- Replace the regular agenda when time is short
Correct answer: Bundle non-controversial routine items for a single vote
A consent agenda groups routine, non-controversial items so the council can approve them with a single vote, saving meeting time.
Question 4: When a council member makes a substitute motion, it replaces:
- An amendment that was just approved
- The entire original motion on the floor (Correct answer)
- Only the 'resolved' clause of the original motion
- The presiding officer's ruling
Correct answer: The entire original motion on the floor
A substitute motion replaces the entire original motion rather than just modifying a part of it.
Question 5: Under the Sunshine Law concept, which of the following gatherings most likely constitutes an illegal meeting?
- Two council members discussing their children's school at a grocery store
- A majority of council members meeting privately to discuss pending legislation (Correct answer)
- A council member speaking at a public Chamber of Commerce luncheon
- A council member attending a state conference on municipal finance
Correct answer: A majority of council members meeting privately to discuss pending legislation
A quorum of council members meeting privately to discuss public business typically violates open meetings laws.
Question 6: What is the correct order of steps after a main motion is made?
- Vote, second, debate, amend
- Second, debate, amend if needed, vote (Correct answer)
- Debate, second, amend, vote
- Amend, second, debate, vote
Correct answer: Second, debate, amend if needed, vote
Parliamentary procedure requires a second, then debate, then any amendments, and finally a vote on the motion.
Question 7: Which statement about council meeting minutes is most accurate?
- Minutes must be a verbatim transcript of all remarks
- Minutes should record actions taken and decisions made, not every word spoken (Correct answer)
- Minutes are only required for special meetings
- Minutes must be approved by the mayor before distribution
Correct answer: Minutes should record actions taken and decisions made, not every word spoken
Official minutes record motions, votes, and key actions rather than a verbatim transcript, and are approved by the council.
CMO Council Procedures & Meeting Management 3
What is an 'executive session' in the context of municipal council meetings?