9325B Meeting Conduct.docx (2)

BYLAW 9325

                                                                BYLAWS OF THE BOARD

                                  MEETING CONDUCT


1. Meeting Conduct

       A. Meetings of the Board of Education shall be conducted by the Chairperson
       in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act
       and the adopted bylaws of the Board.

       B. All Board meetings shall commence at, or as close as practicable to, the
       stated time, provided there is a quorum.

       C. All regular and special Board meetings shall be guided by an agenda which
       will have been prepared and delivered in advance to all Board members and
       other designated persons.

       D. The Board of Education may recess any regular or special meeting to a
       specified time and place.

2. Procedures for Telephonic Participation

       A. Board members may participate in meetings telephonically under the
       conditions set forth herein. When such conditions are met, any Board member
       participating telephonically shall be counted for the purpose of constituting a
       quorum. Conditions for participation are as follows:

              1. Any physical or demonstrable material that is used in the course of
              the proceedings must be present in the place where the public is
              located; and

              2. All those in attendance at the meeting, at whatever location, must be
              able to hear and identify all participants in the proceeding, including
              their individual remarks and votes.

       B. When a Board member is participating in a meeting telephonically,
       the Chairperson shall take the necessary steps to ensure that a Board
       member participating telephonically has adequate opportunity to

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      express himself/herself in Board discussion, including the opportunity
      to take the floor and make motions.

3. Citizens Comments

      A. The Board may permit any individual or group to address the Board
      concerning any subject that lies within its jurisdiction during the portion of
      any Board meetings so designated for such purpose. Citizens’ Comments shall
      be subject to the following guidelines:

             (1) Three (3) minutes will be allotted to each speaker on each subject
             matter, and a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes will be allotted to each
             subject matter. The Board may decide by a majority vote to extend the
             15 minutes of time allotted to each subject matter, but in no event shall
             the total time allotted to each subject matter exceed 30 minutes. The 3
             minutes of time allotted to each speaker cannot be extended. Time not
             used by a speaker cannot be retained for later use by that speaker and
             cannot be allotted to another speaker. Speakers may provide written
             testimony or handouts to the Board, which will become part of the
             public meeting record. Speakers are not permitted to make
             presentations to the Board using PowerPoint, overhead projectors, or
             other electronic/digital programs.

             (2) A Board of Education member shall be appointed by the
             Chairperson to act as timekeeper for the meeting, if deemed
             necessary by the Chairperson.

             (3) All speakers must identify themselves by name and address.

             (4) The Board will not respond to comments made during
             Citizens’ Comments, with the exception that the Chairperson
             only may respond if, in the discretion of the Chairperson, such
             comments require an immediate response.

             (5) The Board may not limit the subject of a citizen’s comments, except
             that formal charges or formal complaints must be initiated in writing
             only in accordance with Policy #1312.

             (6) No boisterous conduct shall be permitted at any Board of
             Education meeting. Persistence in boisterous conduct shall be
             grounds for summary termination, by the Chairperson, of that
             person's privilege of address. The Chairperson may also ask such
             person to leave the meeting.


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              (7) If a meeting of the Board of Education is interrupted by
              disturbances or boisterous conduct and order cannot be restored, the
              Chairperson may order the room cleared and then continue with the
              meeting. Members of the press and members of the public not
              participating in such disturbance and/or not participating in such
              boisterous conduct may be allowed to remain.


4. Actions by the Board

       No action will be taken at a special meeting unless the subject acted upon was
       listed in the agenda published for that meeting. Additions may be made to the
       agenda at a regular meeting for which action may be considered.

       All motions and each member's vote taken by the Board shall be identified
       clearly in minutes of the Board meeting as provided in Bylaw #9326, Minutes.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

       18-a Definitions. 1-19 Access to public records. 1-21 Meetings of
       government agencies to be public. 1-21a Recording, broadcasting or
       photographing meetings. 1-21d Adjournment of meetings. 1-21g
       Executive sessions. 1-21h Conduct of meetings. 1-21i Denial of access
       to public records or meetings. 10-224 Duties of the secretary.


Bylaw adopted by the Board: November 18, 1997
Revised:                    January 8, 2013
Revised:                    August 12, 2014

COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut




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