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County Organizational Meeting
J. Michael Blaska Wisconsin Counties Association
Constitutional Authority
Legislature may confer on boards powers of a local, legislative & administrative character
Identifies county officers as well as conditions of elections, removal & terms
Statutory Authority
Authority comes from Chapter 59
Counties are a body corporate that can sue and be sued
Powers are limited by state statute
Administrative Home Rule
Sec. 59.03(1) – Every county may exercise any
organizational or administrative power, subject only to the constitution and to any enactment of the legislature which is of statewide concern and which uniformly affects every county.
Administrative Home Rule
Sec. 59.04 Construction of Powers. To give counties the largest measure of self government under the administrative home rule authority granted to counties…
liberally construed in favor of the rights, powers and privileges of counties to exercise any organizational or administrative power
Self Organized Counties
Self organization provides more flexibility on the manner in which the board of supervisors may operate
Use of staggered termsCompensation of supervisorsFilling county supervisor vacancies
Self Organized Counties
How accomplished?
Majority of whole board adopts an ordinance invoking the authority of the authorizing statuteCounty board adopts the policies it desires
Organizational Meeting
Required to meet on the third Tuesday of AprilMay adjourn to different datePurpose is to organize & transact business
Prepare Agenda
Call to Order Roll CallOath of OfficeElection of Officers (list)Adoption of RulesBusinessAdjournment
Organizational Meeting
ConductingThe
Elections
Who Runs the Meeting
May be the current chair May be the former chair that was defeated May be the vice-chair or 2nd vice chair May be someone trusted Should not be someone who is seeking the
office
Nominations
Declare the floor open for nominations Need not be recognized by the chair Anyone can nominate Can nominate yourself Chair should restate the nominee placing
their name before the body Nomination speeches are allowed
Nominations
No second required but allowed to show support
Seconding speeches are allowed Technically nominations are not necessary -
each member is free to vote for anyone eligible
Nominations
Motion to close No motion necessary but may accept a motion to
close Not in order until reasonable time has been given Is out of order if someone is seeking the floor Requires 2/3 vote No requirement to ask 3 times Chair can declare nominations are closed
Elections
May allow candidates to say a few words If only one candidate the chair may accept a
motion to close nominations & cast a unanimous ballot
If only one candidate the chair may declare the candidate the victor
Appoint ballot clerks – perhaps the county clerk & a respected board member
Elections
Only time a secret ballot may be used Continue to vote until a majority is reached Never drop off the lowest candidate Candidates may withdraw When unable to reach a majority: take a
recess, allow the candidates to speak, allow members to speak
Winner takes the chair
Elections
Impropriety of limiting voting to the 2 leading candidates Leading candidates may represent 2 different
factions – division may be deepened May unite members w/compromise candidate
Improper to remove nominee w/lowest votes Repeat balloting until you have a winner Nominee w/lowest number of votes could be a
“dark horse” who all can agree on
Organizational Meeting
Board Rules
Sources of Procedural Rules
State Statues
Local Rules
Robert’s Rules of Order
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Content
Chapters
County Board OfficersOrganization of the County BoardProcedural Rules of the County Board
County Board Officers
Duties of chairperson Duties of vice-chairperson or persons Duties of sergeant-at-arms
one or two? male & female?
(may need to hold more elections if new rules add officers)
Organization of the Board
Determine standing committees & responsibilities
Other committees & responsibilities Staff Assistance Scheduling, notice, conduct Public appearances at committee & county
board
Organization of the Board
Standing CommitteesName the committeesResponsibilitiesNumber of membersHow appointed – board chair or committeeOfficers appointed or elected
Organization of the Board
Committee CreationCounty may establish as many standing & advisory committees as it deems necessary
Committee chair has authority to set the agenda, preside at meetings, make reports and make recommendations on the committee’s behalf
Procedural Rules
Resolutions: form, referrals, how processed, fiscal analysis, county board action
Seating arrangements, board members, staff, department heads, general public
County board calendar – who prepares? Order of business Parliamentary procedure Define Session
Procedural Rules-Resolutions
What is the format – who drafts How are resolutions introduced – members,
committee, anytime, board meetings What happens w/resolution once introduced What is the referral process – chair,
committee, clerk How do they get on committee calendar What happens once approved
Procedural Rules - Order of Business Call to order Special matters & announcements Approval of bills & accounts Approval of proceedings(minutes) Consent calendar Reports on zoning committee
Procedural Rules - Order of Business Ordinances Award of contracts Resolutions Special order of business Such other business as allowed by law
Procedural Rules - Parliamentary Procedure
Identify rules specific to countyList common or basic rules of order Designate Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 11th Edition for questions not covered in board rules
Procedural Rules - Session
Definition of session determines when business can be brought back before the assemblyA session may be one meeting, 1 year, the term of supervisor or as determined
County Board Rules
Current board should review rules & amend as necessary prior to organizational meeting
New board adopts rules at organizational meeting
Rules should be incorporated into county ordinance
We have to stop meeting this way
Ukrainian Parliament-April 26, 2010Source: nytimes.com “Ukraine Passes Deal Under Hail of Eggs”
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Wisconsin Counties Association
J. Michael Blaska
Chief of Staff
22 E. Mifflin St., Suite 900
Madison, WI 53703
608-663-7188
