MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Ann G. Macfarlane

Can the Mayor Take Part in Discussion?

September 28, 2022 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Forms of Government-City , Legislative Body

In many cities, the mayor also acts as the meeting chair. While Robert's Rules directs the chair of large groups of 12 or more members to refrain from taking part in a discussion (and focus on facilitating), these rules do not automatically apply to smaller groups.

Sanctioning Rogue Board Members

December 2, 2021 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Sometimes the actions of a member of a governing body cause such disruption that that body will not be able to move forward on important matters. This blog reviews what a council, commission, or board can do when dealing with rogue members.

Changing Course: Using Robert’s Rules to Alter a Prior Action

January 19, 2021 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Using Robert's Rules of Order, this blog looks at when and how a governing body can change course on a prior action.

What Does the New Robert’s Rules Mean for You?

October 28, 2020 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

From guest author and Professional Registered Parliamentarian Ann Macfarlane, this blog post looks at the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

Tips for Government Bodies Meeting Remotely

March 26, 2020 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , COVID-19 , Legislative Body

This blog post offers guidelines and tips for conducting successful remote local government meetings.

Don’t Get into Back-and-Forth Exchanges During Public Comment

August 29, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

The public comment period of a public meeting can be a great time to hear from constituents and to be heard. However, these meetings should not devolve into back-and-forth exchanges between elected officials and their constituents.

Successful Staff Interaction in Local Government Meetings

April 29, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This MRSC Insight blog offers a few suggestions on how to structure successful staff participation in a council meeting.

Point of Order and Appeal Are the Heart of Democracy

February 11, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This blog post answers the question: What is a Point of Order and how do I use it?

Meeting Discussion: When Should You Interrupt a Speaker?

December 27, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Under Robert's Rules, there are significant instances in which a board member or councilmember should be interrupted during a meeting in order to preserve preserve politeness and fairness for all.

Do We Have to Obey the Mayor?

July 23, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Under Robert's Rules of Order and common parliamentary law the presiding officer of a governing body has certain rights — but so too do councilmembers, county commissioners, and directors of special districts — and no one has the authority to dominate the group.

Four Bad Habits to Avoid at Council Meetings

February 9, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

There are a number of “urban myths” about Robert’s Rules of Order that can get in the way of democratic process for your council. If these errors happen at your meetings, address them and improve your processes.

How Well Do You Walk this Meeting Tightrope?

February 25, 2016 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Chairing a meeting requires two skills that are not easy to combine. The presider has to control the meeting, which requires strength. At the same time, he or she has to remain emotionally connected to the members, which requires warmth.

When Public Comment is Challenging

December 19, 2014 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Public Participation

This fall I had the privilege of working with planning directors from across the state at their 25th annual conference in Chelan, Washington. Our focus was on keeping things on track when folks are rude, crude or confused, particularly during public comment sessions.

Take it Back, We've Changed Our Mind!

September 30, 2012 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

In our work with councils, special districts and other public bodies, we often encounter confusion about how a group can change an action that it has taken. For small groups like most councils, it's easy. Here is some information that will simplify the matter, based on Robert's Rules of Order, 11th edition ("Robert"). Bear with me if it seems a bit technical - we predict that understanding...

Using the Round Robin Method for Efficient Council Meetings

March 1, 2012 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Council-Commission Advisor

The simplest way to make city council meetings more efficient is to use the round robin method of discussion. Sometimes, however, it's harder to employ this method than it seems. These are our tips for successful use of the round robin.

Should Our Council Adopt Robert's Rules of Order?

March 1, 2012 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Council-Commission Advisor

We believe that Robert's Rules still provides the best and most useful set of rules of order for civic bodies in our state - provided that folks are willing to do a little work and learn how to use Robert's Rules properly.

Less Is More: Action Minutes Serve the City Best

March 1, 2012 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Council-Commission Advisor

If your council, commission or committee takes detailed minutes of your meetings, our guest author recommends switching to action minutes, which record what is done at a meeting and not what is said.

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