Decorum: Proper behavior that shows respect and good manners

Published on January 02, 2023

By Fabiola Stuyvesant, Commissioner

As established in chapter 74 of our Code of Ordinances, the Commission shall be governed by Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. Below are some of these rules in a nutshell:

Order of Business: There shall be an official agenda for every meeting of the Commission, which shall determine the order of business conducted at the meeting.

Public Hearings: Any citizen shall be entitled to speak on any matter appearing on the official agenda under the section entitled “Public Hearings” subject to the Citizens’ Bill of Rights and these rules of procedure.

Addressing Commission: All remarks shall be addressed to the Commission as a body and not to any member thereof. No question shall be asked to a Commissioner except through the presiding officer.

Decorum: Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who becomes boisterous while addressing the Commission shall be barred from further appearance before the Commission by the presiding officer, unless permission to continue or again address the Commission is granted by the majority vote of the Commission members present. No clapping, applauding, heckling or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or their remarks shall be permitted.

Therefore, in order to have productive Commission Meetings, please abide by those simple rules. It would be much appreciated.

Contact Commissioner Fabiola Stuyvesant at seat3@sibfl.net or 305.792.1751.