Groton Town Council approves new rules about meeting decorum, executive sessions

Groton ― The Town Council has enacted new rules for its members concerning decorum during meetings and potential disciplinary actions for violations.The changes stem from a referral from Town Councilor Dan Gaiewski, who said there have been multiple instances in meetings where councilors have consistently gone against Robert's Rules of Order, and he believes the meetings need a little bit more structure. Gaiewski said lack of decorum has prevented the council from completing its goals, solving issues, and approving projects and ideas submitted by town staff. By decorum, he means adhering to council rules and maintaining a professional manner in conducting town business.The council already has rules about decorum and debate, including that a councilor can't speak unless recognized by the mayor; should limit remarks to the merits of the topic on hand; refer to each as councilor; and avoid personal attacks, alluding to motives, or disturbing meetings.Councilors at times during the meetings call point of order or decorum on each other, or go into a recess after a point of order.He said the measures, already in Robert's Rules of Order, now are exemplified in the council's rules. Robert's Rules of Order is a guide with rules for running meetings, from what amounts to a majority vote to how to establish decorum in debate. The Town Council's Rules and Procedures Committee on July 29 reviewed potential changes to the executive session and order rules and made recommendations. The council last Tuesday revised and approved the rules by a 7-1 vote.Town Councilor Portia Bordelon, who voted against them, said during the meeting that the rules were too vague and open to interpretation. For example, one person might say another's voice is loud and out of order, while another might be used to loud voices and not consider it out of order.She said she agrees there needs to be improvements in decorum and behavior, but did not think "this is identifying it in a manner which is going to be fair and equitable across the board." Rules of order, disciplinary measuresThe council approved changes to rules of order and added disciplinary measures.The new rules state that after a recess in a Town Council meeting for a decorum issue, if a mayor finds a councilor out of order, the councilor "will immediately suspend their remarks." The mayor will give the councilor the opportunity to come back into order, and if the councilor does not, they will yield their turn to speak.After a second recess for a decorum issue, the council by a 2/3 vote, can require a public apology from a councilor. If the councilor does not apologize or makes another violation during that meeting, the council, by a 2/3 vote, can strike the councilor's comments from the record.If there is another violation during that meeting, the council or mayor can make changes to committee assignments.If there is another violation at that meeting, the council by a 2/3 vote can direct the councilor to leave the room for the meeting or issue another "penalty deemed appropriate by the Town Council."The council added, under rules for conduct, that councilors should "conduct themselves in a professional manner when they are acting in their office" and follow the town's ethics ordinance and the rules of the Town Council.Executive session rulesIn addition to the rules about decorum, the council also made changes to executive session rules.Town Manager John Burt said that over the years, there have been occasional comments made by councilors about the lack of rules concerning executive sessions. The new rules include requirements for portable electronic devices to be turned off during executive sessions to ensure confidentiality and for attendees to "not divulge information discussed in executive session without prior approval of the Town Council by vote." Burt said he is not aware of anyone doing that without approval.The rules say that if attendees don't comply with those rules, then they will be expelled from the current executive session and it could lead to them not being able to participate in future executive sessions. k.drelich@theday.com