IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION amending Rule 7 of the Rules of the Legislature relating to the Sergeant at Arms.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21590, March 18, 2024
INTRODUCED BY Sean E Smith, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Jackson County that the Legislature adopt reasonable rules regarding decorum and public testimony at legislative meetings; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri that Rule 7 of the Rules of the Jackson County Legislature be and is hereby amended to read:
RULE SEVEN. Sergeant at Arms.
A. Duties. The Sheriff of Jackson County, or a designated deputy Sheriff,
shall serve as the Sergeant at Arms at all meetings of the Legislature. The Sergeant at Arms shall preserve order at the direction of the Chair.
B. Order at Legislative Meetings.
The order of the meetings of the Legislature shall follow the rules as outlined below.
1. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend all meetings of the Legislature and its Committees.
2. Members of the public may videotape, audiotape, and take still photographs of legislative meetings, as long as they do so in an unobtrusive fashion. The Chairman may designate a portion of the legislative chambers for videotaping or the taking of photographs. If the Chairman does so, that activity may only be conducted from the designated area.
3. If any person wishes to display a sign, poster, or placard at a legislative meeting, that person may do so only in a manner that does not obstruct the view of any other attendee at the meeting or otherwise disrupt the proceedings. Anyone wishing to display a sign, poster, or [a] placard during a meeting should announce [his or her] their intention to do so to the Sergeant at Arms prior to the meeting. The back of the assembly area is the preferred location for the display of signs, posters, and placards. If the Chairman determines that a person is displaying a sign, poster, or placard in a manner that obstructs the view of another or otherwise disrupts the proceedings, the Chairman may authorize the Sergeant at Arms to ask the person to relocate or leave the assembly area. (Resolution #16590 adopted 03/31/2008).
4. Members of the public located in the legislative chambers area will maintain decorum throughout the meetings. This includes but is not limited to remaining seated, refraining from yelling or noisemaking, and following the directions of the Chairman and the Sergeant at Arms.
5. If any person wishes to testify to the Legislature during a public hearing, their testimony cannot exceed 5 minutes in length and must be on the subject matter of the public hearing as noticed.
6. If any person violates these rules, the Sergeant at Arms, at the direction of the Chairman, may preserve order by asking that person to refrain from the behavior creating the violation or may ask that person to vacate the legislative chambers.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21590 of March 18, 2024, was duly passed on ______________________, 2024 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _______________ Nays ______________
Abstaining _________ Absent ____________
________________________ ____________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature