Rule 34. Boston City Council.

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From: Reuben.Kantor at cityofboston.gov
Date: Jan 16, 2009 6:00 PM

Reuben Kantor

Chief of Staff
Boston City Council President Mike Ross, District 8
One City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA 02201
P: 617-635-4225
F: 617-635-4203
http://cityofboston.gov/government

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Page 7
2009 City Council Rules Page 7
Rules of the Boston City Council
Municipal Year 2009

General Rules

Committees
Forty-Eight Hour Notice Required

Rule 34.

No meeting, working session, or hearing of any committee, except the committee on ways and means, in accord with the limitations of the state's open meeting law, shall be called upon less than fortyeight (48) hours notice (exclusive of legal holidays and Sundays), unless otherwise allowed by the president in accord with the limitations of the state's open meeting law, from the time the council staff shall have mailed or electronically transmitted the notices and invitation letters or dispatched them by special messenger; provided that meetings of the committee of the whole may be held for a specific purpose(s) at the call of the president, at the completion of council business and prior to final adjournment of any meeting of the council without such notice.

Only that specific item(s) for which a committee of the whole meeting, working session, or hearing has been called shall be in order at such meeting, working session, or hearing.

Only a committee chair may schedule a meeting, working session, or hearing or reserve time on the council's calendar for a hearing to be scheduled.

Notice of all scheduled meetings, hearings, working sessions shall be posted by the clerk indicating the date, time and place in accordance with the requirements of the open meeting law.

In addition, the notice shall include the item(s) or subject(s) to be discussed.

Written and electronic notice shall be delivered to each councilor and other interested parties by council staff.

The chair and members of any committee shall speak and question witnesses for not more than ten minutes at a time.

2009 City Council Rules Page 8
The conduct of members of the public at council meetings, and committee meetings, working sessions, and hearings, including those present to testify, shall be governed by Rules 41, 42 and 43 and shall be enforced by the council staff assigned to the meeting, working session, or hearing.

No committee unless authorized by an order of the council shall incur any expense, including, but not limited to, advertising and stenographic costs.

Committee chairs requesting interpreter services will work with the staff director, recognizing there are budgetary limitations, to arrange for such services at the time the meeting, working session, or hearing is scheduled.

No committee meeting, working session, or hearing, except the committee of the whole, the committee on rules and administration, and the committee on ways and means, shall be conducted on the day of any regular meeting of the council.

No committee, except the committee of the whole, committee on ways and means or committee on rules and administration shall be allowed to schedule or conduct a meeting, working session, or hearing on the same day and time as a previously scheduled meeting of another committee.

No committee will hold any hearing, working session, or meeting after the last regular council meeting of the municipal year.