Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, May 29 2009 with story from CBC
The early votes of the Eastern School Board save Parkdale, Georgetown and Charlottetown schools from the axe.
Schools to close are Dundas, Grand Tracadie, Tracadie Cross, St. Therea’s. St. Peters. Fortune. Eastern Kings, and Rollo Bay.
Female Trustees voted to keep schools open: males voted to close. Charges of sexism were heard from the crowd and trustees.
Bob Clow, the chairperson, throws the tie vote to close Dundas, Grand Tracadie and Tracadie Cross.
This against Roberts Rules of Order. The Chair is not allowed to move a negative action.
Is it true that the president can vote only to break a tie?
Answer:
No, it is not true that the president can vote only to break a tie. If the president is a member of the assembly, he or she has exactly the same rights and privileges as all other members have, including the right to make motions, speak in debate and to vote on all questions. However, the impartiality required of the presiding officer of an assembly (especially a large one) precludes exercising the right to make motions or debate while presiding, and also requires refraining from voting except (i) when the vote is by ballot, or (ii) whenever his or her vote will affect the result.When will the chair’s vote affect the result? On a vote which is not by ballot, if a majority vote is required and there is a tie, he or she may vote in the affirmative to cause the motion to prevail. If there is one more in the affirmative than in the negative, he or she can create a tie by voting in the negative to cause the motion to fail. Similarly, if a two-thirds vote is required, he or she may vote either to cause, or to block, attainment of the necessary two thirds. [RONR (10th ed.), p. 392-93; see also Table A, p.190 of RONR In Brief.]
That’s the PEI way. Who cares about the rules
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