Effective Local Government
Getting your board to buy in to Robert’s Rules
A reader writes, “The city council has never used much parliamentary procedure in our meetings. People speak when they want and sidebar discussions are common.
Read MoreThey threw him out of Parliament. You can sanction too.
High drama in the House of Commons as Member of Parliament expelled for the day.
Read MorePut away your cell phone on the dais
Jurassic Parliament strongly recommends that local governments establish a policy requiring elected officials to put away their cell phones while on the dais.
Read MoreDon’t get chummy
City councilmembers and nonprofit board leaders should not get chummy—too familiar—with their constituents or regular members. Here’s why.
Read MoreSuccessful staff interaction in local government meetings
Staff interaction in local government meetings can be effective or disastrous.
Read MoreChoosing citizens by lottery: recipe for disaster?
The Washington Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials chooses half its 20 members by lottery.
Read MoreDon’t say “so moved” or “same sign”
It’s common for people to say “so moved” when they agree with something a speaker says. Often this is a kind of enthusiastic endorsement. BUT…
Read MoreYou can’t shut down a meeting whenever you want
“Can City Council President Ben Stuckart really shut down a meeting whenever he wants?” runs the catchy headline. The answer, of course, is NO!
Read MoreMunicipal clerks are the unsung heroes
May is the month when we celebrate municipal clerks, and Jurassic Parliament is delighted to join in offering kudos to these unsung heroes of our society. When you look under the hood of local government, you find clerks everywhere.
Read MoreGuidelines for Meeting Minutes in Local Government
Meeting minutes recording the actions taken by your council or board are a fundamental part of the meeting process. These are our guidelines for meeting minutes in local government.
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