Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Rules topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legal counsel trains trustees on Robert’s Rules, Rosenberg's rules and Brown Act precedence; board agrees to draft local rules
Summary
Lozano Smith attorney Roman Munoz told trustees the Brown Act takes precedence over parliamentary rules, explained differences between Robert's Rules and Rosenberg's Rules (including motions for reconsideration and finality), clarified the student trustee's vote is preferential, and trustees agreed to form a small work team to draft local governance rules.
Roman Munoz, legal counsel from Lozano Smith, led a training session explaining that the Brown Act supersedes parliamentary procedures and sketched differences between Robert’s Rules of Order and Rosenberg’s Rules of Order. He advised trustees that some provisions of Robert’s Rules are more complex and parliament-oriented while Rosenberg’s approach emphasizes streamlined finality (for example, stricter limits on motions for reconsideration). Munoz also clarified that the student-board member’s vote is preferential and does not count toward the statutory majority.
After the presentation trustees discussed practical next steps and agreed to create a working group (not a formal committee) of trustees and staff to draft recommended governance-handbook language or bylaw amendments to codify preferred procedures. Staff and trustees will return proposed language to the full board for consideration.
