Board of Aldermen 12-22-2020 Page 35
ON THE QUESTION
President Wilshire
The Motion is for indefinite postponement, discussion on that motion? Alderman Jette?
Alderman Jette
So a motion for indefinite postponement as | understand it means that this subject could not be, legislation
regarding imposing a curfew could not be reintroduced until a new Board of Aldermen takes office in
January of 2022. | don’t understand why we would put ourselves in a position where even though you may
have voted against it tonight, you are saying that there is nothing that could happen that would change your
mind about this. And | think, you know, | appreciate my colleagues who voted differently than | did. |
respect your positions on this, but to say that this couldn’t be brought up again next year if things changed,
if things got really worse, that you wouldn’t entertain being able to enact a similar Ordinance given different
facts, | think is a mistake. The reason | voted against moving the question, it was a parliamentary
procedure to close debate and | think we ought to always be ready to discuss issues and change our
positions one way or the other if the facts change and the facts warrant such a thing. So that’s why | would
be against this indefinite postponement. It strikes me as a parliamentary move to prevent us from taking up
this matter during the rest of our term, which | don’t think is fair.
Alderman Dowd
Parliamentary question?
President Wilshire
Alderman Dowd.
Alderman Dowd
I’d like to ask Attorney Leonard, this motion as | understand it, if it’s indefinite postponement, you can’t
bring the exact Legislation back. | don’t think it precludes something similar with different aspects to it. For
instance, if we wanted to do something to adjust the rules we could do that, but it’s just this exact
Legislation could not come back, is that correct?
Attorney Leonard
Yes that is my understanding, how we interpret it, that it would have to be the exact same Legislation.
Unidentified Speaker The lawyer is wrong again.
President Wilshire
OK are you set Alderman Dowd?
Alderman Dowd
Yes.
President Wilshire
Alderman Clemons.
