BULLIES AND QUESTIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!
After the Ethics Committee was adjourned this morning I was seated talking with Commissioner Reedy when Commissioner Jackson came over and very angrily interrupted our conversation. Commissioner Jackson was irate over having been called a bully on this blog.
I continued to be seated throughout his tirade. While towering over me accusing and shouting not to make him angry and other warnings I calmly stated that I had not referred to him as anything without first telling him personally what I thought.
He asked if I thought he was a bully and I said yes, you are. He demanded to know who he had bullied and I stated you're trying to bully me now and you’ve bullied others you didn’t want to hear including many of these commissioners.
Commissioner Pollard stepped over and tried to intercede and get him to calm down but to no avail and finally Commissioner Jackson angrily walked out and people returned to their conversations.
What Commissioner Jackson stated as the reason for being so upset was in addition to being referred to as a bully I had the audacity to question his methods of "calling for the question" in meetings where he sought to cut off debate. I tried to explain that according to Roberts Rules of Order Revised Edition, which the County Commission had adopted as their guide for conducting meetings, a person could not simple speak out and call for the question in the middle of a debate. A few days earlier at the Ambulance Committee Meeting I had been recognized by the Chairman to speak. In the midst of my questions Commissioner Jackson interrupted by very rudely and loudly stating, “I call for the question”. At that time I stated that I had the floor and it was inappropriate to interrupt. Commissioner Jackson stated he could call for the question at anytime. Not true I stated you must be recognized to speak and then a two/thirds majority vote to cut off debate had to be achieved.
Commissioner Jackson apparently is not one to take correction well as has been demonstrated on various occasions. Had he been stewing from that confrontation of days ago I don’t know. I only know how he acted toward me and it was completely unacceptable.
Two things to consider in this situation the word “BULLY” means “a blustering browbeating person; especially one who is habitually cruel to others who are weaker”.
Many know Commissioner Jackson as a bully and have felt his attempts to intimidate as a means of getting his way.
Second thing is this is from Roberts Rules of Order Revised Edition in response to this question: “Must debate stop immediately as soon as any member calls the question?”
Answer: “It is a fairly common misconception that, after debate has continued for some time, if any member shouts out "Question!" or "I call the question!", debate must immediately cease and the chair must put the pending question to a vote. This is simply not the case. Any member who wishes to force an end to debate must first obtain the floor by being duly recognized to speak by the chair, and must then move the Previous Question. Such a motion must be seconded, and then adopted by a two-thirds vote, or by unanimous consent. It is not in order to interrupt a speaker with cries of "Question" or "Call the Question," and even if no one is speaking, it is still necessary to seek recognition. [RONR (10th ed.), p. 193-94; see also p 35-37 of RONR In Brief.]”
Allen Barrett
I continued to be seated throughout his tirade. While towering over me accusing and shouting not to make him angry and other warnings I calmly stated that I had not referred to him as anything without first telling him personally what I thought.
He asked if I thought he was a bully and I said yes, you are. He demanded to know who he had bullied and I stated you're trying to bully me now and you’ve bullied others you didn’t want to hear including many of these commissioners.
Commissioner Pollard stepped over and tried to intercede and get him to calm down but to no avail and finally Commissioner Jackson angrily walked out and people returned to their conversations.
What Commissioner Jackson stated as the reason for being so upset was in addition to being referred to as a bully I had the audacity to question his methods of "calling for the question" in meetings where he sought to cut off debate. I tried to explain that according to Roberts Rules of Order Revised Edition, which the County Commission had adopted as their guide for conducting meetings, a person could not simple speak out and call for the question in the middle of a debate. A few days earlier at the Ambulance Committee Meeting I had been recognized by the Chairman to speak. In the midst of my questions Commissioner Jackson interrupted by very rudely and loudly stating, “I call for the question”. At that time I stated that I had the floor and it was inappropriate to interrupt. Commissioner Jackson stated he could call for the question at anytime. Not true I stated you must be recognized to speak and then a two/thirds majority vote to cut off debate had to be achieved.
Commissioner Jackson apparently is not one to take correction well as has been demonstrated on various occasions. Had he been stewing from that confrontation of days ago I don’t know. I only know how he acted toward me and it was completely unacceptable.
Two things to consider in this situation the word “BULLY” means “a blustering browbeating person; especially one who is habitually cruel to others who are weaker”.
Many know Commissioner Jackson as a bully and have felt his attempts to intimidate as a means of getting his way.
Second thing is this is from Roberts Rules of Order Revised Edition in response to this question: “Must debate stop immediately as soon as any member calls the question?”
Answer: “It is a fairly common misconception that, after debate has continued for some time, if any member shouts out "Question!" or "I call the question!", debate must immediately cease and the chair must put the pending question to a vote. This is simply not the case. Any member who wishes to force an end to debate must first obtain the floor by being duly recognized to speak by the chair, and must then move the Previous Question. Such a motion must be seconded, and then adopted by a two-thirds vote, or by unanimous consent. It is not in order to interrupt a speaker with cries of "Question" or "Call the Question," and even if no one is speaking, it is still necessary to seek recognition. [RONR (10th ed.), p. 193-94; see also p 35-37 of RONR In Brief.]”
Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 6:24 PM
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