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Rules and Bylaws of the Limington Planning Board
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RULES AND BY-LAWS THE LIMINGTON PLANNING BOARD
ADOPTED APRIL 13, 2000

SECTION 1.

The regular meetings of the Limington Planning Board shall be public hearings and held in the Municipal Building at 7:00 P.M., current time, on the second and fourth Thursday of each calendar month. When said day falls on a holiday or Election Day, the regular meeting shall be decided by the Board at the regular meeting prior, as to the time and place. The date of any regular meeting may be changed at the previous meeting upon the vote of a majority of the Planning Board present at the meeting, provided, however, that said change in date will still provide for one (1) regular meeting in each month.

SECTION 2.

Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, and in case of the Chairperson's absence, disability or refusal, may be called by five (5) members of the Board. Notice of such meetings shall be served in person or left at the residence of each member of the Board at least seven (7) days before the time for holding said special meeting unless all members of the Board sign a waiver of said notice. The call for said special meeting shall set for the matters to be acted upon at said meeting, and nothing else shall be considered at such special meeting.

SECTION 3.

Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At least a majority vote, present and voting, shall be required for
A.
Approval or disapproval of standards.
B.
Affirmative or negative recommendations to the town's Selectpersons.
The approval or disapproval of subdivisions shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of members present and voting. All approvals or disapproval's shall take effect immediately.

SECTION 4.

Every member present when a question is put shall give his/her vote unless the Board, for special reasons, shall excuse him or her. Application to be so excused must be made before the Board is divided, or before the calling of the yeas and nays, and decided without debate. In the case of an excuse being granted, an alternate will be appointed in the following order. First alternate, second alternate. If, in the opinion of a majority of the Board, there exists a conflict of interest with a member, this member may be ordered by a majority vote of the Board to step down.

SECTION 5.

The show of hands shall be taken upon the approval or disapproval of any subdivision and at any other time a member wishes.

SECTION 6.

The Chairperson shall take the chair at the time appointed for the meeting, call the members to order, cause the roll to be called and a quorum being present may cause the Minutes of the proceeding meeting to be read and proceed to business.

SECTION 7.

The Chairperson shall preserve the decorum and order, may speak to points of order in performance to other members, and shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to the Board by motion regularly seconded, and no other business shall be in order until the question on appeal is decided. The Chairperson shall declare all votes, but if any member doubts a vote, the Chairperson shall cause a recount of the members voting in the affirmative and in the negative without debate.

SECTION 8.

When a question is under debate the Chairperson shall receive no motion but to:
A.
Adjourn
B.
Lay on the table
C.
For the previous question
D.
Postpone to a day certain
E.
Refer to a committee or some administrative official
F.
Amend
G.
Postpone indefinitely
which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they stand arranged.

SECTION 9.

The Chairperson shall consider a motion to adjourn as always in order except on immediate repetition, and that motion, and the motion to lay on the table, or take from the table, shall be decided without debate.

SECTION 10.

When a vote is passed, it shall be in order for any member who voted in the majority, or in the negative on a tie vote, to move a reconsideration thereof at the same or the next stated meeting but not afterwards and when a motion of reconsideration is decided, that vote shall not be reconsidered.

SECTION 11.

When a member is about to speak he or she shall respectfully address the Chairperson, confine himself or herself to the question under debate, and avoid personalities.

SECTION 12.

No member speaking shall be interrupted by another, but a call to order or to correct a mistake.

SECTION 13.

When any member shall be guilty of a breach of any of the rules or orders of the Board, he or she may, on motion, be required to make satisfaction therefor and shall not be allowed to vote or speak, except by way of excuse, until he or she has done so.

SECTION 14.

Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the Chairperson shall so direct.

SECTION 15.

Any member may require the division of a question when the sense will admit it. "For clarification a question may be divided into wording for separate debate."

SECTION 16.

A motion for referral to a committee or administrative official, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendments of the main question.

SECTION 17.

All questions relating to priority of business to be acted upon shall be decided without debate.

SECTION 18.

Any person wishing to address the Board will be given an opportunity to do so in accordance with the following procedures:
A.
Persons wishing to address the Board on an item which appears on the agenda shall wait until the Chairperson announces the consideration of such item, at which time they may address the Board on that particular item. However, once the Board has begun its deliberation on an item, no person shall be permitted to address the Board on such item, and any person desiring to further address the Board on such item must wait to do so until discussion has ceased and the Board is ready for a vote, at which time any persons may address the Board.

B.
Persons wishing to address the Board on an item not appearing on the agenda shall do so only after disposition of all items appearing on the agenda. The Chairperson may make exceptions.

C.
Any person wishing to address the Board shall signify his or her desirably raising his or her hand and, when recognized by the Chairperson, such person shall thereupon request permission to address the Board, giving his or her name and address, then designating the subject matter on which he or she desires to address the Board.

D.
Persons present at Planning Board meetings are requested not to applaud or otherwise express approval or disapproval of any statements made or actions taken at such meetings.

SECTION 19.

Committee appointments shall be done by vote of the Board, or if directed by the Board, by the Chairperson. Committees shall be advisory only.

SECTION 20.

Any legal advice the Board needs will be obtained by the Board's lawyer.

SECTION 21.

Workshop meetings shall be held as needed for the purpose of discussing business, which may appear on the agenda for a future regular meeting of the Board.

SECTION 22.

Robert's Rules of Order will be the Board parliamentary authority.

SECTION 23.

The Rules and By-laws of the Limington Planning Board can be amended if proposed in writing at a regular meeting and voted at a regular meeting.

SECTION 24.

The seven (7) regular Board members shall annually elect a Chairperson and ViceChairperson from it's members at the first regular meeting in March. A special meeting may be held if not all seven (7) regular Board members are present for the first regular meeting. The Board may either elect a Secretary from it's members or hire a non-Board member to serve as Secretary. The terms of all officers shall be one (1) year with eligibility for re-election.

SECTION 25.

At the annual election of officers, each new member shall receive a copy of the Planning Board Rules and By-laws.

SECTION 26.

First and second alternates shall be appointed by the Selectmen to serve in the absence of a Board member.

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