TAAG Policy & Procedure Guidelines

Meetings of the Whole

1. The presiding officer shall conduct the meetings in an orderly manner, with the proceedings being governed by the spirit of Rosenburg’s Rules of Order, as distributed at the 2007 CAC Training session.

2. General TAAG Meeting Procedure:
   a. The presiding officer will open the public hearing by first asking the applicant/agent for report on the proposal being heard, presenting any points necessary for TAAG members, as well as the public, to fully understand the proposal.
   b. TAAG Committees will present their reports and recommendations on the proposal, and respond to any questions from TAAG members.
   c. The presiding officer will then ask other interested persons to come forward to present their testimony, either in support or opposition to the proposal.
   d. Finally, the presiding officer will invite the applicant/agent to respond to the public testimony. Thereafter, the presiding officer will close the public testimony portion of the proceedings and limit further discussion to TAAG members, prior to making their decision.

3. Rules for Presenting Testimony;
   It is important that all participants conduct themselves with courtesy, dignity and respect for all parties involved. Thus, persons who wish to present testimony must observe the following rules;
   a. When you come before TAAG, first identify yourself, as required for the record.
   b. Address your testimony to the Chair. Conversation or debate between the speaker and the audience is not permitted. This includes discussion between an applicant/agent and members of the public.
   c. Keep your testimony brief and to the point. Talk about the proposal, and not the individuals involved. If absolutely necessary, refer to an individual by title only (ex. the Chairperson, a member of TAAG, the applicant, the last speaker, etc.)
   d. Public testimony will be limited to three (3) minutes per individual. Thus, focus your testimony on the most important parts of the proposal. And please, no audience reaction (applause, or otherwise) during or after the testimony.
   e. Written testimony (letters and preferably email) is acceptable. Limit such testimony to one page. To assure timely distribution to all TAAG delegates, written testimony should be sent at least three days prior to the meeting.

Election of TAAG Members

1. Voters shall vote for only three or four candidates depending on the number of delegate seats open. If more than the number of candidates seeking election are selected on the ballot, the ballot will not be counted. The three or four candidates for election with the highest number of votes will be seated as delegates. The two candidates for election with the next highest number of votes shall be seated as the 1st and 2nd alternates respectively.

2. Candidates for election will be determined as follows: At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting in October, there will be a call for candidates. Incumbents whose terms are expiring have until the regularly scheduled meeting in November to declare their interest in being a candidate. Other candidates have until the regularly scheduled monthly meeting in December to declare their interest.

3. Three delegates shall run for a seat at the conclusion of their two (2) year terms and the other four shall run for a seat at the conclusion of their two year terms in the following year. The election process shall continue each year on this staggered basis. Alternates run for a seat each year.

4. As a service to the community, TAAG may sponsor a meeting where all candidates who are running for a seat are invited to speak. TAAG may also arrange to have its election conducted by an outside agency.

Election of Officers

1. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the Chair prior to the January Election meeting. The committee shall consist of two delegates who are not running for a seat. In the event that no seated officer is re-elected as a delegate, the nominating committee Chairperson will preside at any TAAG meeting until the new officers are seated.

2. After the January Election meeting, the nominating committee will meet and poll all delegates regarding their interest in taking an officer's role.

3. The first Order of Business at the TAAG meeting following the January Election will be the selection of Officers for the next term. The nominating committee will recommend a list of candidates for office. Additional nominations by TAAG delegates at the meeting shall be permitted. The seated delegates will then vote on the candidates. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the delegates present at the meeting.

4. Should a tie occur, the delegate with the most years of service on TAAG will prevail.

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