10 • Oct. 16 - 17, 2020 • ORDINANCE
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was approved on an approximate month-to-month basis, with it ending at a specific time and date unless extended by the Board. Final approval was through a double reading with aldermen Jeff Seay, Bob Simmons, Bill Skains, Jamie Whiteis, and Julia King voting
“Yes” and alderman Larry Milton voting “No” on the initial reading and not voting on the second reading. During a telephone interview on October 14, 2020, alderman Milton said, “The mayor arbitrarily cut off comments from the public and would not let the alderman comment on the ordinance for the proposed second reading as required by city code. Just because
the mayor does not like what people have to say does not give him the power to deny them their right to be heard. I did not want to be part of this injustice.” Section 2-71 of the Branson Municipal Code is entitled “Procedures for regular Agenda.” The Covid-19 Ordinance was one of the items on the regular agenda. Subsection (4) of Section 2-71
says, “Board members shall be allotted time to present their positions and concerns if they so desire.” Subsection (5) reads, “Interested members of the community shall also have an opportunity to express their positions on an item. Testimony or discussion by interested members of the community in support or opposition of an issue may be limited by the presiding officer when the discussion has become repetitive...” After interested members of the community have had an opportunity to express their comments, Subsection (6) gives board members additional time to respond to those statements. Absent the action the Board
bransonglobe.com took; the Covid-19 Ordinance would have been automatically repealed at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2020. The Board’s action specifically said, “That Ordinance 20200072...shall not be repealed at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2020.” Further, it provides the ordinance “shall remain in full force and effect from and immediately after the passage by the board of aldermen and approval by the mayor of this ordinance.” It contains no expiration or automatic repeal provision and remains in effect indefinitely. The city attorney pointed out the various ways the Board could take future actions on the ordinance SEE ORDINANCE, PAGE 11
