motioning for a vote on a issue that hasnt been fully discussed?

Motions are generally made by board members during board meetings, so if that's what's happened in yours and you're on the board, you and your colleagues need to stop it and run the meeting properly. A board meeting is a BUSINESS meeting where the BOARD should be discussing agenda items and then make decisions via making motions and voting on them. That is why the Board exists.

It sounds like what you need is a brief resident forum where people can make comments, criticize or make suggestions on association issues. You could do that at the beginning of the meeting (no more than 15 minutes), but after that, the business portion begins and at that point, the homeowners need to sit quietly and listen to the proceedings - they aren't allowed to ask questions or make comments so all agenda items are addressed and you aren't there all night. If you want a town hall meeting where residents can yap and yap about specific subjects and brainstorm solutions, call a meeting for that purpose.

Regarding the board member yapping and then making a motion, the president or whoever's presiding over the meeting should say hold off until everyone else on the board has had a chance to weigh in. Then you can call for a motion and vote.

In my community, we usually have a discussion where everyone gets a say, and then someone might suggest the board do something. That's when the president might call for a motion, the person makes the suggestion in the form of a motion, someone else seconds it and then we vote. Sometimes there might be more discussion before the vote is taken, and in some cases, the person might withdraw the motion or withdraw it and make it again with some changes, and then we have someone second that and then vote.

The primary goal is to have some sort of order to the proceedings - what we do is loosely based on Robert's Rules of Order, but it's up to you if you want to run it exactly by its rules. Most HOAs use some format to keep things moving and to ensure the agenda items are addressed and everyone has a chance to have their say.

It appears you and your colleagues may need some guidance on how to run a meeting effectively - you can Google Roberts Rules of Order (there is an official website) or just search for how to run an effective board meeting or something, look for some useful tips and apply them.

I'm a bit confused by the OP. Is the issue with Board meetings or membership meetings?

A topic on the agenda is discussed. After everyone has their input, the chair person may say “what is the pleasure of the board?” “

That means either a motion can be made or the issue just drops and it’s listed in the minutes is a “discussion only” taking place. Not every discussion results in a motion after it.

As I see from the responses, both methods can work. I studied this in some detail a few years ago, so I'm writing from memory (have your salt ready). As Robert's Rules of Order (RROO) formally presents it:

A member addresses the Chair and after being recognized states their motion. If seconded, the Chair announces it's up for discussion. Members speak to the motion stating whether they for or against it. After all have spoken a good Chair checks to see if there are any remaining comments.

A member may also "move the question" I think it's called, which if a majority of members vote to move it forward it goes immediately to the vote.

The last time I served as President I pulled "RROO Lite" off the internet. Source dead link from www.ahmpnet.org

1. Types of Motions
Robert’s Rules lists no fewer than 9 separate types of Motions, but these 5 are used most frequently for our Board, special, and annual meetings:

A. Main Motion – This is the method by which we will conduct business about a specific issue. Keep Main Motions, clear, concise, and complete to minimize Amendments. A Main Motion must be seconded. The motion will pass or fail if it received the votes required by the by-laws, Declaration or Washington laws. Usually it majority will pass the motion. On the Board, that will be two votes; during meetings of the owners each unit’s vote is proportional to the unit’s size, location, and other features.

B. Motion to Table – A Motion to Table an issue will suspend action on the motion until such time that the motion is re-entered as a Main Motion. A common reason to table a motion is if, during discussion, it is determined that more information is required before a decision can be made. A Motion to Table must be seconded and must pass by a simple majority. A Motion to Table will take precedence over a Main Motion, i.e. discussion of action on a Main Motion will be suspended until the period of time in the Motion to Table has expired and the Chair re-activates the Main Motion.

C. Motion to Adjourn or Recess – This motion is self-explanatory – the “on/off switch” for the meeting. It must be seconded. A simple majority rules.

D. Point of Parliamentary Procedure (PPP) – This motion acts like a “hold” button, and may be introduced as a “Point of Clarification,” Point of Order” or “Point of Information”. At anytime, any Board Member may ask for a PPP to get clarification on the business process or to address anything that makes them unable to fully participate. A PPP is automatic and must immediately be heard by the Chair. If the Chair rules that the PPP is not specific to a procedural point, he/she may terminate the PPP and return to regular business.

E. Motion to Suspend the Rules – This will be when a major point of discussion arises that will require lengthy discussion, or input from guests. An example may be for the Board to listen to a detailed report from a committee chair person; we will move for suspension of the rules for a specified period. The Chair will ask the speaker to estimate the time required. Then, the Chair will be responsible for controlling discussion during the suspension period. A second is required, and the motion to suspend must pass by a Supermajority. The Motion to Suspend should be used rarely and with caution.

2. Seconding Motions
All motions, excluding Point of Parliamentary Procedure, must be seconded. (During Board meetings the process is more relaxed and seconds are not normally required.) The purpose of the second is twofold: 1) to affirm that the motion has sufficient support from another learned member to be considered, and 2) the person seconding the motion agrees with the scope, content, and form of the motion as presented. If the Main Motion is withdrawn by the person who presented the motion, then the person who seconded does not have to concur. It is the exclusive right of the person presenting the motion to withdraw a motion at any time for any reason, up until the motion is voted upon. Once the vote is called by the Chair, the motion is “in play” and cannot be altered.

3. Amendments
Amendments (also known as Friendly Amendments, or FA) are a commonly over-used tool to clarify motions put before the group. Only introduced during Discussion, FAs must be seconded and voted upon just like the Main Motion, and if approved, must be read as part of the Main Motion when the Main Motion comes for vote. The FA must be discussed and voted upon prior to completion of discussion and vote of the Main Motion. When FAs are attached to a Main Motion, it is up to the Chair to maintain control of all discussion and restate the amended Main Motion prior to vote. The person who presented the Main Motion may ask the Chair for an opportunity to Withdraw and Restate the Main Motion, rather than proceed with an unwieldy Main Motion and multiple FA configurations. It is the Chair’s discretion to allow or not to allow a maneuver to Withdraw and Restate.

4. Discussion
After a Main Motion is made, or an Amendment offered, the Chair will call for Discussion. During the Discussion period, Board members may ask for the floor from the Chair to ask questions or make informative comments. Once granted the floor, Board members may make discussion points or ask questions of other Board members (or the person presenting the Motion). The amount of time spent in discussion may vary. The Chair is responsible for keeping the discussion effective and efficient; therefore the Chair may limit the time for discussion or the number of points allowed by each member. It is during Discussion that members must employ all their skills in debate, discussion and time awareness, and maintain focus. Decorum, respect, and good old-fashioned manners are critical skills in Discussion. Once the discussion is complete, or the Chair determines that time is a factor; the Chair will Call to Vote.

5. Voting
Once the Chair requests a vote, the members will express their considered opinion regarding the motion at hand. The Chair will first ask “All in Favor” and the members will respond with either a voice vote or a show of hands (at the discretion of the Chair). The Chair will then ask for “All Opposed”, with voice or hand voting. If the total of the “ayes” and the “nays” is less than the total number of voters present, the Chair will ask for “All In Abstention”, with voice or hand voting. If a member does not respond to any of the requests, then their vote will be recorded as an Abstention. The chair also votes. Once the voting is completed, the Chair will announce whether the motion has carried or it has been defeated, and continue with the next business item. The Chair may wish to keep the current item open for a time to wait for a restated motion (in the event of failure).

It's kind of JohnP47 to show us all of the motions etc. that an HOA Board can do. But our Board of 7 does not do all of that and we have no requirement to follow RONR (actually what parliamentarians call it) except for members (Owners) meetings.

We mainly do: Motion, second (tho' not required per RONR for small boards), discussion, vote. Usually it's the chair who calls for the vote. But sometime a director will when we've beaten something into the ground.

We refer to Robert's for somewhat unusual cases like reconsidering a motion approved earlier. Or, at a subsequent meeting, Rescinding a motion previously approved.