One of the skills I have learned the hard way is the power to create the meeting agenda. Setting the agenda allows you to control what gets acted upon. For example if you don't have the votes to pass something today, don't put it on the agenda. Not to boast but I have yet to lose a vote, however things I have wanted to do have not made it to a vote. Why lose in public!

Understanding the simple fact that you control the agenda, gives you absolute political control over spending powers at a meeting. Laws about open meetings insist that financial items be voted on only if they are posted 72 hours in advance. So no financial decision can be made unless you put it on the agenda 3 days earlier. However alderman can use parlimentary procedure to insist there be discussion at a future meeting, but that gives you time to react to something that is undesirable.

Sometimes you can pick up on a community issue that has a missing vote, encourage the citiizens to come and make a statement, perhaps the missing vote will be intimtidated into voting (you have to be careful with who the alderman is) however I have two alderman who have no backbone and would grandstand for the audience if allowed. This can be risky if they suddenly develop a spine. I have used this play about 6-7 times without it exploding in my face. If the citizens don't show up, you can always pull it off the agenda at the last second, citing incomplete paperwork.

I had chaired the planning commission for 10 years before becoming Mayor so I had plenty of time to polish my meeting management skills prior to becoming the center chair in the Town Hall.