Chapter IV
COUNCIL

Section 4.1 Rules.

The Council shall, by ordinance, prescribe rules to govern its meetings and proceedings.

Section 4.2 Meetings.

The Council shall meet in the City regularly at least once a month, at a time and place designated by Council’s rules and may meet at other times in accordance with the rules.

Section 4.3 Quorum.

A quorum is a majority of the entire membership of the Council. A quorum is required to conduct business, however, a smaller number may meet and request the attendance of absent members in a manner provided by ordinance.

Section 4.4 Record of Proceedings.

The Council shall cause a record of its proceedings to be kept in accordance with State law.

Section 4.5 Mayor’s Functions at Council Meetings.

The Mayor shall be Chair of the Council and preside over its deliberations; shall have a vote on all questions before it; shall have the authority to preserve order, enforce the rules of the Council, determine the order of business, appoint committees and sign all ordinances.

Section 4.6 Council President.

At the first meeting of each odd-numbered year the Council shall elect a President from its membership. In the Mayor’s absence, from a Council meeting, the President shall preside. whenever the Mayor is unable to perform the functions of office the President shall act as mayor.

Section 4.7 Vote Required.

Except as this charter otherwise provides, the concurrence of a majority of members of the Council voting, when a quorum of the Council is present, shall decide any question before it. No Council member present at a Council meeting shall abstain from voting without first stating reasons. in detail at the meeting.

Section 4.8 Vacancies/Occurrence.

The office of a member of the Council becomes vacant:

(4.8.1) Upon the incumbents’s:

(a) Death,

(b) Adjudicated incompetence,

(c) Recall from the office.

(4.8.2) Upon declaration by the Council of the vacancy in case of the incumbent’s:

(a) Failure, following election or appointment to the office, to qualify for the office within ten days after the time for the term of office to begin,

(b) Absence from the City for 30 days without the Council’s consent or from all meetings of the Council within a 45 day period,

(c) Ceasing to reside in the City,

(d) Ceasing to be a qualified elector under State law,

(e) Conviction of a public offense punishable by loss of liberty,

(f) Resignation from the office.

Section 4.9 Vacancies/Filling.

A vacancy in the Council shall be filled by appointment of the Council. The appointee’s term of office runs from the time of qualifying for the office after the appointment and until expiration of the term of the predecessor who has left the office vacant. During a council member’s disability, to serve on the Council or during a member’s absence from the City, a majority of the other Council Members may by appointment fill the vacancy pro tem.