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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1225ORDINANCE NO. 1225 COUNCIL PROCEDURES BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRHOPE, ALABAMA, That the order of procedure in all instances for meetings of the Council shall be as follows (Amending Ordinance No. 1112): SECTION 1. That the rules or order of procedure herein contained shall govern deliberations and meetings of the Council of the City of Fairhope, Alabama. SECTION 2. Regular Meetings of the Council shall be held on the following dates: The 2"d and 4th Monday nights of each month at 5:30 p.m. SECTION 3. A Work Session of the Council shall be held on the following dates: The 2"d and 41h Monday nights of each month at 5:00 p.m. SECTION 4. Special Meetings - The presiding officer of the council shall call special meetings whenever in his or her opinion the public interest requires it. Also, whenever two Councilmembers or the mayor request, in writing, a special meeting, the presiding officer has the duty to make the call. If the presiding officer fails or refuses to call such a meeting, when requested, the two Councilmembers making the request or the mayor have the right to call such a meeting. Sec. 11-43-50, Code of Alabama, 1975 SECTION 5. A quorum shall be determined as provided by Section 11-43-48 of the 1975 Code of Alabama, as amended. SECTION 6. All regular meetings shall convene at the Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chamber and all meetings, regular or special, shall be open to the public, except when the council meets in executive session as authorized by state law. Ordinance No. 1225 Page -2- SECTION 7. The council may meet in executive session only for those purposes authorized by state law. When a Councilmember makes a motion to go into executive session for an enumerated purpose, the presiding officer shall put the motion to a vote. If the majority of the council shall vote in favor of the motion to go into executive session, the body shall then move into executive session to discuss the matter for which the executive session was called. No action may be taken in an executive session. When the discussion has been completed, the council shall resume its deliberations in public. SECTION 8. An agenda shall be prepared by the City Clerk for all business to come before each regular session and all business to be transacted shall be put on the agenda no later than Wednesday Noon, and the Council books shall be ready for pick up no later then 4:00 p.m. on Thursday before the next regular Council meeting on the following Monday night. SECTION 9. The order of business shall be as follows: (1) Call to order (2) Pledge of Allegiance (3) Invocation (4) Roll Call (5) Approval of Minutes (6) Ordinances, Resolutions, Orders, and Other Business (7) Auditing accounts (8) Reading of Petitions, Applications, Complaints, Appeals, Communications, etc. (9) Reports of Standing committees (if any) (10) Reports of Special Committees (if any) (11) Reports of Officers (if any) (12) Public comments SECTION 10. No member shall speak more than twice on the same subject without permission of the Presiding Officer. SECTION 11. No person, not a member of the council, shall be allowed to address the same while in session without the permission of the Presiding Officer. SECTION 12. Every Officer, whose duty it is to report at the regular meeting of the Council, who shall be in default thereof, may be fined at the discretion of the Council. Ordinance No. 1225 Page -3- SECTION 13. Motions shall be reduced to writing when required by the Presiding Officer of the Council or any member of same. All Resolutions and Ordinances shall and any amendments thereto shall be in writing at the time of introduction. SECTION 14. Motions to reconsider must be by a member who voted with the majority, and at the same or next succeeding meeting. SECTION 15. Whenever it shall be required by one or more members, the "ayes" and "nays" shall be recorded; and any member may call for a division on any question. SECTION 16. All questions of order shall be decided by the Presiding Officer with the right of appeal to the Council by any member. SECTION 17. The Presiding Officer of the Council may, at his or her discretion, call any member to take the chair, to allow him or her to address the Council, make a motion, or discuss any other matter at issue. SECTION 18. An election for Council President and Council Pro Tempore will be held each October and/or at the pleasure of the City Council SECTION 19. Motions to lay any matter on the table shall be first in order; and on all questions - the last amendment, the most distant day, and the largest sum shall be first put. SECTION 20. A motion for adjournment shall always be in order. SECTION 21. The rules of the Council may be altered, amended, or temporarily suspended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. SECTION 22. The chairman of each respective committee, or a Councilmember acting for him/her, shall submit or make all reports to the Council when so requested by the Presiding Officer or any member of the Council. Ordinance No. 1225 Page -4- SECTION 23. All ordinances, resolutions or propositions submitted to the Council which require the expenditure of money shall lie over until the next regular meeting; provided however that such ordinances, resolutions or propositions may be considered earlier by unanimous consent of the Council; and provided further that this rule shall not apply to the current expenses of, or contracts previously made with, or regular salaries of Officers or wages of employees of the City. SECTION 24. The City Clerk, Building Official, City Attorney, Chief of Police, Superintendent of Utilities, and such other officers or employees of the City shall remain in the council chamber for such length of time as the Council may direct. SECTION 25. No ordinance or resolution of a permanent nature shall be adopted at the meeting at which it is introduced unless unanimous consent be obtained for its immediate consideration; such consent shall be by roll call and the vote spread upon the minutes. SECTION 26. Robert's Rules of Order is hereby adopted as the rules of procedure for this Council in those situations which cannot be resolved by the rules set out in this ordinance. SECTION 27. This ordinance shall go into effect upon its due adoption and publication as required by law. SECTION 28. If any section or sections of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional, all remaining sections shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 29. This ordinance replaces and supersedes all previous ordinances in conflict therewith. ADOPTED THIS 4th DAY OF October , 2004.