§ 3. Meetings.  


Latest version.
  • At eleven o'clock A.M. on the day the members of the City Council take office, they shall meet at the City Hall and thereafter all meetings of the Council shall be held in the City Hall at such times as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution; but not less than one regular meeting shall be held each week unless postponed for valid reasons, to be spread on the minutes. Special meetings shall be called by the City Secretary upon the written request of the Mayor or three Council Members.

    All meetings of the Council and of all committees thereof shall be open to the public and the rules of the Council shall provide that citizens of the city shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any such meetings in regard to any matter to be considered, provided that the Council may enact ordinances requiring applications for hearings to be in writing and shall have power to prescribe rules and regulations for such hearings.

    A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members elected, except where the number of members, due to vacancies, is reduced to less than two-thirds of the total number of members elected, in which event a quorum shall consist of all the remaining members; but a less number than a quorum may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance.

    The council shall act only by ordinance, resolution or motion, and all ordinances, resolutions or motions, except ordinances making appropriations, shall be confined to one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in the title, and ordinances making appropriations shall be confined to the subject of appropriation, except that a single ordinance authorizing one or more contracts, agreements or obligations may also make an appropriation of money for the same.

    The ayes and nays shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances, resolutions and motions and entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Council, and every ordinance, resolution, or motion shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members present. No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of his own official conduct, or where his financial interests are involved. (Added by amendment August 15, 1942; amended August 11, 1979, August 14, 1982)