(A) Quorum. A majority of all the elected members of the Town Council constitutes a quorum.
(`92 Code, § 3-6)
(B) When majority vote required. A majority vote of the Town Council is required to pass an ordinance unless a greater vote is required by statute. A majority vote means at least a majority vote of all the elected members.
(`92 Code, § 3-7)
(C) When 2/3 vote required. A two-thirds (2/3) vote, with unanimous consent of the members present, is required to pass an ordinance on the same day or at the same meeting at which it is introduced. A two-thirds (2/3) vote means at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the elected members. A two-thirds (2/3) vote does not apply to a zoning ordinance, an amendment to a zoning ordinance, or an ordinance to increase the number of town legislative body members unless the ordinance also establishes new legislative body districts.
(`92 Code, § 3-8)
(D) Town Clerk-Treasurer authorized to break ties. The Town Clerk-Treasurer is the Clerk of the Town Council. Whenever there is a tie vote for any particular issue, the Clerk-Treasurer is an ex-officio member for the purpose of casting the deciding vote to break a tie.
(`92 Code, § 3-9)
(E) When ordinance takes effect. An ordinance, order, or resolution passed by the Town Council becomes effective when signed by the President of the Town Council, or the Vice-President, if required, and attested to by the Clerk-Treasurer, unless the ordinance, order, or resolution by its own terms establishes the date upon which it takes effect. If required by statute, an adopted ordinance, order, or resolution must be promulgated or published before it takes effect.
(`92 Code, § 3-10)
(F) Regular and special meetings of the Town Council.
(1) The regular meetings of the Town Council shall be held at the Town Hall or at any other facility within the Town which may adequately facilitate the Council meeting and for which the location has been legally publicized, at any reasonable hour of the day or evening (the hour, if not the usual ordinarily appointed one, having been previously agreed upon by the majority of the Council, and the Clerk-Treasurer duly and promptly notified thereof), provided that in all cases where a special meeting or other meeting is called, at least forty-eight (48) hours written notice shall be given to the Town Council, Clerk-Treasurer, and the public, pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5.
(2) Special or called meetings may be called by the President of the Council, or in his absence, sickness, inability or refusal to make the call, by the Vice-President of the Council, and in his absence, sickness, inability or refusal to make the call, then by a majority of the Council when deemed necessary. The President and Vice-President may, by verbal notice at the public meeting, when all members of the Council are present, call a special meeting of the Council, and in all cases where the provisions of state statutes regulating the calling of the special meeting do not forbid that action by prescribing differently. In all cases where provisions of the statute prescribe the method of the call, the provisions must be strictly followed.
(3) Executive sessions shall be conducted in strict compliance with I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1.
(`92 Code, § 3-11)
(G) Rules of order. The most recent version of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Town Council, unless ordinance or statute provide otherwise.
(`92 Code, § 3-14)
(Ord. 90-28, passed 10-11-90; Am. Ord. 2004-37, passed 12-9-04; Am. Ord. 2016-23, passed 10-13-16)
Statutory reference:
Council quorum, see I.C. 36-5-2-9.2
Votes of the Council, see I.C. 36-5-2-9.8
Clerk-Treasurer to vote in case of a tie, see I.C. 36-5-2-8
Majority vote to pass ordinance, see I.C. 36-5-2-9.6
Adoption, amendment, or repeal of ordinance, order or resolution, see I.C. 36-5-2-10
Indiana Public Meetings (Open Door) Law, see I.C. 5-14-1.5-1 et seq.