(A) Ordinances shall be of three distinct classes: appropriation ordinances; special ordinances pertaining to special matters; and general ordinances relating to the government of the town. The Clerk- Treasurer shall keep each class of ordinances in distinct files, according to the number of their readings, shall give each ordinance of each class a distinct number in the order of its introduction and shall place the files on his or her desk at the opening of each meeting. However, no ordinance shall be presented to the Council unless the ordinance has been placed in the hands of the Clerk-Treasurer not later than one week before a regular Council meeting.
(B) No ordinance shall be enacted by the Town Council unless it has had three readings, each subsequent reading to occur no sooner than the next regularly-scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called pursuant to the rules of the Town Council following the prior reading. However, the Town Council may suspend all rules and motions to reconsider by a vote of a majority of those present; and any ordinance may, on the suspension of the rules, be enacted at a single meeting by the reading of the title only and by the approval of a majority of the members of the Town Council.
(1) Notwithstanding, no ordinance shall be passed on the same day or at the same meeting that it is introduced, except by unanimous consent, and then only in case there are present and voting at least two- thirds of the members elect of the Town Council.
(2) After a second reading, an ordinance shall not be considered for a third reading until the next regularly-scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called pursuant to the rules of the Council, unless this rule is suspended by unanimous consent, and then only in case there are present and voting at least two-thirds of the members elect of the Council.
(3) Each ordinance shall be read by title only on the third reading. However, on motion duly made, seconded and carried by a majority of the members elect of the Council, the ordinance shall be read through by title and sections on the third reading.
(4) No ordinance shall be passed on the same day or at the same meeting that it is introduced, except by unanimous consent and, then, only in case there are present and voting at least a majority of the members elect of the Council.
(C) An ordinance may be stricken from the files at any time by a vote of two-thirds of all members elect of the Council or by a majority vote after the ordinance has passed the second reading. An ordinance failing to receive a sufficient number of votes on final passage will be considered as lost and stricken from the files.
(D) An amendment to an ordinance may be referred, delayed or otherwise disposed of without delay or prejudice to the ordinance itself.
(E) When an ordinance is passed, it shall be recorded by the Clerk-Treasurer in a book of ordinances and signed by the President or Presiding Officer of the Council and attested by the Clerk- Treasurer, who shall also append thereto the date of the passage by the Council. In the event of an ordinance being passed under the suspension of rules as provided in division (B) above, the ordinance shall be signed by all members of the Council voting for the ordinance and attested by the Clerk-Treasurer who shall also append thereto the date of the passage by the Council.
(F) An ordinance shall not be permitted to be introduced to the Council, except on being presented to the Council by a member of the Council.
(G) No ordinance providing for a penalty to be imposed on any person or persons shall be enacted unless it is published as now required by I.C. 36-5-2-10(b) and 36-5-2-10(c) or unless an emergency is declared in the ordinance.
(Prior Code, § 30.15) (Ord. 5-1957, passed - -1957; Ord. 1-1958, passed 5-7-1958; Ord. 2019-12, passed 12-3-2019)