(A) The Mayor. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council. In the absence of the Mayor, the acting Mayor shall preside. In the absence of both, the Clerk shall call the meeting to order and shall preside until the Council members present at the meeting choose one of their number to act temporarily as presiding officer.
(B) Duties. The presiding officer shall preserve order, enforce the rules of procedure herein prescribed and determine, without debate, subject to the final decision of the Council on appeal, all questions of procedure and order. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by these rules, the proceedings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.
(C) Appeals from Chair. Any member may appeal to the Council from a ruling of the presiding officer. If the appeal is seconded, the member may speak once solely on the question involved, and the presiding officer may explain his or her ruling, but no other Council member shall participate in the discussion. The appeal shall be sustained if it is approved by the majority of the members present exclusive of the presiding officer.
(D) Participation. The Mayor or such other members of the Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the Chair. The presiding officer shall not be deprived of any of the privileges of a Council member by reason of his or her acting as the presiding officer.
(1978 Code, § 201.02)