(A) Form of ordinances and resolutions. All ordinances and resolutions shall be in writing, with a copy provided to each member of the Council and the Town Clerk. If a proposed ordinance or resolution is amended by Council during the meeting at which it is approved, the Town Clerk shall record the amendments and read the amended provisions back to Council prior to the final vote.
(B) All ordinances shall be introduced in one Town Council or study session meeting with presentation by the staff and discussion by Council and input from the public but not voted on during that presentation. All ordinances shall then return to a subsequent regular Town Council meeting for discussion, consideration, and the adopting vote, if any. This two-part process shall be required for ordinances that are to be codified, are repealing existing ordinances, supplementing existing ordinances, or modifying existing ordinances.
(C) Record of vote. For any resolution or ordinance approved by Council, the Town Clerk shall record the yeas, nays and abstentions. If the Council approves extensive or complicated amendments to a proposed ordinance or resolution, the Town Clerk shall prepare a revised version as approved by Council, and obtain the Mayor's signature as soon as practicable.
(D) Effective date. No ordinance, resolution or franchise shall become operative until 30 days after its passage by the Council and signature by the Mayor, except emergency measures necessary for the immediate preservation of the peace, health, or safety of the town.
(E) Votes required for approval. All ordinances and resolutions, except emergency ordinances and resolutions, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all Councilmembers present at any regular or special Council meeting in order to become effective. Emergency ordinances and resolutions shall require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of all the members of the Council. No ordinance shall be passed unless all Councilmembers present at the meeting are in possession of copies of such ordinance.
(Am. Ord. 12-91, passed 6-12-2012; Am. Ord. 15-116, passed 9-15-2015; Am. Ord. 21-158, passed 1-19-2021)