(A) Regular meetings. The Council shall fix the time and place for its regular meetings in accordance with the requirements of the North Carolina General Statutes. The regular meeting schedule shall be published in accordance with the North Carolina General Statutes. The regular meeting schedule may be amended from time to time by the Council by action taken at any meeting of the Council.
(B) Special meetings.
(1) The Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore or any 2 members of the Council may at any time call a special meeting of the Council by signing a notice stating the time and place of the meeting and the subjects to be considered.
(2) At least 48 hours before a special meeting is called in this manner, written notice of the meeting stating its time and place and the subjects to be considered shall be:
(a) Delivered to the Mayor and each Council member or left at the usual dwelling place of each Council member;
(b) Posted on the Council's principal bulletin board, or if none, at the door of the Council's usual meeting room; and
(c) Mailed or delivered to each newspaper, wire service, radio station, television station and person who has filed a written request for notice with the Town Clerk.
(3) Only those items of business specified in the notice may be transacted at a special meeting, unless all Council members are present or those who are not present have signed waivers.
(C) Emergency meetings.
(1) The Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore or any 2 members of the Council may at any time call a special meeting of the Council by signing a notice stating the time and place of the meeting and the subjects to be considered.
(2) If a special meeting is called to deal with an unexpected circumstance requiring immediate consideration, the notice requirements of this section do not apply. However, the person or persons calling an emergency meeting shall take reasonable action to inform the other members and the public of the meeting at least 6 hours before the meeting.
(3) Local news organizations having requested notice of special meetings as provided in division (E) below shall be notified of the emergency meetings by the same method used to notify Town Council members. Only business connected with the emergency may be discussed at the meeting.
(D) Work sessions and informal meetings.
(1) The Council may schedule work sessions, committee meetings or other informal meetings of the Council or of a majority of its members at times and concerning subjects as may be established by resolution or order of the Town Council.
(2) A schedule of any like meetings held regularly shall be filed in the same place and manner as the schedule of regular meetings. Work sessions and other informal official meetings not held regularly are subject to the same notice requirements as special Town Council meetings.
(E) Sunshine list. Any individual and any newspaper, wire service, radio station and television station may file a written request with the town clerk for notice of all regular and special meetings of the Council. Requests by individuals and news organizations must be renewed annually by December 31.
(Ord. 04-04, passed 4-7-2004; Am. Ord. 23-13, passed 10-4-2023)