(a) Form. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and in the form required for final adoption. No ordinance shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title. The enacting clause shall be "The City of Elkins hereby ordains ... ". Any ordinance which repeals or amends an existing ordinance or part of the City code shall set out in full the ordinance, sections or subsections to be repealed or amended, and shall indicate matter to be omitted by enclosing it in brackets or by strikeout type and shall indicate new matter by underscoring or by italics.
(b) Procedure. Ordinances shall be adopted in accordance with the following requirements, except where different or additional requirements are specified by law, in which event such other different or additional requirements shall be applicable. The Council may by ordinance specify other additional requirements for the enactment of ordinances or may prescribe a procedure for the enactment of ordinances in greater detail than prescribed by this Charter, but the Council shall not, except in an emergency as specified in this Charter or as otherwise provided by law, lessen or reduce the requirements of this Charter.
(1) An ordinance may be introduced by the Mayor or any Member at any regular or special meeting of the Council. Upon introduction of any ordinance, the City Clerk shall distribute a copy to the Mayor and each Council Member and shall maintain electronic and written copies to be made readily available to the public.
(2) A proposed ordinance shall be read by title at two meetings of Council, unless a member or a City resident demands that the ordinance be read in full, or in part, at one or both meetings. If such demand is made, the ordinance shall be read as demanded.
(3) At least five days before the meeting at which a proposed ordinance, the principal object of which is the raising of revenue for the municipality, is to be finally adopted, the Council shall cause notice of the proposed ordinance to be published as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three chapter fifty-nine of the West Virginia Code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the municipality. The notice shall state the subject matter and the general title or titles of such proposed ordinance; the date, time, and place of the proposed final vote on adoption; and the place or places within the City or on-line where such proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public. A reasonable number of copies of the proposed ordinance shall be kept at such place or places and be made available for public inspection. Said notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.
(4) The affirmative public vote of a quorum of Council shall be required for the adoption of an ordinance.
(5) A proposed ordinance shall not be materially amended at the same meeting at which finally adopted. Upon challenge, a majority vote of Council shall determine whether a proposed amendment substantially amends the purpose or effect of the proposed ordinance. If so finding, the Mayor or other presiding officer shall disallow Council action on the proposed amendment.
(c) The Council may adopt, by ordinance, standard building codes, housing codes, plumbing codes, sanitary codes, electrical codes, fire prevention codes, or any other code of technical regulations dealing with general public health, safety or welfare, or a combination of the same, or a comprehensive code of ordinances. Before any such ordinance shall be adopted, the proposed code shall be presented in a readable form to the Council at a regular meeting, and copies of such code shall be made available for public inspection. The ordinance adopting such code shall not set out said code in full but shall merely identify the same. The vote on adoption of said ordinance shall be the same as on any other ordinance. After adoption, such code or codes shall be filed as a permanent record in the office of the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall not be required to transcribe and record the same in the ordinance book as other ordinances are transcribed and recorded. It shall not be necessary that any such ordinance, either as proposed or after adoption, be published in any newspaper, and it shall not be necessary that the code itself be so published.