(a) The President of Council, or, in his or her absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at all Council meetings. If both the President and Vice-President are absent, and a quorum is present, the members shall elect among themselves one to serve as President Pro-Tem for the meeting.
(b) The President (or Presiding Officer) will be in complete charge of the parliamentary procedures of the meeting, and his or her rulings will be binding on the members, unless overruled by an appeal. Further, he or she shall enforce the rules adopted for governing the Council and the procedures contained therein.
(c) No member of Council may speak more than twice on the same measure or subject, unless the number of times is extended by the President or Presiding Officer. When a member has spoken once on a measure or subject, he or she may not speak again until all other members who desire to speak have been given an opportunity to do so. Instructions shall be given to visitors by the Presiding Officer pertaining to their participation at their allotted time.
(d) Any member of Council, the Mayor, Secretary/Treasurer, the Solicitor, the Manager and visitors, who desire to address the Council, must be recognized by the Presiding Officer before speaking, and may stand if he or she desires.
(e) During debate or discussions, all remarks shall be addressed to the Chair, and not to another member or members of Council. Reference to another member or members should be made in a courteous manner and derogatory remarks and references shall be prohibited.
(f) A complete and full copy of any ordinance to be adopted shall be forwarded to Council at least five days prior to the date and time such ordinance is to be adopted by the Council. The signature page, or last page, of each ordinance, shall have the following statement printed thereon and the signature of the Solicitor:
"Reviewed and approved as to form this ___________________day of___________________, 19___.
Borough Solicitor
(g) When an ordinance is to be presented to Council for adoption at a meeting, the Solicitor shall have prepared a brief summary or synopsis of the ordinance. The title of the ordinance and the brief summary as prepared by the Solicitor shall be read by the Borough Secretary/Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer Pro-Tem, in moving for adoption.
(h) When a resolution is to be presented to Council at a meeting for approval, the brief summary of the resolution prepared by the Secretary/Treasurer and/or the Solicitor shall be read by the Secretary/Treasurer and/or the Secretary/Treasurer Pro-Tem and acted upon by Council.
(i) All votes on ordinances and resolutions shall be by roll call, and the votes of each member shall be recorded in the minutes. Other votes may be taken by voice vote of yeas and nays unless a member requests a roll call vote. All votes shall be recorded.
(j) A motion to be acted upon by Council shall be read by the Borough Secretary/Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer Pro-Tem.
(k) All communications addressed to Council or the Council President shall be read by the Borough Secretary/Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer Pro-Tem under communications.
(l) Reports from supervisors, department heads and other lengthy, detailed reports should not be read in their entirety, but a copy shall be furnished to all members of Council and the Borough Secretary/Treasurer, the Borough Manager and the Chairperson of the appropriate committee, prior to the Council meeting.
(m) All roll call votes shall be made by calling the names of Council members, in alphabetical order, with the exception of the Council President, who shall vote last.
(Res. 1990-11. Passed 3-12-90; Ord. 2571. Passed 4-20-20.)
(n) For the purpose of filling vacancies on boards, commissions and authorities, Council shall consider only those persons whose applications have been received in writing before the Council meeting, at which time such applications are to be considered for a vote.
(Ord. 2243. Passed 11-16-98.)