(A) All Town Council members and the Clerk-Treasurer must:
(1) Perform all duties and responsibilities allowed under the state’s Home Rule, per I.C. 36-1-3-5, and the town’s ordinances;
(2) Keep informed of all town ordinances;
(3) Keep informed of the town’s Personnel Policies Manual;
(4) Fully participate in Council meetings and other public forums while demonstrating respect, consideration, and courtesy to others;
(5) Prepare in advance of Council meetings and be familiar with issues on the agenda;
(6) Stay focused and act efficiently during public meetings;
(7) Participate in scheduled activities to increase team effectiveness and review Council procedures;
(8) Participate in the town’s yearly budget review;
(9) Follow the proper chain of command in regards to management of town employees;
(10) Refrain from disrupting or interfering with the individual actions of town employees, except the Clerk-Treasurer may exercise management over employees in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office;
(11) Not solicit political support from town employees or engage in conduct that violates I.C. 35-44.1;
(12) Demonstrate honesty and integrity in every action and statement;
(13) Inspire public confidence in the town’s government;
(14) Serve as a model of leadership and civility to the community;
(15) Represent the town at ceremonial functions at the request of the Town Council President; and
(16) Attend a “Newly Elected Officials” training seminar, sponsored by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) or similar training conducted by the town officials, at least once per elected term.
(B) (1) The Town Council President:
(a) Shall be elected by the Town Council to serve a one-year term beginning January 1 and ending at the first Council meeting the following January, with no limit upon the number of times a Council member can be elected President of the Council, per I.C. 36-5-2-7, and upon resignation, the Town Council shall elect a President at its next Council meeting;
(b) Is the town’s chief executive officer, per I.C. 36-5-2-2;
(c) May revoke or suspend any license issued by the town if the person holding the license has violated the terms or conditions of the license or of the law under which it was issued, per I.C. 36-5-4-11;
(d) Appoints members to the Planning and Zoning and the Board of Zoning Appeals, per I.C. 36-7-4-207 through 36-7-4-216 and I.C. 36-7-4-902;
(e) Appoints a member to the River Hills Economic Development District with the Town Council approval;
(f) Appoints a safety representative per OSHA rules and regulations;
(g) Reviews and revises the town yearly budget estimate, per I.C. 36-5-3-3;
(h) Signs documents on behalf of the town;
(I) Chairs Council meetings;
(j) Approves the agenda for the Council meetings;
(k) Serves as the highest elected official during declared state-of-emergencies;
(l) Serves as the liaison between the Council and the Clerk-Treasurer, Public Works Director, Town Marshal, Town Attorney and other town officials in regards to employee relations;
(m) Serves as Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee;
(n) Serves as official delegate of the town;
(o) Recommends subcommittees as appropriate for Council approval;
(p) Acts as spokesperson for the town;
(q) Acts as the official head of the town for all ceremonial purposes;
(r) Selects substitutes for town representation when the President cannot attend; and
(s) Leads the Council into an effective, cohesive working team.
(2) The Town Council President will chair official meetings of the Town Council, unless the Vice-President or another Council member is designated as Chair of a specific meeting, per I.C. 36-5-2-7. Duties of the Chair include:
(a) Maintaining order, decorum, and the fair and equitable treatment of all speakers;
(b) Keeps discussion and questions focused on specific agenda item under consideration; and
(c) Makes parliamentary rulings with advice, if requested, from the Town Attorney who acts as an advisory parliamentarian, which rulings may be overturned by a majority of the Council.
(C) The Town Council Vice-President:
(1) Shall be elected by the Town Council to serve a one-year term beginning January 1 and ending at the first Council meeting the following January, with no limit upon the number of times he or she can be elected Vice-President of the Council;
(2) Performs the duties of the President if the President is absent or disabled;
(3) Represents the town at ceremonial functions at the request of the President;
(4) Chairs Council meetings at the request of the President; and
(5) Serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee.
(Ord. G-09-01, passed 1-6-2009)