Ordinances or resolutions shall go into immediate effect if they provide for: appropriations for current expenses of the Municipality; or street and utility improvements petitioned for by the owners of a majority of the feet front of the property benefitted and to be especially assessed for the cost thereof; or emergency ordinances or measures necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety in the Municipality. Such emergency ordinances or measures shall contain a statement of the specific reasons for such necessity in a separate section of the ordinance or other measure. Every such emergency measure or ordinance shall require an affirmative vote of at least six (6) members of the Council for its enactment if seven (7) are present, or an affirmative vote of at least five (5) members if only five (5) or six (6) are present; the affirmative vote of four (4) members or less shall not be sufficient to enact an emergency measure or ordinance regardless of the number of members present at a Council meeting. If such an emergency measure fails to receive the necessary affirmative votes but receives a necessary majority for adoption or passage as a regular measure, it shall be considered adopted or passed as a regular measure.
No action of the Council in authorizing the surrender of any of its powers or in granting any franchise, or in contracting for the supply to the Municipality or its inhabitants of the product or service of any utility, whether Municipally owned or not, or any ordinance referring to zoning or building codes or other regulations controlling the use or development of land, shall be taken as an emergency measure.
(Amended 11-8-05; 11-3-15; 11-3-20)