(A) The Council has the inherent right to make and enforce its own rules and to ensure compliance with those laws generally applicable to public bodies, Council members who repeatedly do not follow these rules may be reprimanded or formally censured by the Council and/or by suspended or terminated from their positions on city boards, committees, commissions and task forces. Serious infractions may also lead to other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the Council and authorized by law.
(B) To exercises such inherent right, the Council has the right to investigate the actions of any Council member. Such investigation shall be referred to the Council as a whole in executive session to discuss any evidence or finding that reasonable grounds exist that a substantial violation or repeated violation has occurred. Under ORS 192.660(2)(b), an individual has the right to request an open meeting.
(C) No individual Council member shall have the right to make public any information obtained through such investigation, unless individual has requested it to be an open meeting.
(D) If the offenses continue, then the matter should be brought to the attention of the Mayor in private. If the Mayor is the individual whose actions are being challenged, then the matter should be referred to the Mayor Pro Tem.
(E) It is the responsibility of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem to initiate action if a Council member’s behavior may warrant sanction. If no action is taken by the Mayor, the alleged violation can be brought up with the full Council in a public meeting.
(F) Any Council member has the right to interrupt a speaker and raise a “point of order” during a meeting if he or she believes that a Council rule is being violated. When raising a “point of order”, the Council member states what rule or order has been violated or not enforced by the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer has the responsibility of determining if the point is valid or not.
(Ord. 2007-01, passed 4-5-2007)