(A) Who presides. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council. In the absence of the Mayor, the Acting Mayor shall preside. In the absence of both, the Clerk-Treasurer shall call the meeting to order and shall preside until the Council members present at the meeting choose 1 of their number to act temporarily as presiding officer.
(B) Procedure. The presiding officer shall preserve order, enforce the rules of procedure herein prescribed, and determine without debate, subject to the final decision of the Council on appeal, all questions of procedure and order. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by these rules, the proceedings of the Council shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.
(C) Appeal procedure. Any member may appeal to the Council from a ruling of the presiding officer. If the appeal is seconded, the members may speak once solely on the question involved and the presiding officer may explain his or her ruling, but no other Council member shall participate in the discussion. The appeal shall be sustained if it is approved by a majority of the members present, exclusive of the presiding officer.
(D) Rights of the presiding officer. Whenever the presiding officer desires to speak on a question or second any motion, he or she shall not vacate the chair. To make any motion, he or she shall vacate the chair, designate the Acting Mayor or, in his or her absence, some other Council member to preside temporarily, and shall not, resume the chair until the matter under consideration has been acted upon by the Council.
(E) Attendance.
(1) Penalties for absences of elected Council members may be imposed for non-justified absences by a deduction of 1/2 of the monthly meeting salary.
(2) Failure to participate in Council activities for 3 months is sufficient grounds to declare abandonment of office. A vacancy may be declared by Council when the office holder is unable to serve in the office or attend Council meetings for 90 days because of illness; or because of absence from or refusal to attend Council meetings for a 90-day period.
(3) The Council may, after declaring a vacancy exists, fill the vacancy at a regular or special Council meeting for the remainder of the unexpired term, or until the person is again able to resume duties and attend Council meetings. If the person is able to resume duties, the Council shall by resolution remove the temporary office holder and restore the original office holder.
(Ord. 190, passed 4-21-1997)