(a) The Mayor, selected in accordance with the Municipal Charter, shall assume the duties and responsibilities contained therein and shall act as the presiding officer over all Council meetings.
(b) The Vice Mayor, selected in accordance with the Municipal Charter, shall assume the duties and responsibilities contained therein and shall perform the duties of the Mayor in the Mayor's absence, including that of presiding officer over Council meetings.
(c) If both the Mayor and the Vice Mayor are absent from a Council meeting, Council shall select a temporary presiding officer by a majority vote of the members present.
(d) The presiding officer shall preserve decorum and decide all questions of order, subject to appeal to Council by any one of its members. Should any such member transgress the rules of Council set forth in this chapter, the presiding officer shall, or any member may, call him or her to order. In the latter instance, the presiding officer shall render a decision as to the point of order. The presiding officer shall be sustained unless he or she is overruled by a majority vote of the Council members present.
(e) A Council member shall address the presiding officer when requesting permission to speak. The presiding officer shall then declare such member entitled to the floor. All discussion shall be confined to the question under debate. If a member of the audience wishes to address Council, he or she shall request permission therefor from the presiding officer by raising his or her hand.
(Res. 82-05. Passed 6-7-82.)