(a) Organizational Meeting. The Council shall meet at the Council Chambers not later than the first Monday of January following each regular municipal election for the purpose of organization.
(b) Place of Meetings. All meetings of the Council shall be held in the Council Chambers unless otherwise ordered by Council. The large chamber in the Newton Falls Municipal Building shall be the “Council Chambers”.
(c) Officers. The Mayor shall be the presiding officer of Council. A Vice-President of the Council shall be elected by the Council members from the membership of the Council. The Vice-President of the Council shall assume the role of presiding officer of the Council in the absence of the Mayor.
(d) Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Council shall be held on the first and third Wednesday of each calendar month at 6:00 p.m. local time. During the months of July and August Council may, at its discretion, dispense with one of the regularly scheduled monthly Council meetings. Regular meeting dates that are in conflict with other activities, such as legal holidays, may be changed by the Council at a previous meeting. Council shall designate the time and/or date of the meeting change.
(e) Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor, Vice-President of Council or any two members of Council. There shall be given at least twenty-four hours notice in writing of such special meeting, served personally on each member of Council or at his usual place of residence. Such notice shall state the subject or subjects to be considered at the meeting and no other subject shall be considered.
(f) Emergency Meetings. Emergency meetings may be called by the Mayor or Vice-President of Council with at least ten hours notice in writing to all members.
(g) Quorum. A majority of the members of Council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution.
(h) Meetings to be Public. All meetings of the Council, whether regular or special, shall be open to the public.
(i) Second Readings of Ordinances and Public Hearings. At the time and place so advertised, or at any time and place to which such hearing shall from time to time be adjourned, such ordinance shall be read by title only and after such reading all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Upon the completion of the public hearing, Council shall make a determination regarding the ordinance. Council may pass an ordinance which includes an amendment, except that if such amendment constitutes a change of substance, Council shall not pass the ordinance until it shall have caused the amended title to be published at least once, together with notice of the time and place when and where such amended ordinance will be further considered, which publication shall be at least three days prior to the time stated. At the time so advertised or any time and place to which such meeting shall be adjourned, the amended ordinance shall be read by title only and a public hearing thereon shall be held, and after such hearing the governing body may finally pass such amended ordinance, or again amend it, subject to the conditions above. The second passage of any ordinance pursuant to this section shall be final and no further passage shall be required.
(j) Journal of Council Proceedings. The journal of Council proceedings shall be open for public inspection during the regular hours of City Hall operation.
(Res. 3865. Passed 1-21-85; Ord. 2021-10. Passed 8-16-21; Ord. 2023-03. Passed 2-15-23.)