GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 32.01 MEMBERS; ELECTION, QUALIFICATIONS, COMPENSATION.

   (A)   Election; term of office.

      (1)   Each City Council member shall be elected at large by the voters of the city at a regular election.

      (2)   Terms of office begin on the first day of January following the election and shall be for two years.

   (B)   Qualifications. A member shall be at least 21 years of age, shall be a qualified voter in the city and shall reside in the city throughout his or her term of office.

(KRS 83A.040(4))

   (C)   Compensation. The salary of each City Council member of the city, retroactive to January 1, 2011, is now established at the sum of $5,400 per year.

(Prior Code, § 32.01) (Ord. 383, passed 9-6-1977; Ord. 614, passed 4-6-1999; Ord. 710, passed 9-24-2012)

§ 32.02 VACANCIES.

   (A)   Vacancies. If one or more vacancies on the City Council occur in a way that one or more members remain seated, the remaining members shall within 30 days fill the vacancies one at a time, giving each new appointee reasonable notice of his or her selection as will enable him or her to meet and act with the remaining members in making further appointments until all vacancies are filled. If vacancies occur in a way that all seats become vacant, the Governor shall appoint qualified persons to fill the vacancies sufficient to constitute a quorum. Remaining vacancies are filled as provided in this section.

(KRS 83A.040(5))

      (1)    No vacancy by reason of voluntary resignation of a member of the City Council shall occur unless a written resignation which specifies a resignation date is tendered to the City Council. The resignation may be submitted through electronic mail if it originates from the Council member’s electronic mail address and includes also the Council member’s handwritten signature. The resignation shall be effective at the next regular or special meeting of the City Council occurring on or after the date specified in the written letter of resignation. If a resignation date is not specified, the written resignation shall be deemed to become effective at the first regular or special meeting of the City Council occurring on or after its receipt.

(KRS 83A.040(7))

      (2)   If a vacancy occurs on the City Council which is required by law to be filled temporarily by appointment, the City Council shall immediately notify in writing both the County Clerk and the Secretary of State of the vacancy.

(KRS 83A.040(8))

   (B)   Failure to fill vacancies. If for any reason, any vacancy on the City Council is not filled within 30 days after it occurs, the Governor shall promptly fill the vacancy by appointment of a qualified person who shall serve for the same period as if otherwise appointed.

(KRS 83A.040(6))

(Prior Code, § 32.02)

Statutory reference:

   Filling of vacancies for nonpartisan city office, see KRS 83A.175

§ 32.03 POWERS AND DUTIES.

   (A)   (1)   The legislative authority of the city is hereby vested in and shall be exercised by the elected Council of the city.

      (2)   The City Council may not perform any executive functions except those functions assigned to it by statute.

(KRS 83A.130(11))

   (B)   The City Council shall establish all appointive offices and the duties and responsibilities of those offices and codes, rules and regulations for the public health, safety and welfare.

(KRS 83A.130(12))

   (C)   The City Council shall provide, by ordinance, for sufficient revenue to operate city government and shall appropriate the funds of the city in a budget which provides for the orderly management of city resources.

(KRS 83A.130(12))

   (D)   (1)   The City Council may investigate all activities of city government.

      (2)   The City Council may require any city officer or employee to prepare and submit to it sworn statements regarding the performance of his or her official duties.

      (3)   Any statement required by the City Council to be submitted or any investigation undertaken by the City Council, if any office, department or agency under the jurisdiction of the Mayor is involved, shall not be submitted or undertaken unless and until written notice of the City Council’s action is given to the Mayor.

      (4)   The Mayor may review any statement before submission to the City Council and to appear personally or through his or her designee on behalf of any department, office or agency in the course of any investigation.

(KRS 83A.130(13))

(Prior Code, § 32.03)

RULES OF PROCEDURE

§ 32.15 MAYOR AS PRESIDING OFFICER.

   (A)   The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the City Council. In the absence of the Mayor at any meeting of the City Council, the City Council members present may elect a Mayor Pro Tem for that meeting.

   (B)   The Mayor may participate in City Council proceedings, but shall not have a vote, except that he or she may cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.

(KRS 83A.130(5)) (Prior Code, § 32.20) (Ord. 425, passed 4-26-1982)

§ 32.16 MEETINGS.

   (A)   The City Council shall hold regular meetings once each month on the second Thursday of each month; provided, however, that whenever the second Thursday of each month falls on a legal holiday, then the regular meeting for that month shall be held on the ensuing Thursday which is secular day, or if such Thursday is also a holiday, then on the ensuing Thursday.

      (1)   The City Council shall conduct its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. prevailing time on the day and the place provided herein.

      (2)   The regular meeting place at which said City Council shall hold its meetings shall be at the City Hall, 220 South Main Street, in the city.

   (B)   Special meetings of said City Council may be called at any time by the Mayor or by four members of the City Council, by written notice delivered at least 24 hours prior to the time specified for the proposed meeting, to each member, to the Mayor, to each local newspaper of the general circulation, to each news service and to each local radio or television station which has on file with the City Council a written request to be notified of special meetings of said City Council, in accordance with KRS 61.805 through 61.991.

   (C)   At a special meeting no business may be considered other than that set forth in the designation of purpose.

   (D)   The minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the person responsible for maintaining city records as provided under § 31.31 of this code and by the officer presiding at the meeting.

(KRS 83A.130(11)) (Prior Code, § 32.21) (Ord. 380, passed 6-21-1977; Ord. 567, passed 8-2-1994; Ord. 763, passed 4-2-2019; Ord. 771, passed 2-1-2022)