(a) Council shall be presided over by the Mayor or in his absence the Recorder. In the absence of the Mayor and Recorder, the Councilmembers shall select from among themselves by a majority vote one Councilmember who shall preside over the meeting.
(b) The Mayor and Recorder shall have votes as members of Council. The Councilmembers shall also have one vote each on each question passed upon by Council. In the event of a tie, the presiding officer shall have the deciding vote if he has not previously voted.
(c) A quorum of Council shall consist of a majority of the members thereof, however, such majority must consist of at least three councilmembers other than the Mayor and Recorder.
(d) The presiding officer shall take the chair at the appointed hour and as soon as a quorum is present, call the meeting to order, and preserve order during the meeting.
(e) The business before Council shall be taken up in the following order:
(1) Reading of minutes.
(2) Petitions and request of citizens.
(3) Accounts.
(4) Reports of committees.
(5) Ordinances.
(6) Prior business and other business.
(f) The minutes of the previous meeting shall be read, corrected if need be and signed by the Mayor and Recorder.
(g) The ordinary rules of parlimentary practice shall govern the proceedings before Council when not contrary to law.
(h) All points of order shall be decided by the presiding officer, subject to an appeal to Council upon demand of two or more members.
(i) The motions shall be reduced to writing when demanded by the Mayor or any two councilmembers.
(j) The following standing committees shall be appointed by the Mayor:
(1) Committee on Ordinances, Petitions and Remonstrations.
(2) Committee on Streets, Alleys and Sidewalks.
(3) Committee on Traffic and Safety.
(4) Committee on Water and Sewer, Health and Welfare.
(5) Committee on Accounts and Finances.
(6) Committee on Fire Prevention and Parking Meters.
(7) Committee on Recreation.
(8) Committee on Employee Interviews. (5-4-99; 11-6-08)
(k) Council shall be the legislative body for the City and as such shall exercise all powers conferred upon it under the laws of the State.
(1960 Code 3-205 to 3-215)
(l) In the event that the Mayor shall be determined to be temporarily incapacitated by a majority vote of the Common Council, the Common Council shall, by resolution, appoint the Recorder to perform all acts and duties which the Mayor is obligated and authorized to perform by law, including but not limited to the obligations, acts and duties of the Mayor as set forth in the West Virginia Code, in the Charter of the City of Ripley, in the Codified Ordinances of the City of Ripley and in the resolutions passed by the Common Council, for as long as said temporary incapacity shall exist. When, by a majority vote, the Common Council has determined that the Mayor is no longer subject to said temporary incapacity, the Common Council shall, by resolution, rescind said appointment.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if the Mayor shall, in writing, advise the Common Council that he is not incapacitated and is capable of fulfilling his duties as Mayor, any appointment of the Recorder to temporarily fulfill the duties of Mayor which has been previously made by the Common Council shall be promptly rescinded and declared null and void.
(3-18-03)