(A) Unless a proposed ordinance addresses the issue of zoning, amendment to zoning, comprehensive plans, increasing number of council members, prescribes or imposes a penalty for violation of said ordinance, raises rates charged by a Town utility, contains provisions for charging a fee or cost or three readings are otherwise required by applicable law, said proposed ordinance may be passed and adopted upon its first presentation to the Town Council if approved by at least four of the existing members of the Town Council.
(B) If a proposed ordinance requires three separate readings by the Town Council previous to passage, then said readings shall be as follows.
(1) First reading. The first reading of a proposed ordinance shall be for information, but may be read by title only, and such title shall clearly set forth the nature of the contents, and the proposed ordinance shall be immediately referred to the proper committee, or may be taken up by the entire Town Council.
(2) Second reading. Every proposed ordinance shall be read through by sections at its second reading and, at such reading, it shall be in order to commit, to amend, to lie upon the table, to postpone or to pass to its third reading by a majority vote of all members. Any proposed ordinance failing to receive a majority vote of all the members at its second reading shall be considered lost. A proposed ordinance may be stricken from the files by a vote of three-fourths of all the members before or after it has passed its second reading.
(3) Third reading. On the third reading of any proposed ordinance, no amendment shall be in order, except by a vote of three-fourths of the members-elect of the Town Council, and in no case shall the reading of any such proposed ordinance by sections be dispensed with on third reading. At any time before the final passage, a proposed ordinance may be re-committed. Failing to receive a majority of the votes of all members present on the third reading, an ordinance is lost and shall be stricken from the files.
(2005 Code, § 4.03) (Ord. 2006-8, passed 11-6-2006)