(a) President Pro Tem. At the regular meeting in January of each year, Council shall immediately proceed to elect a President Pro Tem from its own number, who shall serve until the first meeting in January next after his or her election as President Pro Tem. If the President Pro Tem should succeed to the office of Mayor, then Council shall fill the vacancy thus created in accordance with subsection (f) hereof and thereafter elect another President Pro Tem from its own number, who shall have the same rights, powers and duties as his or her predecessor.
(b) Addressing Chair. Members, when about to speak to a question or make a motion, shall address the Chair as "Mayor", "President" or "Chairperson", who shall announce the name of the member of Council entitled to the floor by addressing him or her as "Councilperson ______________________________".
(c) Debate. Members shall confine themselves to the questions under debate. No member shall be allowed to speak more than once upon any one subject until every member choosing to speak has spoken, nor more than twice upon the same subject, nor for a time longer than five minutes, without leave of Council authorized by a majority vote of the members present. On demand of any member, a question under consideration, which covers two or more points, shall be divided where the question admits of such division.
(d) Seating Arrangement. The Clerk, Treasurer and Solicitor shall occupy such seats in the Council Chamber as decided by the Chair. Remaining seats in the Council Chamber shall be occupied by preference of the members having the greater length of continuous service as members of Council, provided, however, that in any case the President Pro Tem shall have first preference. In case more than one member have the same continuous service and desire the same Chair, the choice shall be decided by lot.
(e) Clerk's Absence. In case of the absence of the Clerk from any Council meeting, Council shall appoint one of its own members to perform the duties of the Clerk at such meeting.
(f) Vacancy. When the office of a member of Council becomes vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by election by a majority vote of all members elected to Council, for the unexpired term, provided, however, that if Council fails within 45 days to fill such vacancy, the Mayor shall fill it by appointment within 15 days, or the cycle repeats. Letters of interest may be completed and submitted to Council by residents who are interested in the open Council position. All letters of interest will be open for public viewing. Unsuccessful candidates from the last election for Council shall be given consideration.
(g) Legal Advice. The Solicitor shall be permitted to address Council at any time on any question or matter then pending or to be considered by Council regarding the legal considerations involved therein. This privilege shall not be subject to amendment except by the unanimous vote of all members elected to Council.
(h) Legislation. No ordinance or resolution, except that of a routine or repetitive nature, shall be prepared by the Solicitor unless requested by three members of Council or by the Mayor.
Any ordinance or resolution may be referred to committee by motion, duly adopted by majority vote, and such reference shall indicate the date by which the committee shall report back to Council. Failure of the committee to report by such date shall be considered as if reported back without recommendation, unless the time for report is extended by Council. If no such extension is granted, the ordinance or resolution shall take its appropriate place on the calendar.
Where an ordinance or resolution is properly a subject for principal consideration by more than one committee, it shall be referred to each committee, or to any of such committees, as shall be determined by a majority vote of Council.
(i) Awards and Citations. Motions directed toward the preparation of resolutions of appreciation or congratulations, or any discussion in connection therewith, shall be advanced in a meeting of Council resolved as a Committee of the Whole.
(Res 1974-9. Passed 2-19-74; Ord. 2010-23. Passed 6-15-10.)