(a) First Election. At the time of its adoption, this Charter shall be in effect to the extent necessary in order that the first election of members of the City Council may be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. The first election shall be held on the second Tuesday of June next following the adoption of this Charter. The current Council shall prepare and adopt temporary regulations applicable only to the first election and designed to insure its proper conduct and to prevent fraud and provide for recount of ballots in cases of doubt or fraud.
(b) Time of Taking Full Effect. This Charter shall be in full effect for all purposes on and after the date and time of the first meeting of the newly elected Council as provided in subsection (c).
(c) First Council Meeting. On the first Monday of July following the first election of Council members under this Charter, the newly elected members of the Council shall meet at 7:30 PM at the City office:
(1) For the purpose of appointing or considering the appointment of a City Clerk or acting City Clerk, or choosing, if it so desires, one of its members to act as temporary Clerk pending appointment of a City Clerk pursuant to Section 3.07; and
(2) For the purpose of adopting ordinances and resolutions necessary to effect the transition of government under this Charter and to maintain effective City government during that transition.
(d) Temporary Ordinances. In adopting ordinances as provided in subsection (c), the Council shall follow the procedures prescribed in Article III, except that at its first meeting or any meeting held within 60 days thereafter, the Council may adopt temporary ordinances to deal with cases in which there is an urgent need for prompt action in connection with the transition of government and in which the delay incident to the appropriate ordinance procedure would probably cause serious hardship or impairment of effective City government. Every temporary ordinance shall be plainly labeled as such but shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for ordinances generally. A temporary ordinance may be considered and may be adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced. After adoption of a temporary ordinance, the Council shall cause it to be printed and published as prescribed for other adopted ordinances. A temporary ordinance shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time preceding automatic repeal under this subsection as it may specify, and the referendum power shall not extend to any such ordinance. Every temporary ordinance, including any amendments made thereto after adoption, shall automatically stand repealed as of the 91st day following the date on which it was adopted, and it shall not be readopted, renewed or otherwise continued except by adoption in the manner prescribed in Article III for ordinances of the kind concerned.
(e) Initial Expenses. The initial expenses of the Council, including the expenses of recruiting a City Clerk, shall be paid by the City on vouchers signed by the Mayor.
(Amended 11-7-11.)
(f) Salary of Councilmembers. Each member of the Common Council shall receive, as compensation for his or her services, the sum of one hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) for each city government meeting that he or she attends in the capacity as a member of Common Council where written minutes are actually taken of such meeting, and provided further, that no member of Council shall receive compensation for any meeting at which there is not a sufficient number of Council Members present to constitute a quorum and to officially conduct business.
(Amended 11-20-23.)
(g) Salary of the Mayor.
(1) The Mayor of the City of Westover shall receive, as compensation for his/her services, the sum of seventy five thousand dollars ($75,000) annually, effective July 1, 2024.
(2) The annual salary of the Mayor shall remain at this amount until an annual cost of living raise is decided for the employees at budget time and effective the first day of each fiscal year. In order to keep the Mayor’s salary competitive, the position of Mayor will be entitled to these cost of living raises approved by Council in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. (Amended 11-20-23.)
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF WESTOVER