There shall be a Council of seven (7) members elected at large by the qualified voters of the City of Latrobe. One of the seven (7) members shall be an elected Mayor as provided for in Article VII.
The terms of councilmembers shall be four (4) years, commencing
at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of January following the year in
which they are elected, except that a councilmember appointed to fill
a vacancy shall serve only for the balance of the unexpired term.
The election of Council shall be held on the general municipal
election day as established from time to time by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania commencing in the year 1997. The first election under
this Charter three (3) councilmembers and a Mayor shall be elected.
In the year 1999 three (3) councilmembers shall be elected. In subsequent
elections councilmembers shall be elected for four (4) year terms
to fill expired terms.
It is the intent to provide for the election of council in such
a manner that all existing councilmembers shall serve out the full
term for which they were elected. The six (6) councilmembers elected
in 1995 by wards shall continue to serve. However, upon resignation,
death or other reasons preventing completion of said term, the position
shall remain vacant.
The procedure for nomination and election of councilmembers
shall be established by general laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
for municipal elections.
Each of the six (6) councilmembers shall receive a salary at
the rate of Eighteen Hundred ($1,800.00) dollars per annum payable
monthly or such other sum as the council may from time to time ordain;
provided, however, that no ordinance increasing such salary shall
become effective for at least four (4) years after the effective date
of this Charter. No such increase in salary, however, shall become
effective until the date of commencement of the terms of councilmembers
elected at the next regular election after such salary increase, provided
that such election follows the adoption of such ordinance by at least
six (6) months. Councilmembers shall receive no other compensation,
direct or indirect, for the performance of their duties; they shall
receive no pensions, insurance or other forms of fringe benefits.
They shall, however, be entitled to their actual expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties.
A councilmember shall be a qualified registered voter in the
City of Latrobe as established by the general laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania for municipal elections and shall be a resident of
the City of Latrobe.
All councilmanic authority shall be asserted by the councilmanic
body only. No individual councilmember shall have any authority whatsoever
under this Charter unless such authority is specifically delegated
by the Charter or by the Council acting as a body.
A councilmember shall not hold any other compensated City Office
or City Employment during the term of office or for a period of six
(6) months after vacating of said office.
A council office shall become vacant upon death, resignation,
removal from office in any manner authorized by law or this Charter,
or forfeiture of his office, or for death or for failure to assume
such office after election thereto within forty-five (45) days after
the commencement of the term thereof. A councilmember shall forfeit
the office if any member lacks at any time during his term of office
any qualification for the office prescribed by this Charter or by
law or is convicted of a felony or fails to attend at least three
(3) consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused
by the Council. In the case of failure of attendance, the Council
shall declare such office vacant, after notification by certified
mail, at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting to fill
the vacant Council office.
If a vacancy shall occur in the office of councilmember including
Mayor for any reason as set forth in this Charter, the remaining members
of the Council shall fill such vacancy by appointing a person qualified
under this Charter to hold such office for the unexpired term thereof.
City Council shall provide notice of such intent to fill a vacancy
and provide at least ten (10) days for citizens to express interest
in filling said vacancy. If the Council shall refuse, fail or neglect,
or be unable, for any reason whatsoever, to fill such vacancy within
forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs, then the Court of Common
Pleas shall, upon petition of the Council or of any five (5) citizens
of the City of Latrobe, fill the vacancy in such office by the appointment
of a qualified resident of the City of Latrobe for the unexpired term
of the office.
The councilmembers including the Mayor prior to assuming office,
shall take and shall sign an oath of office as shall from time to
time be prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Such oath may be taken and signed before any judge, district justice
or notary public of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and no person
shall be permitted to assume such office until the oath, in written
form is filed with the Council Secretary.
Council shall convene an organizational meeting at 7:00 P.M.
on the first Monday of January following a municipal election at which
councilmembers are elected. The elected Mayor serves as presiding
officer of Council. The Council by majority vote shall nominate and
approve a Deputy Mayor from the six (6) elected councilmembers. In
addition, by majority vote a Council Secretary and Solicitor shall
be appointed to serve at the pleasure of Council. If the first Monday
is a legal holiday, the organizational meeting shall be scheduled
the first day following. Council may conduct any further business
it deems necessary.
