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City of Vinita Park, MO
St. Louis County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (6) Index
No person shall be an Alderman unless he/she be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant and resident of the City for one (1) year next preceding his/her election, and a resident, at the time he/she files and during the time he/she serves, of the ward from which he/she is elected.
No person shall be Mayor unless he/she be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the City at the time of and for at least one (1) year next preceding his/her election.
The Board shall elect one (1) of their own number who shall be styled "Acting President of the Board of Aldermen" and who shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
When any vacancy shall happen in the office of Mayor by death, resignation, removal from the City, removal from office, refusal to qualify, or from any other cause whatever, the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall, for the time being, perform the duties of Mayor, with all the rights, privileges, powers and jurisdiction of the Mayor, until such vacancy be filled or such disability be removed or, in case of temporary absence, until the Mayor's return.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of each City governed by this Chapter shall have the care, management and control of the City and its finances and shall have power to enact and ordain any and all ordinances not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of this State, and such as they shall deem expedient for the good government of the City, the preservation of peace and good order, the benefit of trade and commerce, and the health of the inhabitants thereof, and such other ordinances, rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry such powers into effect and to alter, modify or repeal the same.
The Mayor shall have a seat in and preside over the Board of Aldermen but shall not vote on any question except in case of a tie, nor shall he/she preside or vote in cases when he/she is an interested party. He/she shall exercise a general supervision over all the officers and affairs of the City and shall take care that the ordinances of the City, and the State laws relating to such City, are complied with.
The style of the ordinances of the City shall be: "Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Vinita Park, as follows:" No ordinance shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall become an ordinance unless on its final passage a majority of the members elected to the Board of Aldermen shall vote for it, and the "ayes" and "nays" be entered on the journal. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen in writing and shall be read by title or in full two (2) times prior to passage, both readings may occur at a single meeting of the Board of Aldermen. If the proposed ordinance is read by title only, copies of the proposed ordinance shall be made available for public inspection prior to the time the bill is under consideration by the Board of Aldermen. No bill shall become an ordinance until it shall have been signed by the Mayor, or person exercising the duties of the Mayor's office, or shall have been passed over the Mayor's veto as herein provided.
Every bill duly passed by the Board of Aldermen and presented to the Mayor and by him/her approved shall become an ordinance, and every bill presented as aforesaid, but returned with the Mayor's objections thereto, shall stand reconsidered. The Board of Aldermen shall cause the objections of the Mayor to be entered at large upon the journal and proceed at its convenience to consider the question pending, which shall be in this form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the Mayor thereto notwithstanding?" The vote on this question shall be taken by "ayes" and "nays" and the names entered upon the journal, and if two-thirds (â…”) of all the members-elect shall vote in the affirmative, the City Clerk shall certify the fact on the roll, and the bill thus certified shall be deposited with the proper officer and shall become an ordinance in the same manner and with like effect as if it had received the approval of the Mayor. The Mayor shall have power to sign or veto any ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen; provided, that should he/she neglect or refuse to sign any ordinance and return the same with his/her objections, in writing, at the next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, the same shall become a law without his/her signature.
The Board of Aldermen shall cause to be kept a journal of its proceedings, and the "ayes" and "nays" shall be entered on any question at the request of any two (2) members. The Board of Aldermen may prescribe and enforce such rules as it may find necessary for the expeditious transaction of its business.
The Board of Aldermen shall semi-annually each year, at times to be set by the Board of Aldermen, make out and spread upon their records a full and detailed account and statement of the receipts and expenditures and indebtedness of the City for the half year ending with the last day of the month immediately preceding the date of such report, which account and statement shall be published in some newspaper in the City.
In the event the financial statement of the City is not published as required by Section 110.100, the Treasurer of the City shall not pay out any money of the City on any warrant or order of the Board of Aldermen after the end of the month in which such financial statement should have been published until such time as such financial statement is published. Any Treasurer violating the provisions of this Section shall be deemed guilty of a ordinance violation.
The Board of Aldermen shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers and records relating to any subject under consideration in which the interest of the City is involved and shall have power to call on the proper officers of the City, or of the County in which such City is located, to execute such process. The officer making such service shall be allowed to receive therefor such fees as are allowed by law in the Circuit Court for similar services, to be paid by the City. The Mayor or Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses.
[CC 2000 §1-5-3(A,4,6,7); CC 1974 §§2-7 — 2-8.2]
A. 
General.
1. 
To sign all orders, drafts and warrants drawn on the City Treasury for money and to cause such orders, etc., to be attested by the City Clerk.
2. 
To perform all other duties prescribed by law or ordinance.
B. 
Collect Bridge And Road Tax Refunds. The Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to execute all applications, affidavits or any other documents necessary for the City to collect all County bridge and road tax refunds due and payable to the City under State law and County ordinances.
C. 
Enter Housing And Community Development Cooperation Agreement. The Mayor, with the approval of the Board of Aldermen, is hereby authorized to enter into, on behalf of the City, a municipal housing and community development cooperation agreement and supplemental agreements with St. Louis County providing for the specific programs to be undertaken by the City. The Mayor is authorized to execute all necessary documents and papers required for the consummation and execution of the contract and supplemental contracts.
D. 
Execute A Coordinated Communications Service Contract. The Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized, empowered and instructed to execute a coordinated communications service contract.
E. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (E), regarding the Mayor's additional duties/Director of Public Safety, was repealed 6-18-2018 by Ord. No. 1353.
F. 
Additional Duties As City Administrator/Administrative Director. The Mayor in addition to the duties that are presently performed shall automatically be the City Administrator for the City and as a result become a full-time position and incur the additional duties as follows:
[Ord. No. 1468, 7-19-2021]
1. 
Summary Description. Under general administrative direction, plans, manages, and oversees the activities and operations of the City, including, disaster responses, community problem solving, code enforcement, general community support services, and related services; coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; acts as the City Administrator; and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City.
2. 
Representative Duties. The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
a. 
Assume full management responsibility for all department's services and activities; manage the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, and priorities for each assigned service area; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
b. 
Establish within City policy appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; allocate resources accordingly.
c. 
Assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct and implement changes.
d. 
Plan, direct, and coordinate, through subordinate level staff, all department's work plans; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; meet with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
e. 
Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.
f. 
Oversee and participate in the development and administration of the departmental budget; approve the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; approve expenditures and implement budgetary adjustments as appropriated and necessary.
g. 
Oversee the acquisition and maintenance of department's equipment and vehicles; maintain safety standards for personnel and equipment.
h. 
Provide staff assistance to the Board of Aldermen; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attend Board of Aldermen and other meetings as required.
i. 
Represent the City to other departments, elected officials and outside agencies; coordinate assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
j. 
Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiry and complaints; explain, justify, and defend department programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
k. 
Participate on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; serve as the City's representative to committees and community organizations and departmental public relations.
l. 
Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments as appropriate.
m. 
Respond to and may command community disasters.
n. 
Perform related duties as required.
3. 
Qualifications. The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
a. 
Knowledge of:
(1) 
Operations, services, and activities including law enforcement.
(2) 
Law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to wide variety of services and programs including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, records management, care and custody of persons and property, and crime prevention.
(3) 
Operations, services, and activities of the City's departments including disaster preparedness, code enforcement, and associated programs, services, and operations.
(4) 
Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration.
(5) 
Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
(6) 
Principles and practices of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
(7) 
Recent court decisions and how they affect City and department operations.
(8) 
Methods and techniques of public relations.
(9) 
Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
(10) 
Principles and practices of municipal organization, administration and personnel management.
(11) 
Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
(12) 
Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
b. 
Ability to:
(1) 
Develop and administer departmental goals, objectives, and procedures.
(2) 
Analyze and assess programs, policies, and operational needs and make appropriate adjustments.
(3) 
Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational needs.
(4) 
Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of lower level staff.
(5) 
Delegate authority and responsibility.
(6) 
Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
The Mayor shall sign the commissions and appointments of all City Officers elected or appointed in the City and shall approve all official bonds unless otherwise prescribed by ordinance.
The Mayor shall be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances for the government of the City, and he/she shall cause all subordinate officers to be dealt with promptly for any neglect or violation of duty; and he/she is hereby authorized to call on every male inhabitant of the City over eighteen (18) years of age and under fifty (50) to aid in enforcing the laws.
The Mayor shall, from time to time, communicate to the Board of Aldermen such measures as may, in his/her opinion, tend to the improvement of the finances, the Police, health, security, ornament, comfort and general prosperity of the City.
The Mayor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses arising under the ordinances of the City; but this Section shall not be so construed as to authorize the Mayor to remit any costs which may have accrued to any officer of said City by reason of any prosecution under the laws or ordinances of such City.
[Ord. No. 1239 §1, 10-20-2014]
A. 
Elected officials of the City of Vinita Park are required to attend and complete at least one (1), three-hour educational conference relating to municipal government per year.
B. 
Failure of an elected official to attend the required continuing education conference described in Subsection (A), without just cause, will subject such official to sanctions to include impeachment proceedings for a knowing violation of this Section, and/or forfeiture of elected official compensation up to five hundred dollars ($500.00), which may be withheld by the City by vote of a majority of the Board at its regularly scheduled meeting.
[CC 2000 §1-6-5(A); CC 1074 §2-14; Ord. No. 1179 §§1 — 2, 7-19-2010]
The regular business meetings of the Board of Aldermen shall be held on the third (3rd) Monday of each month at the hour of 6:30 P.M. in the City Hall. The meeting shall adjourn by 9:00 P.M. unless the adjournment time is extended by a majority of the Board of Aldermen prior to the 9:00 P.M. adjournment. If the third (3rd) Monday of any month shall be a legal holiday, then the meeting scheduled for such date shall be held on the next day following such holiday or on the following Monday, as chosen by the Board of Aldermen and Mayor.
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any four (4) members of the Board by written request filed with the City Clerk who shall thereupon prepare a notice of such special meeting in conformance with Chapter 120, Open Meetings and Records Policy, of this Code.
At the hour appointed, the Mayor, or in his/her absence the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen, shall call the Board to order, the Clerk shall call the roll of members and announce whether or not a quorum is present. A majority of the members elected to the Board shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum not be present, a smaller number may lawfully adjourn the meeting from day to day until a quorum is present.
[CC 2000 §1-6-2; CC 1974 §2-12]
All members of the Board of Aldermen shall be required to attend all regular and special meetings of the Board unless leave of absence is granted by the Board or unless excused by the Mayor for illness or other special reason.
[CC 2000 §1-6-7; CC 1974 §§2-15, 2-17 — 2-18; Ord. No. 851, 12-15-1993]
A. 
Call To Order — Roll Call — Quorum. At the hour appointed, the Mayor, or in his/her absence any Alderman, shall call the Board of Aldermen to order and the Clerk shall call the roll of members and announce whether or not a quorum is present. A majority of the members elected to the Board shall constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present, a smaller number may lawfully adjourn the meeting from day to day until a quorum is present.
B. 
Rules.
1. 
Appointment of committees. All committees shall be appointed by the Mayor unless, on motion, the Board of Aldermen shall elect to appoint such committee.
2. 
Parliamentary procedure. The established rules of parliamentary procedure shall govern the proceedings of the Board, except when otherwise provided by ordinance and any question arising thereunder shall be decided by the Mayor, subject to appeal to the Board of Aldermen by any member.
3. 
Minutes of certain meetings. In all meetings of appointed committees and City boards and those involving contracts, there shall be kept a journal and minutes of all business transactions. Minutes will be submitted to the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and the City Clerk. All original records will be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk.