A.
The annual organizational meeting of the City Council
shall be held at 12:00 o'clock noon on January 1 (or if said day falls
on a Sunday, then January 2), at which time the members of the City
Council shall elect one of their own number to serve as Council Chairman
until his successor is elected.
B.
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held
at least once each month at such time and place within the City as
it shall designate. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or
Council Chairman upon such notice as may be set forth in the rules
of the City Council. Upon the filing with the City Clerk of a petition
signed by at least 100 registered voters of the City requesting a
special meeting of the City Council to consider any matter relating
to the welfare of the City referred to in such petition, the Chairman
shall forthwith call such a meeting at a date and place specified
in a notice thereof published in an official newspaper at least 10
days prior to the date of such meeting.
The Council Chairman shall preside over all
meetings of the City Council. In the event of the absence from the
City or disability of the Council Chairman for any cause or reason,
then the members of the City Council shall elect one of their own
number as Acting Chairman during such absence or disability or, in
the case of a vacancy in the office of Council Chairman, shall elect
a new Council Chairman. The Council Chairman while acting as Mayor
shall be disabled and disqualified from participating in or voting
on any matter before Council.
A quorum of the City Council required for the
transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the whole number
of the City Council as provided by law and, unless otherwise required
by law, all actions of the City Council shall be by an affirmative
vote conducted at a public meeting of at least a majority of the members
of Council then in office and not disqualified by law from voting
thereon; provided, however, in the absence of a quorum, any meeting
of the City Council may be adjourned without such affirmative vote.
Every ordinance or resolution introduced for
consideration shall be reduced to written form, and except as otherwise
provided by this Act, shall be adopted and published in the manner
required by general law; provided, however, that any ordinance may
incorporate by reference technical regulations or codes, official
or unofficial, which need not be so published whenever 10 copies of
said regulations or code have been placed on file in the office of
the City Clerk and in the office of the body or department charged
with the enforcement of said ordinance for the examination by the
public so long as said ordinance is in effect.
The governing body of the City shall be the
City Council in which, unless otherwise provided herein or by general
law, all legislative power of the City shall vest, including but not
limited to the following enumerated powers to:
A.
Pass, adopt, amend and repeal any ordinance or, where
permitted, any resolution for any purpose required for the government
of the City, or for the accomplishment of any public purpose for which
the City is authorized to act.
B.
Enact any regulatory ordinance authorized by law and
provide penalties for the violations thereof as hereinbefore provided.
C.
Pass or adopt rules governing its internal procedures
not inconsistent with any applicable provisions of this Act or general
law.
D.
Control and regulate the finances of the City and
raise money by borrowing or by taxation and notwithstanding other
provisions of this Act or of any other law except Title 18 of the
Revised Statutes (Education), enact an ordinance requiring that there
shall be attached to the budget request of each office, department,
board, commission or agency a schedule containing the number of persons
employed or to be employed for each office, position or employment,
except where the City Council by ordinance has exempted a particular
category of employment from such specification, and the salary to
be paid for each, and said schedule shall not be revised by such office,
department, board, commission or agency subsequent to the initial
approval of the budget by the City Council unless such revision is
approved prior to the final adoption of the budget by the City Council
in the same manner as the budget is amended, or subsequent thereto
by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the City Council serving in
office and not disqualified from voting thereon, unless an affirmative
vote of a greater number is otherwise required by general law.
E.
Enact ordinances governing the administrative structure
of the City and its departments[1] and, except as otherwise provided herein and in Title
11 of the Revised Statutes (Civil Service) where adopted and in effect
in a municipality, governing personnel practices of the City[2] and prohibiting actions and activities of city officers
and employees inimical to the integrity of the government of the City.
F.
Except as hereinafter limited by reason of the establishment
of a commission pursuant to the vote of the people of the City, establish,
regulate and maintain a Police Department and Fire Department or combined
department therefor.
G.
Except as hereinafter limited by reason of the establishment
of a commission pursuant to the vote of the people of the City, establish,
regulate and maintain a Water Department; provide a supply of pure
and wholesome water for the use of the City, its inhabitants and such
other persons and for such incidental use as may be authorized including
water for fire and sprinkling purposes; regulate the use of water;
fix and establish rates or charges, provide for the collection of
the same; provide by ordinance for administration of the Department;
and do all such things which a Board of Water Commissioners may do
when acting in lieu thereof.[3]
H.
Perform all other acts, duties or functions to the
fullest extent permitted by law.
