[1997 Code § 3-3]
The Mayor shall be the chief executive of the City, who shall
be elected at large for a term of four years. The Mayor shall have,
in addition to those powers and duties as provided by law, such powers
and duties as are more specifically set in this and other chapters
of the Code.
[1997 Code § 3-4]
A.
The
annual organization meeting of the City Council shall be held during
the first week of January, as determined by the Governing Body.
B.
The
members of the City Council shall, by majority vote of its members,
elect one of its members as President of City Council, who shall preside
at its meetings, and a President Pro Tempore, who shall preside in
the President's absence.
[1997 Code § 3-5]
The regular meetings of the City Council will be held on the
second Thursday at 8:00 p.m., provided that when any such day falls
on a legal holiday there will be no meeting.
[1997 Code § 3-6]
The President of the City Council or any other member of the
Council may, upon request of a majority of the members of Council,
call a special meeting of the Council. In the call he shall state
the purpose of the special meeting, and no other business shall be
considered.
[1997 Code § 3-7]
A majority of the City Council as constituted and assembled
at the time and place of meeting shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, but if a quorum shall not be present within
15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, those assembled
may adjourn to the next stated meeting or, from time to time, compel
the attendance of absent members. The City Clerk shall keep a record
of all such adjournment meetings.
[1997 Code § 3-8]
All meetings shall be conducted using Roberts Rules of Order
as a guide only.
[1997 Code § 3-9]
Any member desiring to speak upon a matter before the City Council
or to present any petition, report, bill or other communication shall
rise and address the President of Council, who shall decide which
of the two or more members rising at the same time shall have the
floor.
[1997 Code § 3-10]
No member shall speak more than three times on any question
at the same sitting except by leave of a majority of the City Council
present.
[1997 Code § 3-11]
A.
No
motion shall be debated unless the same shall have been seconded,
and when a motion shall have been made and seconded, it shall be stated
by the President of the City Council or reduced to writing, if desired,
and read by the City Clerk before debate.
C.
Such
motions shall have precedence in the order arranged, and the motion
to adjourn and also to lay on the table shall be decided without debate.
[1997 Code § 3-12]
The City Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the City Council. The
City Clerk shall keep a journal of its proceedings and record the
minutes of each meeting, as well as have such other functions, powers
and duties as are provided in this Code.
[1997 Code § 3-13; Ord. No. 17-97; Ord. No. 15-98; Ord. No. 03-2003]
A.
The President of the City Council shall appoint each Councilmember
the Chairperson of one of the committees and a member of two other
committees. The committees shall be as follows:
(1)
Revenue, appropriations and finance.
(a)
The Committee shall have legislative oversight responsibilities
for all matters relating to the financial, tax and insurance aspects
of the municipality. The Committee shall perform a monthly review
of all the revenues and expenditures occurring during the month.
(b)
The Chairperson of the Committee shall submit a written monthly
report to the City Council of its findings. A copy of the report shall
be filed with the City Clerk.
(2)
Public safety.
(a)
The Committee shall have legislative oversight responsibilities
for any and all matters relating to the activities and operation of
the Police Department, the Communications Department, the Fire Department,
the ambulance service and all other activities relating to public
safety within the municipality.
(b)
The Chairman of the Committee shall submit a written monthly
report to the City Council at its regular monthly meeting. A copy
of the report shall be filed with the City Clerk.
(3)
Public works and sewer.
(a)
The Committee shall have legislative oversight responsibilities
for any and all matters relating to the activities and operation of
the Public Works Department, including but not limited to the repair
and maintenance of public buildings and grounds, streets and roads,
parks and playgrounds and water and sewer facilities; and all matters
relating to the sanitary sewer needs of the municipality, including
seeking out funding sources and grants.
(b)
The Chairman of the Committee shall submit a written monthly
report to the City Council at its regular monthly meeting. A copy
shall be filed with the City Clerk.
(4)
Parks, playgrounds and recreation.
(a)
The Committee shall have legislative oversight and other responsibilities
for any and all matters relating to the operation and activities of
parks and playground programs and other recreational activities, holiday
parades and related functions, including appropriate activities relating
to the observance of recognized holidays. The Committee shall, with
the City Council's approval, form such advisory committees as
may be required to assist with its programs.
(b)
The Chairman of the Committee shall submit a written monthly
report to the City Council at its regular monthly meeting. A copy
of the report shall be filed with the City Clerk.
(5)
Community affairs.
(a)
The Committee shall have oversight responsibilities for matters
relating to all civic, social and community groups in the City, including
but not limited to: Absecon Education Foundation, Library Board, Senior
Center, AARP, Absecon Historical Society, Women's Club(s), Ladies
League, Absecon Garden Club, Lions, Rotary, and Parent Teachers Organization.
The Committee shall meet on a monthly basis, at a mutually agreed
upon date and time, in the Conference Room of the Municipal Building,
500 Mill Road.
(b)
The Chairperson of the Committee shall submit a monthly report
to Council of its findings. If a written report is completed, a copy
of the report shall be filed with the City Clerk.
(6)
Economic development.
(a)
The Committee shall have legislative oversight responsibilities
for all matters relating to economic business and commercial promotion
and development of the City, including but not limited to promotional
activities and seeking out funding sources, grants, and connecting
with the City business, local merchants and Economic Development groups.
(b)
The Chairperson of the Committee shall submit a written monthly
report to the City Council at its regular monthly meeting. A copy
of the report shall be filed with the City Clerk.
B.
The above-named general committees of the City Council are established
for the purpose of assisting the Council with its legislative duties
for the ensuing year.
C.
The committees of the City Council may, subject to general law and
the provisions of the Administrative Code, investigate any activity
of the municipality. The investigative or review process of each committee
shall be restricted to its particular function. In the event that
a particular area of concern overlaps another committee, this overlap
shall be brought to the attention of the City Council for the purpose
of resolving who shall have jurisdiction in the matter.
D.
The members of the committees shall act in such a way and for the
purpose of gathering facts and information to assist the City Council
in performing its legislative duties in compliance with the applicable
laws of the state and the municipality.
E.
The Chairman of each committee shall maintain accurate minutes of
its meetings. Copies of the minutes shall be filed, on a timely basis,
with the City Clerk.
F.
Committee meetings shall be held at such time and frequency as may
be deemed necessary for the conduct of the business of the committee.
Either the Chairman or a quorum of the committee may call for a meeting
of the committee.
G.
All committee meetings are to be held in a suitable meeting room
at the Municipal Complex Building, 500 Mill Road, Absecon City, New
Jersey. Under ordinary circumstances no meeting should continue beyond
11:00 p.m. Proper and timely notice is to be given to the City Administrator
prior to the meeting so that he will be able to provide suitable facilities
for the meeting and to provide timely and proper notice as required
by law.
H.
Open Meetings. All committee meetings shall be conducted in accordance
with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6
et seq.
I.
The President of the City Council shall be an ex-officio member of
all committees, both standing and special and the Council President
shall be informed in advance, in writing, of all meetings of such
committees. As an ex-officio member of a committee, the President
has the same rights as other committee members, but shall not be obligated
to attend meetings of any committee. The President of the City Council
shall not be counted in determining if a quorum is present.
