[Ord. No. 2 §1, 6-1-1995; Ord. No. 231 §2, 8-16-1999; Ord.
No. 678 §1, 12-16-2013]
No person shall be an Alderman unless he/she is at least eighteen
(18) 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §2, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §3, 6-1-1995]
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §4, 6-1-1995]
The Board shall elect one (1) of their own number who shall
hold the office of "Acting President of the Board of Aldermen" and
who shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
[Ord. No. 2 §5, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §6, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §7, 6-1-1995]
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 (⅔) 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §8, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §9, 6-1-1995]
A.
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.
B.
In
the event the financial statement as required by this Section is not
published as required, the treasurer of such 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 misdemeanor.
[Ord. No. 2 §10, 6-1-1995]
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 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §11, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §12, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §13, 6-1-1995]
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.
[Ord. No. 2 §14, 6-1-1995]
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. 2 §15, 6-1-1995]
The style of the ordinances of the City shall be: "Be it ordained
by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Green 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §16, 6-1-1995]
The Board of Aldermen shall establish a fixed regular time and
place on a monthly basis for the purpose of meeting in regular session.
Said time and place shall be established with the intent of affording
the residents of Green Park a reasonable opportunity to attend, observe
and participate in the Board's regular meetings as allowed by law.
[Ord. No. 2 §17, 6-1-1995]
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any two (2) members of the Board by written request filed with the City Clerk, who shall thereupon prepare a notice of such special meeting, stating time, place and object thereof, which notice shall be served personally or by telephone upon each member of the Board or left at his/her usual place of residence at least twelve (12) hours before the time of the meeting. It shall also be the duty of the City Clerk, immediately upon receipt of the request for the meeting, to make diligent effort to notify each member of the Board in person, either by telephone or otherwise, of such special session and to fulfill all requirements of Chapter 120 of this Code. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not invalidate any action taken at a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 2 §18, 6-1-1995]
Members of the Board of Aldermen shall be required to attend
all stated 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §19, 6-1-1995]
A quorum of the Board of Aldermen shall consist of a majority
of the full membership of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 2 §20, 6-1-1995]
In case that a lesser number than a quorum shall convene at
a regular or special meeting of the Board of Aldermen, the majority
of the members present are authorized to direct the Chief of Police
or other City Officer to send for and compel the attendance of any
or all absent members upon such terms and conditions and at such time
as such majority of the members present shall agree.
[Ord. No. 2 §21, 6-1-1995; Ord. No. 172 §1, 11-21-1997; Ord. No. 195 §§1 — 2, 7-20-1998; Ord. No. 421 §1, 6-21-2004]
A.
The
Board of Aldermen, upon the announcement of a quorum, shall proceed
to transact the business before them in the following order:
1.
Reading of the minutes of the last meeting or meetings unless waived,
and approval of the same as read unless changed or objection by a
member, in which event they shall be approved as corrected.
2.
Comments, suggestions, complaints and/or petitions from City residents,
business persons or other interested persons.
3.
Reports of officers and committees.
4.
Unfinished business.
5.
New business.
6.
Comments, suggestions, complaints and/or petitions from City residents,
business persons or other interested persons.
7.
The audit of all bills and claims against the City and ordering of
payment of bills approved and allowed.
8.
Miscellaneous business.
9.
Adjournment.
B.
With
regard to the agenda of meetings of the Board of Aldermen, the following
rules of procedure shall be observed:
1.
(Reserved)
2.
The Board may reorder the agenda on motion to address items in an order other than time of filing with the City Clerk as provided in Subsection (B)(1) of this Section.
3.
In the event that a submitted agenda item is anticipated to involve
lengthy discussion, debate or deliberation, the Board of Aldermen
may call a special meeting to address such item.
4.
In the event that a meeting is adjourned prior to the completion
of listed agenda items, the Board shall immediately call a special
meeting to complete the agenda. The early termination of a meeting
and the call of a special meeting shall be recorded by the City Clerk
in the minutes of each such meeting.
C.
With regard to comments, suggestions, complaints and/or petitions as provided in Subsection (A) of this Section, the following rules of procedure shall be observed:
1.
Speakers shall be given the opportunity to present any matter to the Board at the time provided for comments, etc., in the Board's order of business as established by Subsection (A) of this Section. Each person desiring to speak shall be afforded a total of three (3) minutes to address all matters of concern. All remarks shall be addressed to the Board as a body rather than to any individual Board member or the audience. City residents, business persons and other interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments to the Board for its consideration.
2.
Any Board member who desires to respond may do so at the time provided for reports in the Board's order of business as established by Subsection (A) of this Section. A Board member may also seek permission from the Mayor to respond immediately to the issue raised. No other person shall be permitted to enter into any discussion without the permission of the Mayor.
D.
With
regard to reports made by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, the following
rules of procedure shall be observed:
1.
Speakers shall refrain from reading aloud during a meeting letters,
statements, reports, communications, etc.; rather such documents should
be submitted to the City Clerk and orally summarized by the speaker.
The speaker may provide copies of such documents to the Board or other
persons, and any person may obtain copies of the submitted document
from the City Clerk in accordance with and as allowed by law.
2.
During their reports, speakers may respond to comments from City residents, business persons and other interested persons but shall refrain from addressing issues or matters otherwise appearing on the agenda. If the issue or matter raised does not otherwise appear on the agenda, the speaker may move to amend the agenda consistent with Subsection (F) hereof, and speakers may further move that the issue or matter in question be included in the agenda of any forthcoming regular or special meeting.
E.
With
regard to the discussions, debates and deliberations of the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen, the following rules of procedure shall be observed:
1.
Board members shall be allowed to speak only after having obtained
recognition from the Mayor to do so.
2.
Speakers shall hold the floor for a maximum of three (3) minutes
at any given time and shall be allowed to hold the floor no more than
twice on any given issue.
3.
Speakers shall refrain from engaging in repetitive debate and may
forfeit the floor for doing so.
4.
Speakers shall limit their discussions to the City business at hand
and shall refrain from injecting new issues into the discussion. Personal
and political comments are not appropriate.
5.
Debate on any matter under consideration by the Board of Aldermen and requiring a vote thereon may take place only as provided in Subsection (D) hereof and only after a motion is made by a member of the Board pertaining to the matter and a second is obtained from another Board member. After debate is exhausted, the Mayor shall call the question, after which no further debate shall be allowed, and the Mayor shall bring the motion at issue to a vote by the Board. After voting is completed, the City Clerk shall announce the vote and the Mayor shall declare the motion as having passed or failed.
F.
The
Board may only suspend its rules of procedure by motion duly passed.
G.
The
failure to follow any procedure in this Title shall not effect the
validity of any ordinance or enactment unless otherwise required by
State law.
[Ord. No. 2 §22, 6-1-1995; Ord. No. 719 § 1, 4-18-2016]
The most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order 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.
[Ord. No. 2 §23, 6-1-1995]
All adjourned meetings of the Board shall, to all intents and
purposes, be continuations of the meetings of which they are adjournments,
and the same proceedings may be had at such adjourned meetings as
at the meeting of which they are adjournments.
