City of Muskego, WI Chapter 67 Mayor and Council

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Muskego 12-23-1964 by Ord. No. 1 as §§ 1.01, 1.02 and 1.07 and Ch. 2 of the 1964 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Charter ordinances — See Ch. A410.

§ 67-1 Form of government.

The City of Muskego, Wisconsin, operates under the Mayor-Council form of government under Ch. 62, Wis. Stats.

§ 67-2 Election; term of office.

[Amended 10-19-1989 by Ord. No. 664]

The Mayor shall be elected as stated in Charter Ordinance No. 13.[1] Alderpersons of the first, third and fifth districts shall be elected for two-year terms in even-numbered years. Alderpersons for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 7 shall be elected for two-year terms in odd-numbered years. All such terms shall commence on the third Tuesday of April.

[1] Editor's Note: Charter ordinances are included in the Code Appendix, Ch. A410.

§ 67-3 Full-time offices.

[Amended 11-1-2007 by Ord. No. 1268]

The office of Mayor shall be full-time.

§ 67-4 Organization meeting; regular meetings.

[Amended 3-18-2010 by Ord. No. 1314[1]]

Following a regular City election, for the purpose of organization, the Common Council shall meet on the third Tuesday of April. Regular meetings of the Common Council shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month, at no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Any regular meeting falling upon a legal holiday may be rescheduled. Unless otherwise noticed, all meetings of the Council shall be held in the City Hall, including special and adjourned meetings. The Mayor is authorized to cancel one regular meeting during a particular month, upon consultation and agreement with the Common Council President, when the Mayor deems it appropriate and determines that any pending matters could be delayed to a subsequent regular meeting and do not require action by the Common Council at the particular meeting to be cancelled.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 67-5 Special meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the Mayor upon written notice of the time and purpose thereof to each member of the Council, delivered to him personally or left at his usual place of abode at least six hours before the meeting. The Clerk shall cause an affidavit of service of such notice to be filed in his office prior to the time fixed for such special meeting. A special meeting may be held without such notice when all members of the Common Council are present in person or consent in writing to the holding of such a meeting. If written consent is obtained, it shall be filed with the Clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting. Attendance by any Council member shall be deemed a waiver on his part of any defect of notice. Any special meeting attended by all Alderpersons shall be a regular meeting for the transaction of any business that may come before such meeting.

§ 67-6 Adjournment; quorum.

No action shall be taken unless a quorum is present. Two-thirds of the Alderpersons of the Council shall constitute a quorum. A lesser number may compel the attendance of absent members or may adjourn. The Mayor shall not be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting. The Council may, by a majority vote of those present, adjourn from time to time to a specific date and hour.

§ 67-7 (Reserved) [1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former § 67-7, Order of business, was repealed 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 1450.

§ 67-8 Clerk Pro Tem.

In the absence of the Clerk, the Mayor shall appoint a Clerk Pro Tem.

§ 67-9 Presiding officer; Council President.

A. The Mayor at the stated hour shall call the meeting to order. He shall preserve order and decorum, decide all questions of order and conduct the proceedings of the meeting in accordance with the parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised, unless otherwise provided by statute or by these rules. Any member shall have the right of appeal from a decision of the presiding officer. The appeal may be sustained by a majority of the members present, exclusive of the presiding officer.

B. If the Mayor is absent at the designated time of any meeting, the President of the Council shall preside and, during the absence or inability of the Mayor, shall have the powers and duties of the Mayor, including but not limited to the powers of the Mayor as a member of the Plan Commission as in part set forth in § 400-17, and limited by that section, excepting that he shall not have the power to approve an act of the Council which the Mayor has disapproved by filing an objection with the Clerk. He shall, when so officiating, be styled "Acting Mayor." The President shall be selected by a majority vote of all members of the Council at the annual meeting on the third Tuesday of April. In the absence of both the Mayor and the President of the Council, the Clerk shall call the meeting to order and preside until the Council shall, by motion, select an Acting Mayor for that meeting.

[Amended 2-3-2005 by Ord. No. 1186[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

C. Whenever the presiding officer shall desire to speak upon any question or to make any motion, he shall vacate the chair and designate the President of the Council, if present, and, if not, any Alderperson, to preside temporarily.

§ 67-10 Committees.

[Amended 3-18-2010 by Ord. No. 1314]

A. Standing committees. The following standing committees shall be appointed by the Mayor for a one-year term at the organization meeting or first regular meeting of the newly elected Council. The Finance Committee and Public Works and Safety Committee shall consist of three members, and the Mayor shall ex officio be Chairperson of the Finance Committee, unless otherwise ordered by suspension of the rules. The Chairpersons of the other committees shall be designated by the Mayor. The Council President shall serve as an alternate member of the Public Works and Safety Committee in the event the absence of the other regular members results in the lack of a quorum. The City of Muskego Purchasing Policy shall govern all contracts and purchases reviewed by the standing committees. The items listed below are not all inclusive; other related items may be put on an agenda subject to the Mayor's discretion.[1]

(1) Finance Committee. The Common Council President shall automatically be a member of the Finance Committee. The Mayor shall appoint an alternate member to serve on the Finance Committee in the event the absence of the other regular members results in the lack of a quorum. The Finance Committee will review matters related to the following City departments: Assessor, Clerk-Treasurer, Finance, and Information Systems and the Planning Division of the Public Works and Development Department. The Finance Committee will review the following:

(a) Contract approvals.

(b) Developers' agreements.

(c) Fees.

(d) Financial matters.

(e) Human resources.

(f) Insurance matters.

(g) Letters of credit.

(h) Licenses.

(i) Miscellaneous administrative issues.

(j) Ordinances (unless reviewed by another committee).

(k) Voucher approval.

(2) Public Works and Safety Committee. The Public Works and Safety Committee will review matters related to the following City departments: the Public Works and Development Department and the Police Department. This Committee will also review public safety matters related to fire and rescue. Whenever possible, the Mayor will appoint the Aldermanic representative to the landfill committees to the Public Works and Safety Committee.

(a) The Public Works and Safety Committee will review the following:

[1] Acceptance and dedication of improvements.

[2] Contract approvals related to public works and public utilities.

[3] Easements.

[4] Grading, drainage and soil erosion issues.

[5] Invoices: Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and Town of Norway.

[6] Leaf pickup.

[7] Ordinances that pertain to public works and safety matters or utilities matters.

[8] Policies related to public works/public utilities.

[9] Proposed projects (review, approval, funding, including any special assessments, and status).

[10] Public improvement specifications.

[11] Public utilities operating and capital budgets.

[12] Refuse and recycling.

[13] Regulation of dams, public waters and beaches.

[14] Road improvement program.

[15] Road vacations and acquisition.

[16] Streetlighting.

[17] Stormwater management.

[18] Subdividers' exhibits.

[19] Utility rates.

(b) Any reference in the ordinances of the City of Muskego to the Committee on Public Water, Committee on Public Sewer, or Public Utilities Committee shall mean the Public Works and Safety Committee.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

B. Committee of the Whole. The Mayor may declare the entire Council a Committee of the Whole for informal discussion at any meeting or for any other purpose and shall ex officio be Chairperson of the same, provided that there is no objection by any one of the Alderpersons present at the meeting. Attendance of five members of the Committee shall be necessary for a quorum.

C. Special committees. The Mayor may appoint such special committee or committees stating the number of members and duties to be performed. The appointed Alderperson shall serve a one-year term.

[Amended 7-7-2011 by Ord. No. 1342]

D. The appointment by the Mayor to standing committees or special committees shall be subject to being overridden by a super-majority of six members of the Common Council at the same meeting as when said appointment is made by the Mayor, in which event the appointment is not effective.

§ 67-11 Submission and referral of ordinances and communications. [1]

All ordinances and communications and other matters submitted to the Council shall be read by title and author and referred to the appropriate committee by the Mayor without motion unless objected to by a Council member. The Clerk shall read and record each such reference by title. Any Alderperson may require the reading in full of any matter at any time it is before the Council.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 67-12 Bills and financial claims.

All bills and other financial claims against the City shall be itemized and upon receipt thereof shall be referred by the Clerk to the Finance Committee for report thereon at the next meeting of the Council, provided that payment of regular wages and salaries of officials and employees according to schedules adopted by the Council shall be made by the Clerk without submission to the Council after verification by the department head submitting the same.

§ 67-13 Committee reports.

Each committee shall at the next regular meeting submit a written report on all matters referred to it, unless a longer time is granted by vote of the Council, and such report shall be entered in the proceedings. Such report shall recommend a definite action by the Council on each item, shall be signed by a majority of the committee and shall be filed with the Clerk prior to each meeting. Minority reports may be submitted.

§ 67-14 Notice of committee meetings; meeting to be public.

Previous notice of each committee meeting shall be filed with the Clerk by the chairperson, and each meeting shall be open to the public.

§ 67-15 Officers to cooperate with committees.

Any committee may require any City officer to confer with it and supply information needed in connection with any matter pending before the committee.

§ 67-16 Action on committee reports.

A voice vote shall be taken on each committee report immediately following its submission, but any Alderperson may require a roll call vote on any matter in any report. Action upon a specific matter included in any committee report shall be deferred until the next regular meeting following the submission of the report upon the request of any two Alderpersons.

§ 67-17 Ordinances and resolutions to be in writing.

No ordinance or resolution shall be considered by the Council unless presented in writing by the Mayor or an Alderperson.

§ 67-18 Deliberations of Council.

A. No Alderperson shall address the Council until he has been recognized by the presiding officer. He shall thereupon address himself to the Chairperson and confine his remarks to the question under discussion and avoid all personalities.

B. When two or more members simultaneously seek recognition, the presiding officer shall name the member who is to speak first.

C. Motions.

(1) When a question is under discussion no other action shall be in order, except:

(a) To adjourn.

(b) To recess.

(c) To lay on the table.

(d) To move the previous question.

(e) To postpone to a certain day.

(f) To refer to a committee.

(g) To amend.

(h) To postpone indefinitely.

(2) These motions shall have precedence in the order listed.

D. Any member wishing to terminate the debate may move the previous question, in which event the Mayor shall announce the question as, "Shall the main question now be put?" If 2/3 of the members present vote in the affirmative, the main question shall be taken without further debate, its effect being to put an end to all debate and to bring the Council to a direct vote, first upon any pending amendments and then upon the main question.

E. Any Alderperson may demand a roll call vote on any matter, and all roll call votes shall be recorded in the journal. On confirmation of appointments and on the adoption of any measure assessing or levying taxes, appropriating or disbursing money, or creating any liability or charge against the City, or any fund thereof, the vote shall be by roll call. Every Alderperson shall vote when a question is put unless the Council by a majority vote of those present shall excuse him for special cause. An Alderperson may not change his vote on any question after the result has been announced, unless the matter has been duly moved for reconsideration.

F. The Mayor shall not vote except in the case of a tie. When the Mayor does vote in the case of a tie, his vote shall be counted in determining whether a sufficient number of the Council has voted favorably or unfavorably on any measure. A majority vote of all members of the Council in favor of any proposed ordinance, resolution or appointment shall be necessary for passage or approval, unless a larger number is required by law. Except as otherwise provided, a majority vote of those present shall prevail.

G. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, and a motion to adjourn, to recess, to lay on the table and a call for the previous question shall be decided without debate.

§ 67-19 Action on ordinances and resolutions.

A. All propositions for the Common Council shall be reduced to writing.

B. Every ordinance shall have two readings previous to its passage; however, said reading may consist of reading only the title of said ordinance. No ordinance shall have its second reading on the same day that it is first read, unless by suspension of the rules as hereinafter provided. Copies of all ordinances shall be submitted in writing to each Council member at least three days prior to presentation at a formal Council meeting.

C. Resolutions offered which are noted on the agenda for the meeting may be acted upon at that meeting. Otherwise they shall not be acted upon until the next regular meeting unless this rule is suspended as hereinafter provided.

§ 67-20 Reconsideration.

Any member who voted in the majority on any question, or who voted in the negative when the Council is evenly divided, may move consideration of such vote at the same or next succeeding regular meeting of the Council, or any adjournment thereof. A motion to reconsider having been put and lost cannot be renewed.

§ 67-21 Reading of meeting minutes. [1]

By majority action of those present the Council may dispense with the reading of the minutes at the ensuing meeting.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 67-22 Suspension of rules.

These rules or any part thereof may be temporarily suspended in connection with any matter under consideration by a roll call vote of 2/3 of the members present.

§ 67-23 Amendment or rescission of rules.

No standing rule or order of the Common Council shall be permanently rescinded or changed unless notice to that effect shall have been given at the previous regular meeting.