[Amended 10-6-2016 by L.L. No. 4-2016]
The first regular or special January meeting of the City Council
of each even-numbered year shall be an organizational meeting at which
the President Pro Tempore and the City Clerk shall be selected, standing
committees appointed, and rules of order for the ensuing two years
adopted.
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held once each
month on such dates as the Council shall designate, each year, by
amendment to its rules at its January meeting. No local law, ordinance,
or resolution may be acted upon at a regular meeting unless a copy
thereof shall have been delivered under the supervision of the City
Clerk to each Council member at least 24 hours prior to said meeting.
The foregoing notwithstanding, if the Mayor certifies that an emergency
exists that threatens the health or safety of the citizens of Troy,
legislation relating to said emergency may be adopted on less than
twenty-four hours' notice to the Council members and the public, but
only by unanimous vote of the Council.
Special meetings of the City Council shall be called by the
City Clerk on the written request of the Mayor, the President of the
City Council, or any two Council members, including the Chair of the
standing or special committee of the Council having jurisdiction over
the subject matter of the meeting. The request shall state the purpose
or purposes for which the meeting is called. A written notice, giving
the purpose or purposes and the time and place of the special meeting,
shall be served under the direction of the City Clerk, personally
or by mail, on each member of the Council at least 24 hours before
the time of the meeting. Due public notice must be given, including
at least eight hours' notice to the news media. Only matters pertaining
to the purpose or purposes of the meeting, as set forth in the notice
thereof, shall be considered at any such meeting.
The City Council may convene informational meetings each year.
These shall be conducted specifically to facilitate answers for citizens
who have questions regarding any aspect of City government affecting
them, and public participation shall be restricted to such questions.
The President shall preside over said meetings, and attendance shall
be required of Council members, the Mayor, City Clerk, Corporation
Counsel and/or appropriate staff, plus supervisors of all City agencies
and offices regarding which questions may arise. Regional meetings
of the Council may be held periodically throughout the City during
each calendar year.
The City Council shall determine the rules of its proceedings,
and may compel the attendance of all Council members at any special
or regular meeting at which such proceedings will be under consideration.
The Council may declare to be vacant the seat of any Council member
inexcusably absent from three successive regular meetings; or may
expel a Council member for conduct unbecoming a public official or
for misfeasance in office. No seat shall be declared vacant and no
Council member shall be expelled until the affected Council member
has been served with written particulars of the charge or charges
and has had an opportunity to be heard by the Council in the member's
own defense. All such actions taken by the Council as delineated in
this paragraph must receive a vote of 2/3 of the full Council.
A.
Each regular or special meeting of the City Council shall include
a period of time designated as a public forum, during which members
of the public shall have the opportunity to address the Council on
meeting agenda items and any other subject appropriate to the conduct
of City government.
B.
The structure of the public forum
shall be set forth in the Council's rules of order, provided, however,
that such rules do not abridge the following provisions:
1.
The total time allotted for each speaker shall be at least five minutes.
2.
Public input on meeting agenda items must occur prior to the Council's
consideration of such items.
3.
No citizen of Troy, nor an attorney representing a citizen of Troy,
shall be denied the right to speak.
4.
The presiding officer of the meeting shall have sole discretion in
limiting a speaker's remarks if they are deemed disruptive, obscene,
or defamatory.
