The number of Council members, their terms, election and qualifications and the filling of Council vacancies shall be as provided in Article Three, The Council, of the Home Rule Charter.
A. 
The Council shall organize on the first Monday of January of each even-numbered year. At that time, Council shall elect a Deputy Mayor and President pro tempore from among its members. Those elected shall hold the offices at the pleasure of the Council. If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the meeting and organization shall take place the following day. Any action taken by any Council at any time between 12:01 a.m. on January 1 of an even-numbered year and the organization of Council in that year shall be subject to reconsideration by the new Council at any time within 10 days after organization. The Council may, at the organizational meeting, appoint other officers as may be provided for by law or ordinance, or as may be deemed necessary for the conduct of affairs of the Town, and may transact any other business as may come before the meeting of Council and perform other duties as are prescribed by this article, Home Rule Charter, or by ordinance.
B. 
The order of business for the organization meeting shall be:
(1) 
Administration of the oath(s) of office.
(2) 
Election of the Deputy Mayor of Council. Members shall vote by voice vote with a record made of how each member voted.
(3) 
Election of President pro tempore in the same manner as the Deputy Mayor.
(4) 
Election or appointment of other officers or officials deemed necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the Town.
(5) 
Conduct of business, as necessary.
(6) 
Adjournment to a definite date.
C. 
The Mayor shall preside over the election of the Deputy Mayor of Council and President pro tempore.
D. 
In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall excercise the duties of the Mayor. In the absence of both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the President pro tempore shall have all the powers of the Mayor.
A. 
Public notice. Provisions governing public notice of meetings shall be provided in accordance with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (Open Meetings Law).[1] Such notice shall include the date, time, and location of the meeting, should state the purpose of the meeting and must be printed in a paid newspaper of general circulation within the Town such as The Record Argus. A notice must also be posted in a conspicuous at the location where the meetings will take place.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
B. 
Regular meetings. It shall be the duty of the Council to meet at least once per month or at more frequent regular intervals as the Council may from time to time designate. The Council may adjourn to a stated time for general business or for special business. If no quorum is present at a stated monthly or adjourned meeting, a majority of those who do meet may agree upon another date for a meeting and may continue to do so until the meeting is held. Regular public meetings of the Town Council shall be held in the Greenville Municipal Building, 125 Main Street, or at such location as may be designated by the Council on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time.
C. 
Special meetings.
(1) 
The Council may hold and take action at a special meeting or an emergency meeting in addition to a regularly scheduled meeting at any time in accordance with Article Three, Section 12, of the Home Rule Charter. Such special or emergency meetings may be called by the Chief Administrative Officer or by any member of the Council, provided that:
(a) 
A quorum is present as provided in the Charter; and
(b) 
A majority of the Council determine that the holding of such meeting and the taking of action at that time is necessary to protect or promote the public health and safety of the Town.
(2) 
Public notice 24 hours prior to any special or emergency meetings must be given in a newspaper of paid general circulation within the Town such as The Record Argus.
D. 
Work or agenda-setting sessions. The Council may hold work or agenda-setting sessions in addition to its regularly scheduled business meeting to discuss matters and set agenda items. No official action shall be taken by the Council on any matter during such meetings. Work or agenda-setting sessions must be advertised and open to the public in accordance with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act (Open Meeting Law).[2] Work sessions shall be held at the Greenville Municipal Building, 125 Main Street, and shall occur the Wednesday preceding the regular public meetings at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
E. 
Adjourned meetings. In the event Council chooses to adjourn a regular or special meetings, the meeting shall be held at the Greenville Municipal Building, 125 Main Street. The meeting shall reconvene at a date and time specified by Council in accordance with Article Three, Section 12, of the Home Rule Charter.
A. 
At any regular, adjourned, or special meeting of the Council at which a quorum is not present, those members present shall instruct the Town Manager to notify in writing those members absent from said meeting of the time and place of the next scheduled meeting of the Council. When a Council member is absent from the physical location of a meeting, but wishes to participate in the meeting, Council may authorize such participation by a telecommunication device for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) 
Illness or disability of the member of Council;
(2) 
Care for the ill or newborn in the member's immediate family;
(3) 
The death of someone in the member's immediate family;
(4) 
Emergency; and
(5) 
Family or business travel.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the protections and prohibitions contained in any law or regulation relating to the rights of the disabled.
All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public as provided by the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (Opening Meeting Law).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
A. 
The proposed agenda for any meeting of the Council shall be prepared by the Town Manager in consultation with the Mayor.
B. 
The proposed agenda for any advertised meeting shall be forwarded to all members of the Council and be available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the advertised monthly meeting. In addition, the agenda for advertised monthly meetings, adjourned monthly meetings, special meetings and, when possible, emergency meetings, shall be posted in a conspicuous location on the entrance door of the Municipal Building and on the Town's official website.
C. 
The title of any ordinance or resolution to be considered shall be published as part of the agenda.
D. 
Supporting materials, including the full text of any ordinances or resolutions to be considered, should be available in the office of the Town Manager to the public and all members of the Council prior to a meeting where action will be taken.
E. 
The published agenda may be amended at the meeting by a majority of the members present, plus one. No matters other than those on the agenda as amended shall be acted upon by the Council.
A. 
Council during its organization meeting shall reaffirm its commitment to rules of procedure rooted in Robert's Rules of Order for the orderly conduct of its meetings and prescribed in accordance with Article Three, Section 12, of the Home Rule Charter and this Administrative Code. Such rules permit everyone to be heard and for Council to make decisions without confusion. The Solicitor shall be responsible for advising the Mayor on the application and interpretation of the rules of procedure. The presiding officer shall announce all decisions of the Council and shall decide all questions of order without debate, subject, however, to an appeal by any Council member. Any ruling by the presiding officer may be overruled by a majority of the members present. Any circumstance called into question and not specifically addressed in the Home Rule Charter or Administrative Code shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
B. 
Call meeting to order. At the time appointed for any meeting of the Council, the Mayor shall take the chair and call the meeting to order. If a quorum is present, as provided in the Home Rule Charter, the Mayor shall proceed with the order of business prescribed for the meeting. If, upon the call of the roll, a quorum is not present, the Mayor shall order a recess for a period of 15 minutes, and if a quorum has not developed by that time, the Mayor shall declare the meeting adjourned.
C. 
Order of business. Unless a majority of the Council votes otherwise, the order of business for each regular meeting shall be fixed to include the following items:
(1) 
Call to order.
(2) 
Invocation and flag salute.
(3) 
Roll call.
(4) 
Public hearing as necessary.
(5) 
Public comments.
(a) 
Residents.
(b) 
Nonresidents.
(6) 
Approval of minutes.
(7) 
Bills for approval.
(8) 
Approval of department and staff reports and reports of municipal boards, commissions, committees, or special advisory groups.
(a) 
Financial reports.
(b) 
Code enforcement.
(c) 
Police Department.
(d) 
Fire Department.
(e) 
Public Works.
(9) 
Unfinished business.
(10) 
New business.
(11) 
Mayor's comments.
(12) 
Council comments.
(13) 
Town Manager comments.
(14) 
General public comments.
(15) 
Adjournment.
D. 
Public participation. The Mayor, with the approval of the majority of members, may impose a time limit of five minutes on public comments. If there is an item of obvious controversy or of wide public concern that has brought an overflow crowd to the meeting, the Mayor may alter the order of items on the agenda to deal with the matter in an efficient and effective manner.
A. 
Orderly conduct of business. The presiding officer shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of business at each Council meeting and shall preserve order and decorum during such meetings.
B. 
Recognition. Members of Council wishing to speak shall make their intentions known by respectfully addressing the Mayor. When two or more members request the floor at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the one entitled to the floor. Upon recognition by the presiding officer, members shall direct their comments to the Mayor and confine their comments to the question under discussion. No member shall speak more than 15 minutes upon the same motion in the same meeting, nor for more than five minutes at a time, without the consent of the majority of Council members present. Members shall avoid all indecorous language or conduct.
C. 
Interruptions. A member of the Council, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is for the purpose of explanation or calling the member to order. No member shall be interrupted while speaking, except to be called to order. If called to order, he shall cease speaking until the question of order be decided, when, if permitted, he may proceed.
D. 
Terminating debate. Any member desirous of terminating the debate may move the previous question, in which event the presiding officer shall announce the question as "shall the main question now be put?" If a two-thirds majority 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 bring the Council to a direct vote, first upon any pending amendments, and then upon the main question.
E. 
Actions. When a question is under discussion, no action shall be in order except to lay on the table, move the previous question, to postpone to a certain day, to refer to a committee, to amend or to postpone indefinitely. These motions shall have precedence in the order listed.
F. 
Voting. Any member may request a roll call vote at any time. A majority vote of any quorum present in favor of a proposed ordinance, motion, resolution or appointment shall be necessary for passage or approval, unless a larger number is required by statute. The roll of members shall be called voting by rotating alphabetical order of the roll call (except for the Mayor, who shall vote last). A Council member who is present at the meeting shall not abstain from voting unless the member has a conflict of interest and publicly acknowledges the conflict prior to the vote.
G. 
Reconsideration. It is permissible for any member voting in the majority to move for a reconsideration of the vote of any question at the meeting when the vote occurred. A motion to reconsider, being put and lost, shall not be renewed at the same meeting.
H. 
Suspension of rules. These rules or any part thereof may be temporarily suspended with a two-thirds vote of members present. All motions for suspension of the rules shall be without debate.
Council welcomes and provides for public participation in the local legislative policymaking. This section specifies the process for public participation.
A. 
Citizens and taxpayers desiring to be placed on the agenda to address the Council at a duly advertised meeting may do so by providing written notice to the Town Manager specifying the issue or concern to be discussed at least 24 hours prior to the day of the meeting. Such advance notice provides members of Council an opportunity to adequately prepare a response.
B. 
Citizens or taxpayers in attendance at a duly advertised meeting shall be provided the opportunity to address the Council on any agenda item without written notice. The presiding officer shall limit the time each person shall speak to three minutes and shall give equal time to all. Such discussion shall occur prior to the vote on the agenda item.
C. 
When a group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the presiding officer to request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group to address the Council and to limit the number of persons addressing the Council on the same matter so as to avoid unnecessary repetition.
D. 
Citizens are permitted by the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (Open Meetings Act)[1] to record meetings with an audio or video recorder. Council may issue reasonable rules concerning the use of recording devices in order to avoid disruption of meetings.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
E. 
Any person making offensive, insulting, threatening, insolent, slanderous, or obscene remarks or who becomes boisterous or who makes threats against any person or against public order and security while in the Council chamber shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer from further audience at the meeting unless permission to continue is granted by the majority vote of the Council members in attendance. A police officer on duty during a meeting of Council may be designated as ex officio Sergeant at Arms of the Council to carry out instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum in the Council chamber.
The Council may, at any time, provide for standing, special and ad hoc committees to assist with the carrying out of its function to develop public policy and provide oversight of municipal administration in areas such as finance, public works, recreation, and public safety. The presiding officer shall appoint the chairperson for each committee. Committees shall be comprised of no more than three members. All Council members shall serve on at least one standing committee. Any such committee appointed by the Council shall, thereafter, report to the Council at the regular stated meetings of that body. The presiding officer shall be the chair when Council meets as the Committee of the Whole.
Consistent with Article Three, Section 3.12(b) of the Home Rule Charter and the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act (Open Meetings Act),[1] minutes of all voting meetings of the Town Council and committees of the Town Council shall be kept. Minutes shall record the time, date and place of the meeting, the names of the members present, the substance of all official action taken during the meetings, and a record of how each individual voted. The minutes also must list all members of the public who participated in the meeting and a summary of their comments. Minutes shall not contain a verbatim record of any proceeding, except a public hearing where testimony is taken under oath required by the Home Rule Charter or state or federal laws.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701 et seq.
Official actions of the Council shall be taken by ordinance, resolution, or motion, as provided in Article Three of the Home Rule Charter.
A. 
Motions.
(1) 
Motions are used by Council to initiate actions to adopt ordinances and resolutions as well as transact or approve routine business items such as approve minutes or accept reports that do not require an ordinance or resolution.
(2) 
Any member making a motion shall indicate his intention, and no motion shall be considered in debate until it shall have been stated by the Mayor and, when demanded by a majority of the members of Council present, shall be reduced to writing and read before the same shall be debatable.
B. 
Ordinances.
(1) 
Actions requiring an ordinance. Acts of the Council shall be by ordinance in accordance with Article Three of the Home Rule Charter which provides the form, procedure, effective date and publication specifications. All votes on ordinances shall be by roll call.
(2) 
Introduction of ordinances. An ordinance may be introduced by any member of Council at any stated monthly or special meeting of the Council. At the time of its introduction, the member of the Council introducing the ordinance, or anyone who may be designated to do so, shall give a brief description of the purpose and content of the ordinance. Upon introduction of any ordinance, a copy shall be distributed to each Council member and to the Town Manager, and a reasonable number of copies shall be filed in such other public places as the Council may designate.
(3) 
Ordinances requiring prior public notice and hearing. No final action shall be taken on the following types of ordinances and/or amendments thereto without public hearing thereon and at least 10 but not more than 30 days following published public notice, unless otherwise specified by state or federal law:
(a) 
Adopt or amend an Administrative Code or establish, alter, or abolish any Town department, commission, office, or an authority;
(b) 
Provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed;
(c) 
Levy taxes;
(d) 
Grant, renew, or extend a franchise;
(e) 
Regulate the rate charged for its services by a public utility;
(f) 
Authorize the borrowing of money;
(g) 
Convey or lease or authorize the conveyance or lease of any lands of the Town;
(h) 
Regulate land use and development;
(i) 
Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted; or
(j) 
Adopt, with or without amendment, ordinances proposed under the initiative power.
(4) 
Copies of ordinances. Copies of ordinances shall be available to all persons requesting them upon payment of a reasonable reproduction charge as established by Town Council.
C. 
Resolutions.
(1) 
Resolutions: generally. Resolutions are generally used for purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) 
Ceremonial or congratulatory expressions of the goodwill of the Council;
(b) 
Statements of public policy of the Council;
(c) 
Approval of formal agreements of the Town, except for agreements arising under an established purchasing system of the Town;
(d) 
Approval, if required, of administrative rules, regulations and bylaws arising under state statutes or Town ordinances; or
(e) 
The filling of Town-appointed positions and of vacancies of elected officials.
(2) 
Resolutions: emergency declarations. To respond to a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the Council may adopt one or more emergency resolutions within seven days of a declaration of emergency issued by the Mayor, which may be adopted without prior notice and may be made effective immediately. An emergency resolution shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for resolution generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency resolution and shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing it in clear and specific terms. After its adoption the resolution shall be published and printed as prescribed for other legislative actions. It shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time as it may specify. Every emergency resolution shall automatically stand repealed as of 90 days following the date on which it was adopted, but this shall not prevent reenactment of the resolution in the manner specified in this subsection if the emergency still exists. An emergency resolution may also be repealed by adoption of a repealing resolution in the same manner as specified for the adoption of an emergency resolution.
A. 
The Council shall provide for an independent post-audit of all municipal revenues, expenditures, and accounts by a certified public accountant or a certified public accounting firm as provided for in Article Three, Section 11, and Article Six, Section 15, of the Home Rule Charter. The Council may designate such accountant or firm annually or for a period not exceeding six years, provided that the designation for any particular fiscal year shall be made no later than February 15 of each succeeding year.
B. 
The Council shall, within 30 days after completion of the audit, publish a concise financial statement in a newspaper of general circulation setting forth the Town's financial condition and the date the independent auditor's report was filed with the Council.
Provisions as to salary and expense reimbursement shall be as provided in Article Three, Section 4, of the Home Rule Charter.
A. 
To protect the Town Council members from personal liability in the performance of their duties, indemnification and personal liability insurance shall be provided by the Town. The amounts and limits of said insurance will be determined in the annually approved insurance contracts as outlined in § 4-102, Bonds and Insurance, of this Administrative Code.
B. 
Every Council member shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any adverse action by reason of the fact that he/she is a Council member, if the Council member acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Town with no reasonable cause to believe his/her conduct was unlawful with respect to any criminal action or proceeding. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Council member did not act in good faith and in a manner which he/she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Town and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. To the extent that the Council member has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any adverse action, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith as of right. In all other instances, indemnification should be made by the Town only as authorized in a specific case upon a determination that the indemnification of the Council member is proper in the circumstances because he/she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth above. Such determination shall be made by the Town Council by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Council members who are not parties to the adverse action or, if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a disinterested quorum of the Council member so directs, by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
C. 
Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Town in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding as authorized by the Town Council in a specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Council member to repay such an amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he/she is entitled to be indemnified by the Town as provided herein.
D. 
The indemnification provided by this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled by any contract or as a matter of law.
E. 
The indemnification shall continue as to such person who has ceased to be a Council member and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.