§ 2-47. City council.

(a)

Generally. The city council shall determine the election and qualifications of its own members, and shall determine the rules of its proceedings and keep a correct journal thereof which shall be open to the inspection and examination of any person.

(b)

Meetings. The city council shall hold its regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at such time and place as may be determined by the city council by ordinance entered upon the minutes. The city council may adjourn from day to day until such business as is before it may be finished. Meetings of the city council shall at all times be open to the public except when in executive session. Special meetings may be called at any time by the mayor of his own motion, or in case of his failure to call the same, a special meeting may be called by a majority of the members of the city council, whenever they deem it expedient to do so, on notice specifying the time of such meeting to each councilman, city secretary and city attorney.

(c)

Quorum. A majority of the members of the city council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(d)

Presiding officer. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the city council, when present, and shall preserve order and decorum. He shall decide all questions of order and may speak as other members of the city council. The mayor may enforce such rules for the regulation of the council's proceedings in the order of business, discussion, decorum and order as the city council shall adopt.

(e)

Sergeant-at-arms. The chief of police or his representative shall act as sergeant-at-arms of the city council during its sessions.

(f)

Approval of minutes. At the time of meeting of the city council the mayor shall take the chair and call the city council to order, direct the roll to be called and, if a quorum be present, shall cause the unapproved minutes to be read, and if need by, corrected, and adopted.

(g)

Revenue ordinances; resolutions or orders to enter into contracts. No money shall be appropriated by the city council except by ordinance. No ordinance increasing, lessening or abolishing licenses, borrowing money or appropriating for any purpose the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more or in any way increasing or diminishing the city revenue shall be passed by the city council except by a concurrent vote of a majority of the members elected. When such ordinance is so passed the ayes and nays shall be called and entered on the journal. The concurrence of a like majority shall be necessary to the passage of adoption of any resolution or order to enter into any contract.

(Code 1970, §§ 2-41—2-47, 26-34)

Charter reference

Vesting of corporate powers, art. II, § 2; city council generally, art. VII.

Cross reference

Access by public to information in custody of governmental agencies and bodies, VTCS Art. 6252-17a.