There shall be a City Council of five (5) members, nominated
and elected by the qualified voters of the City at large. Another
two (2) councilpersons shall be elected at the municipal election
immediately following the certification of any census figures indicating
that the population of the City of Scranton has increased by at least
35,000 over the census figures of 1970.
The terms of all councilpersons shall be for four (4) years
commencing at noon on the first Monday of January following the year
in which they are elected, except that a councilperson appointed to
fill a vacancy shall serve from the date of his appointment until
the next general election if more than fifty (50) percent of the unexpired
term remains. In all other instances the appointment shall be for
the unexpired term.
The regular election of councilpersons shall be held on the
general municipal election day as established from time to time by
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The procedure for nomination
and election of councilpersons shall be established by the general
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for municipal elections.
Each councilperson shall receive such a salary as Council shall
from time to time ordain. No salary increase shall become effective
until the date of commencement of the terms of councilpersons elected
at the next regular election after such salary increase, provided
that such election follows the adoption of such ordinance by at least
six months. Councilpersons shall receive no other compensation, direct
or indirect, for the performance of their duties. They shall be entitled
to actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
A Councilperson shall be a citizen of the United States, shall
have been a resident of the City for at least one (1) year prior to
the date of his election; shall be at least the minimum voting age
at the time of his nomination; and shall reside in the City of Scranton
throughout his term of service.
Council shall deal with all administrative agencies and employees
only as a body through the Mayor. No individual councilperson shall
have any authority whatsoever under this Charter unless such authority
is specifically delegated by the Charter or by the Council acting
as a body.
No councilperson shall hold any other compensated city office
or employment during the term for which he is elected to Council and
no former councilperson shall hold any compensated appointive city
office or employment, nor shall be act as a paid consultant to the
City until one (1) year after the expiration of the term for which
he was elected to Council.
The office of councilperson shall become vacant upon his death,
resignation, removal from office, failure to assume such office within
thirty (30) days after commencement of the term or in any manner authorized
by law or by this charter. A councilperson shall forfeit his office
if he lacks at any time during his term of office any qualifications
for the office prescribed in this Charter or by law or is convicted
of a felony or a crime in violation of public trust or is found in
violation of the Code of Ethics by Council.
If a vacancy exists in the city council, the city council shall,
as provided in the administrative code, fill such vacancy, within
thirty (30) days thereafter, by electing a qualified person to serve
until the first Monday of January when his successor who shall have
been elected by the qualified electors at the next municipal election,
is duly sworn into office for the remainder of the term of the person
originally elected to said office. If, at any time, vacancies should
occur or exist in the membership of all members of city council, the
court of common pleas shall appoint a city council, of persons properly
qualified, who shall serve as herein provided.
The City Council shall meet at such times and places as shall
be designated in the Administrative Code. The Council shall meet to
organize on the first Monday in January following the municipal election.
At this time, the City Council shall elect, from among its members,
officers who shall have the titles of President and Vice-President,
whom who shall serve for a two (2) year term. The president shall
preside at meetings of the Council and perform such other functions
as may be assigned by the charter, by ordinance or by vote of the
City Council. The vice-president shall act as president during the
absence or disability of the president.
Councilpersons prior to assuming office, shall take and shall
sign an oath of office as shall from time to time be prescribed by
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Such oath may be taken
and signed before a judge, district magistrate, or notary public of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and no person shall be permitted
to assume office until the oath, in written form, is filed with the
City Clerk.
The Council may make investigations into the affairs of the
City and the conduct of any department, office, or agency in aid of
its legislative powers and functions, and may issue subpoenas for
these purposes.
Council shall provide for an independent audit of all City revenue
and accounts by a certified public accountant who has no private interest
in the fiscal affairs of the City government or any of its elected
or appointed officers. Council may provide for more frequent audits,
as well as, special audits, as it deems necessary and said special
audits shall be conducted by a certified public accountant. The complete
annual audit shall be submitted to City Council who shall conform
to existing legislation. A summary of the fiscal affairs shall be
published in the local newspapers by May 31 of each year.
