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.