Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, the governing
and legislative body of the Town shall be a Town Council exercising
all powers authorized by state law. The Town Council shall consist
of seven Councilors, of whom three Councilors shall be elected at
large, and one Councilor shall be elected from each district.
The term of office for members of the Town Council shall be
for three years, or until the election and qualification of their
successors.
To be eligible for election to the office of Town Councilor,
a candidate must be 18 years of age, be a resident of the Town for
at least one calendar year before the election and, in the case of
a district Councilor, be a resident of the district to be represented.
If a Councilor or any elected official of the Town moves from the
Town, or from the district in the case of a district Councilor, and
establishes a domicile in some other place, the office shall be declared
vacant and shall be filled as provided for by this Charter.
The Council shall, by the affirmative vote of a majority of
all its members, at its first regular meeting following each regular
Town election, choose one of its members Chairman for a term of one
year. The Council shall choose one of its members Chairman Pro Tem,
for a term of one year, who shall act in the absence or disability
of the Chairman. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office
of Chairman, the Council shall choose one of its members Chairman
at the next regular meeting to serve for the unexpired term. The Chairman
shall be the official head of the Town for all ceremonial purposes,
shall preside at all meetings of the Council and may speak and vote
at such meetings.
Town Councilors shall be elected for terms of three years on
a staggered basis, under the following schedule: At the first regular
Town election following the effective date of this Charter (1994),
there shall be elected one Councilor-at-large and the Councilor for
District 1; at the second ensuing regular Town election (1995), there
shall be elected one Councilor-at-large and the Councilors for Districts
2 and 4; at the third ensuing regular Town election (1996), there
shall be elected one Councilor-at-large and a district Councilor for
District 3. Thereafter, Town Councilors shall be elected on the same
schedule in each ensuing three-year cycle.
The Town Council may, on specific charges and after due notice
and hearing, at any time remove one of its own members for cause,
including but not limited to prolonged absence from or other inattention
to duties, crime or misconduct in office, or as specified in this
Charter.
In case a vacancy occurs in the Town Council for any reason,
the remaining Town Councilors shall, by majority vote, appoint an
acting Councilor from among persons eligible to hold the vacant office
to serve until the next regular Town election, at which point the
vacancy shall be filled by election for the remainder of the unexpired
term. The Town Council shall act to fill a vacancy no later than 21
days after the vacancy has been officially declared. If such action
is not taken within 21 days, the appointment shall be made by the
Chairman of the Council. The person so appointed shall be sworn and
commence to serve forthwith.
The Town Council shall establish an annual salary and expense
allowance for its members, subject to the following: No increase in
such salary or expense allowance shall be effective unless it shall
have been adopted by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the Town
Council. The new salary and expense schedule shall be included in
next Town budget process and shall take effect in the fiscal period
to which that budget applies. No Councilor in office at the time the
new schedule is adopted shall receive any benefit of the new schedule
during the remainder of the Councilor's then-current term of
office.
(A) The Town Council shall from time to time establish rules for its
proceedings. Regular meetings of the Town Council shall be held at
a time and place fixed by the Council but which shall be not less
frequent than once monthly. Special meetings of the Town Council may
be held on the call of the Town Administrator, or the Chairman of
the Council, or on the call of any three or more members, by written
notice delivered to the place of residence or business of each member
at least 48 hours in advance of the time set. Sessions of the Town
Council shall be open to the public, in accordance with RSA 91-A.
Every matter coming before the Town Council for action shall be put
to a vote, the result of which shall be duly recorded.
(B) A majority of all the members of the Town Council shall constitute
a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of
the Town Council shall be necessary to adopt any appropriation. Except
as otherwise provided by law or this Charter, any other action or
measure may be adopted by a majority vote of those present.
The Clerk of the Town Council shall be the Town Clerk. The Clerk
of the Town Council or designee shall give notice of all meetings
of the Town Council to its members and to the public, shall keep a
record of its proceedings and shall perform such duties as may be
assigned by the Charter, by ordinance, or by other vote of the Town
Council.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, members of the
Town Council shall not hold any other office or employment with the
Town. Former members of the Town Council shall not be eligible for
appointment as a compensated Town officer or employee until one year
after the expiration of their service.