(a)
Number; selection; length of term. All legislative powers of the
City are vested in a Council consisting of seven Councilmembers, who
shall be elected as hereinafter provided and who shall hold office
for a term of two years, or until their successors take office, except
that beginning with the election in May 2013, the term of office for
all Councilmembers shall be four years, or until their successors
take office.
[Amended 3-11-2013 by Res. No. CR-05-2013]
(b)
Beginning and end of term. The regular term of Councilmembers shall
begin one hour after the start of the regular Council meeting on the
second Monday in June following their election and shall expire upon
the seating of their successors. Councilmembers holding office at
the time this Charter becomes effective shall continue to hold office
for the term for which they were elected or until their successors
take office under the provisions of this Charter.
[Amended 5-13-2013 by Res. No. CR-06-2013; 1-9-2017 by Res. No. CR-07-2017; 10-10-2017 by Ord. No. CR-02-2018]
Councilmembers shall be at least 21 years of age, shall have
resided in the City for at least one year immediately preceding their
election, and shall be qualified voters of the City pursuant to Section
702 of this Charter. Any person who has claimed a principal residence
outside of the corporate limits of the City of Glenarden in filings
with the State of Maryland, including as part of an application for
the homestead tax credit, is not a resident for purposes of this section
for the time period claimed.
Each Councilmember shall receive an annual salary which shall
be equal for all Councilmembers and shall be as specified from time
to time by an ordinance passed by the Council in the regular course
of its business, provided, however, that the salary specified at the
time any Councilmember takes office shall not be changed during the
term for which that Councilmember was elected. The ordinance making
any change in the salary paid to the several Councilmembers, either
by way of increase or decrease, shall be finally ordained prior to
the election of the members to whom the salary increase shall apply.
(a)
The newly elected Council shall meet on the second Monday in June
following its election for the purpose of organization, after which
the Council shall meet regularly at such times as may be prescribed
by its rules but not less frequently than once each month except,
however, that during the months of July and August the regularly scheduled
meetings may be canceled by a majority of the members of the Council.
Special meetings shall be called by the Clerk to the Council upon
the request of the Mayor, President of the Council, or a majority
of the members of the Council.
(b)
Closed sessions. The Council may meet in closed session or adjourn
an open session to a closed session only to:
(2)
Protect the privacy or reputation of individuals with respect
to a matter that is not related to public business;
(3)
Consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose
and matters directly related thereto;
(4)
Consider the investment of public funds;
(5)
Consider the marketing of public securities;
(6)
Consult with legal counsel to obtain legal advice;
(7)
Consult with staff, consultants or other individuals about pending
or potential litigation;
(8)
Conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters
that relate to the negotiations;
(10)
Conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or
possible criminal conduct;
(11)
Comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicially
imposed requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular
proceeding or matter;
[Amended 4-11-2011 by Res. No. CR-01-2011]
(12)
Before a contract is awarded or bids are opened, discuss a matter
directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid
or proposal, if public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact
the ability of the Council to participate in the competitive bidding
or proposal process;
(13)
Consider a matter that concerns a proposal for a business or industrial
organization to locate, expand or remain in the state; or
[Added 4-11-2011 by Res.
No. CR-01-2011]
(14)
Prepare, administer or grade a scholastic, licensing or qualifying
examination.
[Added 4-11-2011 by Res.
No. CR-01-2011]
(c)
Procedure for closing sessions. Before the Council meets in closed
session, a majority of the Councilmembers present and voting must
vote in favor of closing the session. The vote must be conducted and
recorded in accordance with State law, and a written statement of
the reason for closing the meeting must be made in accordance with
State law.
(a)
President. At its organizational meeting on the second Monday of
June following its election, the Council shall select from its members
a President of the Council. The President of the Council shall preside
over all meetings of the Council and shall perform other duties as
specified by the Council by resolution.
(b)
Vice President. At its organizational meeting on the second Monday
of June following its election, the Council shall select from its
members a Vice President of the Council who shall execute the duties
of the President in the absence of the President.
A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business but no ordinance shall be approved
nor any other action taken without the favorable votes of at least
four members of the Council.
(a)
Procedure of Council. The Council shall determine its own rules and
order of business. It shall keep a journal of its proceedings and
enter therein yeas and nays upon final action on any question, resolution,
or ordinance, or at any other time if required by any one member.
The journal shall be open to public inspection. No action requiring
a vote of the Council shall be taken except in a public meeting. All
votes of the Council on ordinances shall be taken by roll call. All
other votes of the Council shall be by roll call only at the request
of any Councilmember.
(b)
Copy of minutes. A duplicate copy of the minutes of all regular and
special meetings of the Council shall be posted in bound cumulative
form within 30 days in the administrative office and shall be open
to public inspection during regular working hours.
(c)
Copy for Councilmembers. Each Councilmember shall be given a complete
copy of the minutes of each meeting of the Council, regular and special,
that occurs while he or she is a member of the Council.
(a)
Definitions.
(1)
Resolution shall mean a formal expression of opinion, will or
intent of the Council adopted by a vote of the Council and, unless
otherwise required by law, is without the force of an ordinance.
(2)
Ordinance shall mean a legislative enactment adopted in a manner
prescribed by this section, that shall have the full force of law.
(b)
A resolution may be introduced by any Councilmember at any regular
or special meeting of the Council. Unless otherwise required by law,
a resolution may be enacted by the Council only after a public hearing
has been held. A resolution may not be passed on the same day as the
public hearing, but may be passed at any regular or special meeting
of the Council held not less than six days after the public hearing.
A resolution shall be enacted by the affirmative vote of at least
four members of the Council.
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Res. No. CR-04-2017]
(c)
An ordinance may be introduced by any Councilmember at any regular
or special meeting of the Council. No ordinance shall be passed at
the meeting at which it is introduced. An ordinance may not be passed
until after a public hearing has been held and an ordinance may not
be passed on the same day as the public hearing. At any regular or
special meeting of the Council, held not less than six nor more than
60 days after the public hearing, the proposed ordinance shall be
passed, or passed as amended, or rejected, or its consideration deferred
to some specified future date. In cases of emergency the provision
that an ordinance may not be passed at the meeting at which it is
introduced may be suspended by the affirmative votes of five members
of the Council.
[Amended 3-20-2017 by Res. No. CR-04-2017]
(d)
All ordinances passed by the Council shall be promptly delivered
by the Clerk to the Mayor for his or her approval or disapproval.
If the Mayor approves any ordinance, he or she shall sign it. If the
Mayor disapproves any ordinance, he or she shall not sign it. The
Mayor shall return all ordinances to the Clerk within six days after
delivery to him or her (excluding the first day, including the last
day, and excluding any Sunday) with his or her approval or disapproval.
Any disapproved ordinance shall not become a law unless subsequently
passed by a favorable vote of five-sevenths of the whole Council within
35 calendar days from the time of the return of the ordinance. If
the Mayor fails to return any ordinance within six days of its delivery,
it shall be deemed to be approved by the Mayor and shall become law
in the same manner as an ordinance signed by him or her.
(e)
Every ordinance, unless it is passed as an emergency ordinance, shall
become effective at the expiration of 20 calendar days following approval
by the Mayor or passage by the Council over the Mayor's veto. An emergency
ordinance shall become effective on the date specified in the ordinance,
but no ordinance shall become effective until approved by the Mayor
or passed over his or her veto by the Council.
