A. 
Composition. City Council shall consist of the Mayor and six members to be elected by the qualified voters of the City at large. The Mayor and other Council members shall have equal voting rights.
B. 
Eligibility. Only qualified voters of the City shall be eligible to hold the office of Mayor or Council person.
C. 
Election and terms. The regular election of the Mayor and other members of the Council shall be held on the general municipal election day as established from time to time by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commencing in the year 1975. In every non-mayoral municipal election, four Council persons shall be elected for the full four year terms in order that the Council be maintained at six Council persons and a Mayor. The terms of the Mayor and all Council persons shall be four years commencing at 8:00 p.m. on the first Monday of January following the year in which they are elected, except that a Mayor or Council person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term thereof.
D. 
Election procedures. The procedure for nomination and election of a Mayor and Council shall be established by the general laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for municipal election.
E. 
Salary. Each Council person shall receive a salary at the rate of $900 or such other sum as the Council shall from time to time ordain; provided, however, that no ordinance increasing such salary shall become effective for at least four years after the effective date of the Charter. No such increase in salary, however, shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms of Council persons elected at the next regular election after such salary increase; provided, that such election follows the adoption of such ordinance by at least one year. Council persons shall receive no other compensation, direct or indirect, for the performance of their duties; they shall not participate in employee pension plans or insurance programs for the benefit of municipal employees, or other forms of fringe benefits, except, however, nothing in this section shall preclude the right of a municipality to provide accident, and health insurance or liability insurance coverage for members of Council when on municipal business or when in the performance of their official duties, limited to the duration of their term. They shall, however, be entitled to their reasonable, actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
F. 
Authority. All Councilmanic authority shall be asserted by the Councilmanic body only. No individual Council person shall have any authority whatsoever under this article unless such authority is specifically delegated by the Charter or by the Council acting as a body.
G. 
Prohibitions.
(1) 
Holding other office. Except where authorized by law, neither the Mayor nor any Council person shall hold any other City office or City employment during the term for which he was elected. No former Mayor or Council person shall hold any compensated appointive City office or City employment until one year after the expiration of the term for which he was elected to office.
(2) 
Appointment and removals. Neither the Mayor nor any Council person shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any City administrative officers or employees whom the Manager or any of his subordinates are empowered to appoint, but they may express their views and fully and freely discuss with the Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees.
(3) 
Interference with administration. Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under § C6-601, the Mayor or the Council shall deal with City officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Manager solely through the Manager; they shall not give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.
H. 
Vacancies. The office of Mayor or Council person shall become vacant upon his death, resignation, removal from office in any manner authorized by law or the Charter, or forfeiture of his office, or for death or for failure to assume such office after election thereto within 45 days after the commencement of the term thereof. A Mayor or Council person shall forfeit his office if he lacks at any time during his term of office any qualification for the office prescribed by the Charter or by law or is convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or fails to attend at least three consecutive regular meetings of the Council without being excused by the Council, or violates any express prohibition of the Charter. In the case of failure of attendance, the Council shall declare such office vacant at the next regular meeting.
I. 
Filling of vacancies. If a vacancy shall occur in the office of Council person for any reason set forth in the Charter, the remaining members of the Council shall fill the vacancy by appointing a person qualified under the Charter to hold such office for the unexpired term thereof. If the Council shall refuse, fail or neglect, or be unable, for any reason whatsoever, to fill such vacancy within 32 days after the vacancy occurs, or is declared by Council, then the Court of Common Pleas shall, upon petition of the Council or of any five citizens of the City, fill the vacancy in such office by the appointment of a qualified resident of the City until the next regular municipal election.
J. 
Judge of qualifications. The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office and for that purpose shall have power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence. A member charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of his or her office shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand, and notice of such hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the City at least one week in advance of the hearing. Decisions made by the Council under this section shall be subject to review by the courts.
[Amended 3-3-1997 by Ord. No. O-4-1997]
A. 
The City Council shall organize at 8:00 p.m. on the first Monday of January of each even numbered year. If the first Monday is a legal holiday, the meeting and organization shall take place the first day following. The Council may transact any further business it deems necessary or appropriate at the reorganization meeting.
B. 
The Mayor shall serve as President of the Council. The Council shall elect a Deputy Mayor and such other officers as the Council may deem appropriate.
C. 
In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall exercise the duties of the Mayor. In the absence of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, the Council shall appoint a President Pro Tem who shall have all the power of the Mayor.
A. 
Regular meetings. It shall be the duty of the Council to meet stately at least twice a month at such time and place as the Council may from time to time designate. The Council may adjourn to a stated time for general business or for special business. If no quorum is present at a stated monthly or adjourned meeting, a majority of those who do meet may agree upon another date for a meeting and may continue to do so until the meeting is held.
B. 
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or upon written request of at least three of the members thereof. Members shall have at least 24 hours notice in writing of such special meetings. The notice shall, in addition, be posted in the municipal building. Such notice shall contain a statement of the nature of the business to be considered. Such meeting shall consider only items for which the meeting was called. Presence at a meeting constitutes waiver of notice.
C. 
Emergency meetings. The Council may hold and take action at an emergency meeting at any time. Such emergency meetings may be called by the City Manager or by any member of the Council; provided, that:
(1) 
A quorum is present as provided in the Charter; and,
(2) 
A majority of the Council determine that the holding of such meeting and the taking of emergency action at that time is necessary to protect or promote the public health and safety of the City.
D. 
Executive sessions. An executive session may be held during the course of a properly constituted public meeting upon notification to the public present by the presiding officer that for a period not to exceed 30 minutes the meeting will be in recess for the purpose of:
(1) 
Considering dismissal or disciplining of, or hearing complaints or charges brought against a publicly elected officer, employee or other public agent unless such person requests a public hearing.
(2) 
Considering actions of the deliberating body with respect to labor negotiations.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
All meetings or hearings of Council at which formal action is scheduled or taken are public meetings and shall be open to the public at all times. No formal action of Council shall be valid unless such formal action is taken during a public meeting.
B. 
Formal action shall include the taking of any vote on any resolution, rule, order, motion, regulation or ordinance or the setting of any official policy.
C. 
Notice of meetings. All meetings shall be held at specified times and places of which public notice shall be given. Public notice of the schedule of regular meetings shall be given once each calendar year and shall show the regular dates and times for meetings and the place at which meetings are held. Public notice shall be given at least three days prior to the time of the first regularly scheduled meeting.
D. 
Special meetings, rescheduled meetings or regular special meetings. Public notice shall be given of the date, time and place of each such meeting. Public notice thereof shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the time of meeting.
E. 
Notice. Public notice as herein required shall be given by publication once in a newspaper of general circulation and by posting a copy of the notice prominently at the office of the City Clerk, if the meeting is to be held in Council chambers, or at the public building in which the meeting is to be held, if the meeting is to be held at a place other than the City building.
F. 
Actual emergency meetings. A meeting held to deal with an actual emergency shall not require notice as set forth above and it is a public meeting open to the public.
A. 
The proposed agenda for any meeting of the Council shall be prepared by the City Manager in consultation with the President of Council.
B. 
The proposed agenda for any stated meeting shall be forwarded to all members of Council at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. In addition, the agenda for stated monthly meetings, adjourned monthly meetings, special meetings, and where possible, emergency meetings, shall be posted on the door of the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
C. 
The title of any ordinance or resolution to be considered shall be published as part of the agenda.
D. 
The published agenda may be amended at the meeting by a majority of the members present, plus one. No matters other than those on the agenda as amended shall be acted upon by the Council.
A. 
At the time appointed for any meeting of the Council, the President shall take the chair and call the meeting to order. If a quorum is present, as provided in the Charter, the President shall proceed with the order of business prescribed for the meeting, If, upon the call of the roll, a quorum is not present, the President shall order a recess for a period of 45 minutes, and if a quorum has not developed by that time, the President shall declare the meeting adjourned.
B. 
Unless a majority of the Council votes otherwise, the order of business for each regular meeting shall be as follows:
(1) 
Pledge of allegiance.
(2) 
Roll call.
(3) 
Citizen comments.
(4) 
Approval of agenda.
(5) 
Approval of minutes of the previous meeting.
(6) 
Reports of municipal officials.
(7) 
Old business.
(8) 
New business.
(9) 
Adjournment.
A. 
The presiding officer shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of business at each Council meeting and shall preserve order and decorum at such meetings.
B. 
The Council at its organization meeting shall adopt rules governing its procedure. The presiding officer shall announce all decisions of the Council and shall decide all questions of order without debate; subject, however, to an appeal by any Council member. Any ruling by the presiding officer may be overruled by a majority of the members present.
C. 
Every member of Council desiring to speak shall address the chair and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine remarks to the question under debate, avoiding all indecorous language or reference to personalities. A member of the Council, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is for the purpose of calling such person to order. When two or more members request the floor at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the one entitled to the floor.
D. 
The roll of members shall be called alphabetically and rotated each month except that the President shall be called last.
E. 
No member of the Council shall speak more than 10 minutes upon the same motion in the same meeting, nor for more than five minutes at a time, without the consent of the majority of Council members present.
A. 
The Council shall provide reasonable opportunity for interested citizens and taxpayers to address the Council on matters of general or special concern. Citizen's right to be heard shall be the first order of business at all public meetings.
B. 
Citizens desiring to address the Council at its stated meetings may do so by providing written notice to the City Clerk on the subject matter to be discussed at least 30 minutes prior to the time of the meeting; provided, however, that at the discretion of the Mayor this rule under proper circumstances be waived.
C. 
When a group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the presiding officer to request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group to address the Council and to limit the number of persons addressing the Council on the same matter so as to avoid unnecessary repetition.
D. 
Any person making offensive, insulting, threatening, insolent, slanderous, or obscene remarks or who becomes boisterous or who makes threats against any person or against public order and security shall be barred by the presiding officer from continued attendance at that meeting.
The Council may, at any time, provide for standing and ad hoc committees to assist with the carrying out of its function. Any such committee appointed by the Council shall, thereafter, report to the Council at the regular stated meetings of that body.
Official actions of Council may be taken by adoption of an ordinance, of a resolution or by motion. All ordinances and resolutions must be in written form. All actions of a legislative character shall be taken by ordinance. All other actions of Council shall be by resolution or motion, unless otherwise required in the Charter, or in this Administrative Code. However, no such administrative action shall be void or otherwise adversely affected if it shall have been taken by ordinance. All final action in adopting ordinances or resolutions shall be by roll call vote and the vote of each member of Council shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Certain specific action requiring an ordinance. In addition to any other actions required by law or by Charter to be taken by ordinance, those actions of the City Council shall be by ordinance which:
(1) 
Adopt or amend the annual budget and the capital program.
(2) 
Adopt or amend an administrative code or establish, alter or abolish any City department, office or agency.
(3) 
Adopt or amend a code establishing a personnel system for the City.
(4) 
Provide for a fine or other penalty or establish a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed, except for fines of less than $10 per violation.
(5) 
Levy taxes.
(6) 
Grant, renew or extend a franchise.
(7) 
Establish, alter or abolish rates charged for any utility or other service supplied by the City.
(8) 
Authorize the borrowing of money.
(9) 
Convey or lease or authorize the conveyance or lease of any lands of the City.
(10) 
Adopt, with or without amendment, ordinances proposed under the initiative power.
(11) 
Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted unless such previous ordinance action could have been taken by resolution or motion.
B. 
General ordinance requirements.
(1) 
Form. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and in the form required for final adoption. No ordinance shall contain more than one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title. The enacting clause shall be "the City of Farrell hereby ordains..." Any ordinance which repeals or amends an existing ordinance or part of the City Code shall set out in full the ordinance, sections or subsections to be repealed or amended, and shall indicate matter to be omitted by enclosing it in brackets or by strikeout type and shall indicate new matter by underscoring or by italics.
(2) 
Procedure. An ordinance may be introduced by any member at any regular or special meeting of the Council. Upon introduction of any ordinance, the City Clerk shall distribute a copy to each Council member and to the Manager, shall file a reasonable number of copies in the office of the City Clerk and such other public places as the Council may designate.
C. 
Ordinance enactment. Every ordinance shall contain the date of its enactment, and its enactment shall be verified by the signature of the presiding officer of the meeting where final action thereon was taken. The Official Seal of the municipality shall be affixed to the original copy of each ordinance. However, failure on the part of the presiding officer to sign an ordinance or affix the Official Seal shall not in any way invalidate an otherwise valid ordinance.
D. 
Publication and effective date of ordinances. After adoption, all ordinances shall be published one time in a newspaper circulating generally within the City. The full text of the ordinance need not be published; instead the title and a general summary of the substance of the ordinance will be sufficient to meet publication requirements. Publication shall occur within 30 days of the enactment of the ordinance. The effective date of the ordinance shall be the publication date unless a later date is specified in the ordinance, or required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
E. 
Ordinances requiring prior public notice. No final action shall be taken on the following types of ordinances and amendments thereto without public hearing thereon and at least 10 days prior public notice thereof published in a newspaper circulating generally in the City:
(1) 
Zoning ordinance and amendments thereto.
(2) 
Adoption of Zoning Map and amendments thereto.
(3) 
Subdivision regulations.
(4) 
Land development and land use regulations.
(5) 
New taxes or increases in the rates of existing taxes. No prior notice shall be necessary for the reenactment of taxes levied annually at the same rate.
F. 
Emergency ordinances.
(1) 
To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property or the public peace, the Council may adopt one or more emergency ordinances, but such ordinances may not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise, regulate the rate changed by any public utility for its services or authorize the borrowing of other than emergency funds as provided in § C12-1211B of the Charter. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for ordinances generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency ordinance and shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing it in clear and specific terms.
(2) 
An emergency ordinance may be adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced, but the affirmative vote of at least five members shall be required for adoption. After its adoption, the ordinance shall be published and printed as prescribed for other adopted ordinances. It shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time as it may specify. Every emergency ordinance, except one made pursuant to § C12-1211B of the Charter, shall automatically stand repealed as of the sixty-first day following the date on which it was adopted, but this shall not prevent reenactment of the ordinance in the manner specified in this section if the emergency still exists. An emergency ordinance may also be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the same manner specified in this section for adoption of emergency ordinances.
G. 
Penalty. The penalty for the violation of any ordinance shall be that prescribed by Council for each violation. Council may, in any ordinance, provide that for continuing violations each day that a violation exists may be regarded as a separate offense and punishable as such.
H. 
Codes of technical regulations.
(1) 
The Council may adopt any standard code of technical regulations by reference thereto in an adopting ordinance. The procedure and requirements governing such an adopting ordinance shall be as prescribed for ordinances generally except that:
(a) 
The requirements of Subsection B(2) of this section for distribution and filing of copies of the ordinance shall be construed to include copies of the code of technical regulations as well as the adopting ordinance.
(b) 
A copy of each adopted code of technical regulations, as well as of the adopting ordinance, shall be authenticated and recorded by the City Clerk pursuant to Subsection I.
(2) 
Copies of any adopted code of technical regulations shall be made available by the City Clerk for distribution or for purchase at a reasonable price.
I. 
Authentication and recording; codification; printing.
(1) 
Authentication and recording. The City Clerk shall authenticate by his signature and record in full in a properly indexed book kept for the purpose all ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Council.
(2) 
Codification. Within three years after adoption of the Charter and at least every 10 years thereafter the Council shall provide for the preparation of a general codification of all City ordinances and resolutions having the force and effect of law. The general codification shall be adopted by the Council by ordinance and shall be published promptly in bound or loose leaf form, together with the Charter and any amendments thereto, pertinent provisions of the Constitution and other laws of the State of Pennsylvania, and such codes of technical regulations and other rules and regulations as the Council may specify. This compilation shall be known and cited officially as the "Farrell City Code."
A. 
The Council shall provide for an independent annual audit of all City accounts and may provide for such more frequent audits as it deems necessary. Such audits shall be made by a certified public accountant or firm of such accountants who have no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the City government or any of its officers. The Council may, without requiring competitive bids, designate such accountant or firm annually or for a period not exceeding three years.
B. 
The Council shall, within 45 days after completion of the audit, publish a statement setting forth the City's financial condition, and the date the independent auditor's report was filed with the Council.
A. 
Inquiries and investigations. The Council shall have power, by resolution, to authorize inquiries and investigations to be conducted by the entire body or by any of its committees in aid of its legislative powers and functions.
B. 
Witnesses and documents. The Council may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers or other evidence at any meeting of the Council or any committee thereof, and for that purpose may issue subpoenas, signed by the Mayor or the Chairperson of the committee, and cause the same to be served in any part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
C. 
Oath of witnesses. The Mayor or the committee Chairperson shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses.
D. 
Witness fees. No person residing outside the City and subpoenaed as aforesaid, shall be required to respond to the same until mileage and witness fees, equal to those then established by the Court of Common Pleas, shall have been first furnished to the witness.
A. 
City Clerk.
(1) 
Appointment and compensation. The City Council shall appoint a City Clerk for an indefinite term and shall fix compensation.
(2) 
Removal. The Council may remove the City Clerk at any time, with or without cause.
(3) 
Powers and duties of the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall:
(a) 
Attend all meetings of the Council and shall keep full minutes of its proceedings.
(b) 
Transcribe the bylaws, rules, regulations, resolutions and ordinances into appropriate books kept for those purposes.
(c) 
Preserve the records and documents of the City and shall have custody of the corporate seal.
(d) 
Shall certify copies of any book, paper, record, bylaw, rule, regulation, resolution, ordinance or other proceeding of the City under the seal of the City.
(e) 
Shall attest the execution of all instruments and record all ordinances.
(f) 
Shall file or record proof of service of all notices required by law or ordinance and his certificate thereof shall be good evidence of such notice.
(g) 
Shall deliver to the successor the seal and all of the books, papers and other records and matters belonging to the City.
(h) 
Perform such other duties as are required by the Council or Manager.
B. 
City Attorney.
(1) 
Appointment, qualifications and compensation. The Council shall appoint a City Attorney for an indefinite term and shall fix compensation. The City Attorney shall be an official of the City and shall be appointed either on a full-time basis or a part-time basis or on a retainer basis where he shall serve the City as needed and required. The City Attorney shall be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
(2) 
Removal. The Council may remove the City Attorney at any time, with or without cause.
(3) 
Powers and duties of the City attorney. The City Attorney shall be the chief legal officer of the City having the following powers and duties:
(a) 
The City Attorney shall furnish legal advice to the Council, to the Manager, and to all boards and commissions concerning any matter or thing arising in connection with the exercise of their official powers or performance of their official duties and, except as otherwise expressly provided by the Council, shall supervise, direct and control all of the law work of the City. In the event of legal conflict between Council and Council-created boards or commissions, Council shall provide funds for legal counsel to that board or commission.
(b) 
The City Attorney shall collect, or cause to be collected, by suit or otherwise, all debts, taxes and accounts due the City which shall be placed with him for collection by any officer, department, board or commission and shall represent the City and every officer, department, board or commission in all litigation.
(c) 
The City Attorney shall prepare or approve all contracts, bonds and other instruments in writing in which the City is concerned, and shall approve all surety bonds required to be given for the protection of the City.
(d) 
At the direction of the Council, the City Attorney shall investigate any violation or alleged violation within the City of statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of the United States of America or of ordinances of the City or the County, and shall take such steps and adopt such means as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enforce or cause the enforcement within the City of such statutes and ordinances.
(e) 
Upon the request of the Council or the Chairperson of any committee of Council or of the Manager, the City Attorney shall prepare any ordinance or resolution for presentation before the Council.
(f) 
At the direction of the Council, the City Attorney shall appear for and represent the City, or, if appropriate, the residents of the City as a class, on matters before the various regulatory agencies of other governmental bodies.
(4) 
Access to records. The City Attorney shall have the right of access at all times to the records of any officer, department, board or commission of the City, as necessary in the performance of the duties of City Attorney.