[R.O. 2009 §2-44; Code 1975 §130.150]
At the first (1st) regular meeting of the City Council after the election each year, the Council shall elect one (1) of its members President Pro Tem who shall hold his/her office for the term of one (1) year and who, in the absence of the Mayor, shall preside at the meetings of the Council. In the absence of the Mayor and President Pro Tem, the Council may select one (1) of its members, present, to preside at such meetings, who shall be styled "Acting President Pro Tem".
[1]
State Law Reference — Similar provisions, §77.070, RSMo.
[R.O. 2009 §2-45; Code 1975 §110.050; Ord. No. 3609 §I, 12-21-2005; Ord. No. 4576, 5-14-2020; Ord. No. 4584, 7-8-2020]
The regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the second (2nd) and the fourth (4th) Monday in each month at 6:00 P.M. unless otherwise set by the Mayor or City Administrator. Adjourned meetings may be held for the purpose of completing the unfinished business of any regular meeting at such times as may be determined by the Council.
[R.O. 2009 §2-46; Code 1975 §110.060]
Special meetings of the City Council may be called at any time by the Mayor and shall be called by him/her whenever he/she shall be requested in writing to do so by any two (2) members of the Council. Notice of the time and object of such special meeting shall be given to each member of the Council by personally leaving such notice at the usual place of abode of such member or by depositing the same in the post office properly addressed to him/her at least two (2) days before the date of such meeting. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting except such as the meeting was called to transact and notification thereof given, as aforesaid, except by a vote of three-fourths (¾) of all the Council members elected.
[R.O. 2009 §2-47; Code 1975 §110.070]
In all elections and/or appointments by the City Council, the votes of a majority of all the members elected shall be necessary for a choice.
[R.O. 2009 §2-48; Code 1975 §110.080]
A majority of the Council members elected shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absentees under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance.
[R.O. 2009 §2-49; Code 1975 §110.100; Ord. No. 1719 §1, 5-11-1983; Ord. No. 3969 §I, 7-13-2011; Ord. No. 4296 §I, 6-8-2016; Ord. No. 4564, 3-11-2020]
A. 
The following shall be the order of business at every meeting of the City Council; provided that such regular order may be suspended by unanimous consent of the members present:
1. 
Call to order — Roll call — Pledge of Allegiance;
2. 
Approval of Consent Agenda (The items on the Consent Agenda are enacted with one (1) motion. If separate discussion is desired, an item on the Consent Agenda may be removed from the Consent Agenda and place on the regular Agenda by request of any member of the City Council);
3. 
Visitor remarks (Remarks shall be conducted according the Rules of Decorum);
4. 
Bids;
5. 
Ordinances and resolutions;
6. 
New business;
7. 
Old business;
8. 
Mayor and Council reports;
9. 
Adjourn.
B. 
The Council may adopt Rules of Decorum to apply at meetings of the City Council, and may amend such Rules of Decorum by Resolution, from time to time.
C. 
The City of Festus is interested in effective communication for all persons. Persons requiring an accommodation to attend and participate in the meeting should contact the City Clerk at 636-937-4694 at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting. The City of Festus will provide an interpreter for the hearing impaired, upon seven (7) business days advanced notice. The City Clerk's office now has equipment for the hearing impaired for use with every meeting that may be checked out from the Clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting by providing identification that will be returned when the equipment is returned. Electronic copies of the minutes in an alternate format can be made available by calling 636-937-4694.
Any item to be considered on the regular order of business of the regular session of the City Council must be submitted to the City Administrator on the Friday preceding the date for said regular session of the City Council in order to be considered as a part of regular business.
The style of the ordinances of the City shall be: "Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Festus, as follows:" No ordinance shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall become an ordinance unless on its final passage a majority of the members elected to the Council shall vote therefor, and the ayes and nays shall be entered on the journal. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Council in writing and shall be read by title or in full two (2) times prior to passage, both readings may occur at a single meeting of the Council. If the proposed ordinance is read by title only, copies of the proposed ordinance shall be made available for public inspection prior to the time the bill is under consideration by the Council. No bill shall become an ordinance until it shall have been signed by the officer presiding at the meeting of the Council at which it shall have been passed. When so signed, it shall be delivered to the Mayor for his/her approval and signature, or his/her veto.
If a vacancy occurs in any elective office other than the office of Mayor, a successor to the vacant office shall be selected by appointment by the Mayor with the advice and consent of a majority of the remaining members of the Council. The successor shall serve until the next available regular municipal April election. If a vacancy occurs in any office not elective, the Mayor shall appoint a suitable person to discharge the duties of the same until the first regular meeting of the Council thereafter, at which time the vacancy shall be permanently filled.
[R.O. 2009 §2-53; Code 1975 §130.140]
The City Council shall have the power, in all trials, investigations or matters under consideration before the Council, to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers and records relating to any subject under consideration in which the interest of the City is involved and may call upon the proper officers of the City or County to execute such process, and for such service such officers shall be allowed and paid by the City such fees as are allowed by law in the Circuit Court for similar services. The Mayor or President Pro Tem of the City Council shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses.