The number of Councilpersons, their terms, election and qualifications
and the filling of Council vacancies shall be as provided in the Charter.[1]
B.
The
first order of business shall be the election of a Chairman and a
Vice Chairman of the Council and such other officers required by the
Charter or as the Council may deem appropriate. Until such election
is accomplished, the current Chairman shall preside.
C.
In
the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall exercise the
duties of the Chairman. In the absence of both the Chairman and the
Vice Chairman, the Council shall appoint a Chairman pro tem who shall
have all the powers of the Chairman.
B.
Regular
meetings. It shall be the duty of the Council to meet stately at least
twice a month, at 8:00 a.m. on the first and third Mondays of each
month at the Municipal Building, or at such other 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.
C.
Special
meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Council
or upon the written request of at least four of the members of the
Council. A written notice shall be mailed or delivered to each Council
member at least 24 hours before a special meeting is held. Such notice
shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business
to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meeting
by the Council. Presence at the meeting constitutes waiver of notice.
D.
Emergency meetings. The Council may convene emergency meetings to pass and enact ordinances of an emergency nature as provided by § C-2.18 of the Home Rule Charter in a manner consistent with the procedures outlined in that section.
E.
Executive
sessions. The Council may hold executive sessions as permitted by
law. No official act shall be taken by the Council on any matter in
executive sessions. Such executive sessions shall be conducted in
conformity with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S.A. § 701
et seq. (October 15, 1998, P.L. 729, No. 93).[2]
A.
An
emergency item may be added to the agenda upon a majority vote, if
such item concerns the public health and safety.
B.
The
proposed agenda for any regular meeting shall be forwarded to all
members of Council and be available to the public at least three days
prior to the regular semimonthly meeting. In addition, the agenda
for regular semimonthly meetings, adjourned monthly meetings, special
meetings, and where possible, emergency meetings, shall be posted
on the bulletin board in the municipal building, the Post Office in
Venetia and in other places in the municipality of frequent public
use.
C.
The
Council shall provide reasonable opportunity for interested citizens
to address the Council on matters of general or special concern. This
opportunity may be afforded the public either at the regular meetings
of Council or at meetings held specially for this purpose.
A.
At
the time appointed for any meeting of the Council, the Chairman shall
take the chair and call the meeting to order. If a quorum is present,
as provided in the Charter,[1] the Chairman shall proceed with the order of business
prescribed for the meeting. If, upon the call of the roll, a quorum
is not present, the Chairman shall order a recess for a period of
30 minutes, and if a quorum has not developed by that time, the Chairman
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:
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
procedures.
C.
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.
D.
Every
member of the Council desiring to speak shall address the chair and,
upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine remarks to
the question under debate. 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. If a member of the Council, while
speaking, is called to order, that person shall cease speaking until
the question of order is determined. When two or more members request
the floor at the same time, the presiding officer shall name the one
entitled to the floor.
E.
The
roll of members shall be called on a random rotating basis so that
no member of Council will have an advantage in voting.
F.
No
member of the Council shall speak more than five minutes upon the
same motion in the same meeting, nor for more than 10 minutes at a
time, without the consent of the presiding officer.
A.
Citizens
desiring to place an item on the agenda of a regular semimonthly meeting
of Council may do so by providing written notice thereof to the Manager
at least five days prior to the day of the meeting.
B.
A citizen shall be provided a reasonable opportunity to address the Council on any agenda item, consistent with the provisions of § C-2.10 of the Charter, without written notice, and subject to the discretion of the Chairman. The Chairman shall limit the time each person shall speak, giving equal time to all. Such discussion shall occur prior to the vote on the agenda item.
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 or spokespersons 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 while in the
Council chamber shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer
from further audience at the meeting unless permission to continue
be granted by the majority vote of the Council members present.
The Council may, at any time, provide for standing and ad hoc
committees to assist with the carrying out of its function. Each committee
so designated by the Council shall elect its officers and provide
for rules governing its procedure. Any such committee appointed by
the Council shall, thereafter, report to the Council at a regular
meeting when requested by Council.
Official actions of the Council shall be taken by ordinance,
resolution, or motion, as provided in the Charter.
Ordinances shall be enacted pursuant to § C-2.11 of the Home Rule Charter.
A.
Ordinance form and procedure.
(1)
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 Municipality of Peters Township, Washington
County, Pennsylvania ordains. . ." Any ordinance which repeals or
amends an existing ordinance 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 strike-out
type and shall indicate new matter by underscoring or by italics.
(2)
An ordinance may be introduced by any member of Council at any stated
semimonthly or special meeting of the Council. Upon introduction of
any ordinance, a copy shall be distributed to each Council member
and to the Township Manager, and a reasonable number of copies shall
be filed in such other public places as the Council may designate.
B.
Ordinance requiring prior public notice and hearing. No final action
shall be taken on the following types of ordinances and amendments
thereto without public hearing thereon and at least 10 days' published
public notice, or such longer notice as may be required by applicable
state law:
C.
Copies of ordinances. Copies of ordinances shall be available to
all persons requesting them upon payment of a reasonable charge.
D.
Emergency ordinances. To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the Council may adopt, pursuant to § C-2.18 of the Charter, one or more emergency ordinances, which may be adopted without prior notice and may be made effective immediately. 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. After its adoption, the ordinance shall be published and printed as prescribed for other ordinances. It shall become effective upon adoption or at such later time as it may specify. Every emergency ordinance shall automatically stand repealed as of the 61st day following the date on which it was adopted, but this shall not prevent reenactment of the ordinance in the manner specified in this subsection 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 subsection for adoption of emergency ordinance.[2]
E.
Codes of technical regulations. 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:
(1)
The requirements 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; and
(2)
A copy of each adopted code of technical regulations as well as of
the adopting ordinance shall be authenticated and recorded.
A.
The Council shall provide for an independent post-audit as provided
for in the Charter.[1] The Council may designate such accountant or firm annually
or for a period not exceeding three years, provided that the designation
for any particular fiscal year shall be made no longer than 30 days
after the beginning of such fiscal year.
B.
The Council shall, within 30 days after completion of the audit,
publish a statement setting forth the Municipality's financial
condition and the date the independent auditor's report was filed
with the Council.
A.
Provisions as to salary and expense reimbursement shall be as provided
in the Charter.[1] Members of the Council shall receive no other compensation,
direct or indirect, for the performance of their duties. However,
nothing in this section shall preclude the right of the Municipality
to provide accident or liability insurance, errors and omissions coverage
and such other fringe benefits as may be appropriate for members of
the Council when on municipal business, or when in the performance
of their official duties, limited to the duration of their term.
B.
Members of the Council shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual
expenses incurred, provided that the expenditure:
The appointment, supervision, tenure and duties of Township
Manager shall be as provided in the Charter.[1] Under special circumstances, to be determined by resolution,
the Council may employ the services of legal counsel and such other
staff as it deems appropriate.