Cecil County, MD Article IV Meeting Preparation

§ A387-27 Meeting agendas.

A. The Council President is to prepare the agendas of all meetings.

B. Requests to include an item on a given agenda must be submitted to the Council President no later than the close of business on the Thursday preceding the meeting at which it is proposed for discussion.

C. Prior to their discussion by the Council, all agenda items must satisfy the public notice requirements established by law, the Charter, or ordinance that may be relevant to the item.

D. Each agenda is to be distributed to Council members and the general public not later than 4:30 p.m. on the Friday preceding the meeting for which it is relevant. After distribution, the Council President may amend an agenda. In the event of amendment, the Council President must prepare and distribute a replacement agenda.

E. After the agenda is issued on Friday afternoon, additional items may need to be added by the Council President. The revised agenda shall list additional items or the deletion of items as may be required. Any revised agendas shall be available to the public with any changes noted as proposed additions or deletions. At the beginning of the Council legislative session or work session, any changes to the agenda shall be presented for approval.

§ A387-28 Agenda format.

A. Refer to Appendix D[1] for the format of the agenda for legislative meetings of the Council.

[1] Editor's Note: Appendix D is included as an attachment to this chapter.

B. The Council, by majority vote, will schedule public meetings with citizens on an as-needed basis. The date and time of the meeting will be included in the agenda of the work session or legislative session.

[Amended 10-20-2020 by Res. No. 56-2020]

C. Each agenda shall list the date and time of the next legislative meeting and the availability of the minutes and audio recording of the meeting on the County website.

§ A387-29 Distribution material.

Before the start of each meeting the Council Manager will provide a packet to each Council member, which includes all bills, ordinances, resolutions, reports, and motions that are to be discussed.

§ A387-30 Form of bills and amendments.

A. Pursuant to the Charter, the Council cannot enact any law except by written bill. See Appendix E[1] for bill format.

[1] Editor's Note: Appendix E is included as an attachment to this chapter.

B. A bill must embrace only a single subject, which shall be described in its title. A bill must bear the name or names of the members who are responsible for its introduction.

C. All bills are to be styled: "Be it enacted by the County Council of Cecil County, Maryland."

D. The lines of the text of a bill are to be consecutively numbered beginning at the top line of each page.

E. A bill introduced on behalf of a constituent must be designated as being introduced by "Council member [name] at the request of [name and address]."

F. A bill introduced on behalf of the County Executive must be designated as being introduced by the President of the County Council at the request of the County Executive.

G. Amendments to a bill are to be appended to the bill and introduced on a plain page in a printed form.

(1) The page on which the amendment appears is to state:

(a) The number of the bill which it amends;

(b) The member or members introducing the amendment;

(c) The date of consideration;

(d) The amendment number; and

(e) Appropriate notations of adoption or rejection typed thereon.

(2) See Appendix F[2] for format of bill amendments.

[2] Editor's Note: Appendix F is included as an attachment to this chapter.

H. A bill shall state the date the legislation was enacted (adopted) by the Council and the effective date of the legislation.

I. In accordance with Charter, § 307, an emergency law shall take effect on the date of enactment.

J. The annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance shall take effect the first day of the fiscal year to which it applies; and all other laws shall take effect 60 days from the date of enactment, except in the event the law provides for a later effective date or is referred to the voters under Section 308 - Referendum, of the Charter.

§ A387-31 Bill and amendment preparation.

A. The applicable staff of the County Executive shall prepare and draft a bill for the Executive in coordination with the County Attorney.

B. Legislation introduced by one or more Council members shall be drafted by Council staff in coordination with the Council Attorney (or the County Attorney if the Council does not have designated counsel). Bills drafted for the Council to be introduced by one or more Council members shall be forwarded to the County Executive prior to the Bill's introduction.