The City Council shall consist of the Mayor and aldermen. It shall meet in accordance with the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.) and it shall keep a journal of its own proceedings.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 30, General Provisions, Art. 2).
A majority of the corporate authorities elected shall constitute a quorum to do business. A smaller number, however, may adjourn from time to time, and may compel the attendance of absentees, under whatever penalties, including a fine for a failure to attend, the Council may prescribe by ordinance.
[Amended 1-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2-2021]
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. If a meeting falls on a legal holiday or evening preceding a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held the day following the legal holiday, unless otherwise rescheduled to another date by motion of the City Council.
(A) 
Special meetings may be held at any time, on call of the Mayor or any three Aldermen. Such call shall be in writing, duly signed, and shall be presented to the City Clerk, who shall proceed immediately to prepare notices of the same, and shall cause them to be served on members of the Council in the usual manner. Such notices shall describe, in brief, the nature or object of the call.
(B) 
At every special meeting, the call for such a meeting shall be read and afterwards filed by the City Clerk; and no business other than that proposed by the call shall be in order at such meeting.
(C) 
If the notice states that an emergency exists, one-hour notice shall be given after such notice is served in person; otherwise, twenty-four-hour notice from the time of mailing shall be given. In case of an extreme emergency or disaster, nothing shall limit a call of a meeting by telephone for the purpose of meeting the emergency or disaster. All matters taken up at an emergency or disaster special meeting shall be continued at the next regular meeting.
Meetings of every kind and nature shall be open to the public, except where specifically exempted by statute. A meeting may be open to the public and then closed to the public for the purpose of considering matters specifically allowed to be considered at a closed meeting by statute. Final action on all matters considered at a closed meeting must be made at an open meeting. The following meetings may be closed to the public:
(A) 
Collective negotiation matters between employees or their representatives.
(B) 
Where the acquisition of real property is being considered.
(C) 
Where the sale of personal or real property is being considered.
(D) 
Where a proposed or pending court proceeding against or on behalf of the City is being considered or court action is being contemplated.
(E) 
Where information regarding appointment, employment, or dismissal of an employee or officer is being considered.
(F) 
Where testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or officer to determine its validity is being considered, but a formal hearing on a complaint shall be at an open meeting.
(G) 
When federal regulations require it.
(H) 
When an advisory committee is appointed with professional consultation on matters germane to its field of competence to consider matters of professional ethics or performance.
(I) 
When hearings are had on conciliatory complaints of discrimination.
(J) 
Where the appointment of a member to fill a vacancy on the Council is being considered.
(K) 
When the presence of the public and media impedes the meeting; in such cases the Council or committee may limit the attendance.
(L) 
When meetings are held with department heads or within departments for administration purposes.
The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the City Council, shall preserve order and decorum, and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal by any two Aldermen.
(A) 
When Mayor shall vote. The Mayor shall not vote on any ordinance, resolution or motion except:[1]
(1) 
Where the vote of the Aldermen has resulted in a tie.
(2) 
Where 1/2 of the Aldermen elected have voted even though there is no tie vote.
(3) 
Where the statute requires that he shall vote.
(4) 
When a vote greater than a majority is needed by law.
(5) 
If only five Aldermen and the Mayor are present for a quorum or if over five Aldermen are present and a majority of Council is needed, he shall vote.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 30, General Provisions, Art. 2).
(B) 
Veto by Mayor.
(1) 
The Mayor may veto all ordinances, resolutions, and motions which:
(a) 
Create any liability against the City.
(b) 
Provide for the expenditure or appropriation of City money.
(c) 
Sell any City property.
(2) 
If he does veto, he shall do so by writing his objections over the face of the ordinance or resolution, or in writing on the motion, and report to the next regular meeting of the City Council. Unless he does so, said motion, resolution or ordinance shall become effective at such regular meeting date despite the absence of his signature. If he disapproves of any sums appropriated in any ordinance, resolution, or motion making an appropriation, he may do so by writing on the face of such resolution or ordinance, or in writing on the motion, the item objected to, in which case said items shall not be appropriated and the balance shall remain effective. Such items, however, may be reconsidered in the same manner as reconsidering over the veto. The Mayor may give his approval to any resolution or motion by signing the same.
(3) 
The Council may, at the next regular meeting, after the time the vetoed resolution, ordinance, or motion is returned to the City Council, reconsider and pass over the Mayor's veto. Two-thirds of all the Aldermen holding office on the City Council shall agree to pass an ordinance, appropriation, resolution, or motion over the Mayor's veto, in which case it shall then become effective. The vote on the question of reconsideration shall be recorded by ayes and nays. In the event the Council fails to act on said veto at the next regular meeting, the veto shall stand.