The Mayor and Council members shall be at least twenty-five
(25) years of age, shall have resided in the Town at least two years
prior to the election, and shall be qualified and registered voters
of the Town. The Mayor must reside continuously in the Town during
his term of office. Each Council member shall reside continuously
in his respective ward during his term of office.
The Mayor and Council members shall receive such compensation
for their services as they may, by Ordinance establish; however, the
salary or compensation of any person serving as Mayor or a member
of the Common Council may not be increased during his term of office.
The Mayor and Council members may be reimbursed or paid for any expenses
incurred by them in the performance of their official duties on behalf
of the Town.
A majority of the members of the Common Council shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Mayor and Common Council shall enact, by resolutions, rules,
and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Article for
their own government while in session. The Mayor shall preside at
all meetings of the Mayor and Common Council. They or their designee,
shall keep minutes of their proceedings which shall be maintained
as the official records of the Town. They shall enter in the minutes
the ayes and nays upon final action on any question, resolution or
Ordinance, or, at any other time, if required by any other member.
The minutes shall be open to public inspection during normal business
hours. Unless otherwise prescribed by Charter, the Council may act
on any matter by a vote of the majority of a quorum.
[Revised, effective 1-6-2004]
In the Mayor's absence Council members may elect one of their
members to perform the duties of the Mayor, and this member shall
have the authority of the Mayor for the period of the Mayor's absence.
At the first general council meeting in each calendar year, the Council
shall appoint one or more council member(s) to perform the duties
and exercise the authority of the Mayor, without further action by
Council, during an emergency when the Mayor is absent or otherwise
unable to act. An emergency is defined as a national or local event
requiring immediate availability and action.
[Revised 5-4-1993; 3-19-2002]
(a) Vacancy in the Office of Mayor. In the event the Mayor dies, resigns,
is absent from two consecutive regular meetings of the Mayor and Common
Council without excuse, is removed from office, or is otherwise unwilling
or unable to complete his/her term, and there are fewer than one hundred
twenty (120) days remaining in the Mayor's term of office, the Common
Council shall elect one of its members to serve as Mayor for the unexpired
term. If there are one hundred twenty (120) or more days remaining
in said term of office, then a special election to fill the term for
that office shall be held in conformance with Section 507(c) of this
Charter.
(b) Council Vacancies. In the event that any Council member dies, resigns,
is absent from two consecutive regular meetings of the Mayor and Common
Council without excuse, is removed from office, or is otherwise unwilling
or unable to complete his/her term, or where a Council member is appointed
to fill the unexpired term of the Mayor, and there are fewer than
one hundred twenty (120) days remaining in the Council member's term
of office, the Mayor shall appoint a successor, subject to the confirmation
of a majority of the members of the Common Council to serve the unexpired
term of the Council member. If there are one hundred twenty (120)
or more days remaining in said term of office, then a special election
to fill the term for that office shall be held in conformance with
Section 507(c) of this Charter.
Any elected official of the Town who, during his term of office,
is convicted of or enters a plea of nolo contendere to any crime which
is a felony or a misdemeanor related to his public duties and responsibilities
and involves moral turpitude for which the penalty may be incarceration
in any penal institution, shall be suspended by operation of law from
elective office. The suspension of such elected official and provision
for the filling of such office during this suspension shall be governed
by the provisions of Article XV, Section 3 of the Constitution of
Maryland.
Ordinances shall be permanently filed by the Clerk and made
available for public inspection at reasonable times during normal
business hours.