[R.O. 1992 § 105.010]
No person shall be an Alderman unless he/she be at least eighteen (18) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant and resident of the City for one (1) year next preceding his/her election, and a resident, at the time he/she files and during the time he/she serves, of the ward from which he/she is elected. Nor shall any person be elected an Alderman who is in arrears of any tax, lien, forfeiture or defalcation in office.
[1]
State Law Reference: As to when Aldermen may be elected at large, § 79.060, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 2918-22, 7-19-2022]
A. 
Qualifications. No person shall be Mayor unless he/she be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the City at the time of and for at least one (1) year next preceding his/her election.
B. 
Office Hours. It is deemed in the best interest of the City that the position of Mayor requires a minimum of ten (10) office hours per week during regular City Hall office hours to be spent in administering to the affairs of the City.
When any vacancy shall happen in the office of Mayor by death, resignation, removal from the City, removal from office, refusal to qualify, or from any other cause whatever, the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall, for the time being, perform the duties of Mayor, with all the rights, privileges, powers and jurisdiction of the Mayor, until such vacancy be filled or such disability be removed; or, in case of temporary absence, until the Mayor's return.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of each City governed by this Chapter shall have the care, management and control of the City and its finances and shall have power to enact and ordain any and all ordinances not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of this State, and such as they shall deem expedient for the good government of the City, the preservation of peace and good order, the benefit of trade and commerce, and the health of the inhabitants thereof, and such other ordinances, rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to carry such powers into effect and to alter, modify or repeal the same.
The Mayor shall have a seat in and preside over the Board of Aldermen but shall not vote on any question except in case of a tie, nor shall he/she preside or vote in cases when he/she is an interested party. He/she shall exercise a general supervision over all the officers and affairs of the City and shall take care that the ordinances of the City, and the State laws relating to such City, are complied with.
The style of the ordinances of the City shall be "Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Camdenton, 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 Board of Aldermen shall vote for it, and the "ayes" and "nays" be entered on the journal. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen 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 Board of Aldermen. 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 Board of Aldermen. No bill shall become an ordinance until it shall have been signed by the Mayor, or person exercising the duties of the Mayor's office, or shall have been passed over the Mayor's veto as herein provided.
Every bill duly passed by the Board of Aldermen and presented to the Mayor and by him/her approved shall become an ordinance, and every bill presented as aforesaid, but returned with the Mayor's objections thereto, shall stand reconsidered. The Board of Aldermen shall cause the objections of the Mayor to be entered at large upon the journal and proceed at its convenience to consider the question pending, which shall be in this form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the Mayor thereto notwithstanding?" The vote on this question shall be taken by "ayes" and "nays" and the names entered upon the journal, and if two-thirds (2/3) of all the members-elect shall vote in the affirmative, the City Clerk shall certify the fact on the roll, and the bill thus certified shall be deposited with the proper officer and shall become an ordinance in the same manner and with like effect as if it had received the approval of the Mayor. The Mayor shall have power to sign or veto any ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen; provided that should he/she neglect or refuse to sign any ordinance and return the same with his/her objections, in writing, at the next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, the same shall become a law without his/her signature.
The Board of Aldermen shall cause to be kept a journal of its proceedings, and the "ayes" and "nays" shall be entered on any question at the request of any two (2) members. The Board of Aldermen may prescribe and enforce such rules as it may find necessary for the expeditious transaction of its business.
The Board of Aldermen shall semiannually each year, at times to be set by the Board of Aldermen, make out and spread upon their records a full and detailed account and statement of the receipts and expenditures and indebtedness of the City for the half year ending with the last day of the month immediately preceding the date of such report, which account and statement shall be published in some newspaper in the City.
In the event the financial statement of the City is not published as required by Section 110.100, the Treasurer of the City shall not pay out any money of the City on any warrant or order of the Board of Aldermen after the end of the month in which such financial statement should have been published until such time as such financial statement is published. Any Treasurer violating the provisions of this Section shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation.
The Board of Aldermen shall have power 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 shall have power to call on the proper officers of the City, or of the County in which such City is located, to execute such process. The officer making such service shall be allowed to receive therefor such fees as are allowed by law in the Circuit Court for similar services, to be paid by the City. The Mayor or Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall have power to administer oaths to witnesses.
A. 
The Mayor shall sign the commissions and appointments of all City Officers elected or appointed in the City and shall approve all official bonds unless otherwise prescribed by ordinance.
B. 
Upon filing of the oath of office and approval of bond, when bond is required, the City Clerk shall deliver to the person elected or appointed a commission signed by the Mayor, and under the Seal of the City, duly countersigned by the Clerk, authorizing the person therein named to discharge the duties of the office therein named for the term for which he/she was appointed or elected.
[R.O. 1992 § 105.090; CC 1984 § 21.140; Ord. No. 2355-10 § 1, 4-6-2010]
The Mayor shall be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances for the government of the City, and he/she shall cause all subordinate officers to be dealt with promptly for any neglect or violation of duty; and he/she is hereby authorized to call on every male inhabitant of the City over eighteen (18) years of age and under fifty (50) to aid in enforcing the laws.
The Mayor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses arising under the ordinances of the City; but this Section shall not be so construed as to authorize the Mayor to remit any costs which may have accrued to any officer of said City by reason of any prosecution under the laws or ordinances of such City.
[R.O. 1992 § 105.140; CC 1984 § 21.210; Ord. No. 2288-08 § 1, 11-18-2008; Ord. No. 2355-10 § 1, 4-6-2010]
The Mayor shall, at the first meeting of the Board of Aldermen after each annual election, name the members of such standing committees to fill open committee positions as he/she deems necessary. Such committees shall consist of at least one (1) but no more than two (2) members of the Board of Aldermen unless specified otherwise.
[R.O. 1992 § 105.150; CC 1984 § 21.220; Ord. No. 2355-10 § 1, 4-6-2010]
The Mayor shall have the power to issue proclamations, call mass meetings and regular and special elections in such a manner as this Code or other ordinances or State law may provide.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.010; CC 1984 § 24.010]
A. 
The Board of Aldermen of this City shall meet in regular session in the Council Room of the City Hall on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 P.M.
1. 
When any such meeting day is a holiday, the regular meeting shall be held at such time as may be provided by the Board on motion at the previous meeting.
2. 
The Board may, by motion, dispense with any regular meeting, but at least one (1) meeting, regular or special, must be held in each calendar month.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.020; CC 1984 § 24.020]
A. 
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any two (2) members of the Board by written request filed with the City Clerk, who shall thereupon prepare a notice of such special meeting, stating time, date, place and object thereof, which notice shall be served personally upon each member of the Board or left at his/her usual place of residence at least twelve (12) hours before the time of the meeting, conforming with open meetings law as adopted by resolution. It shall also be the duty of the City Clerk, immediately upon receipt of the request for the meeting, to make diligent effort to notify each member of the Board in person, either by telephone or otherwise, of such special session.
1. 
The City Clerk shall make a diligent effort to notify those members of the mass media who customarily attend meetings of the Board of Aldermen of the special session, in the same manner as described above.
2. 
Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not invalidate any action taken at a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.030; CC 1984 § 24.030]
A quorum of the Board of Aldermen shall consist of a majority of the full membership (including vacancies and the Mayor of the City).
[R.O. 1992 § 110.050; CC 1984 § 24.045]
All adjourned meetings of the Board shall, to all intents and purposes, be continuations of the meetings of which they are adjournments, and the same proceedings may be had at such adjourned meetings as at the meeting of which they are adjournments.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.060; CC 1984 § 24.050]
A. 
At the hour designated for Board meetings, the Mayor shall call the Board of Aldermen to order and he/she shall act as President of the Board.
B. 
The Mayor shall appoint all committees, subject to the concurrence of the Board of Aldermen, the appointment or election of which is not otherwise provided by this Code or other ordinance.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.080; CC 1984 § 24.065]
Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, the proceedings of the Board of Aldermen shall be controlled by Robert's Rules of Order, as revised.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.090; CC 1984 § 24.070; Ord. No. 2930-22, 11-1-2022]
A. 
These rules of order are meant to promote and atmosphere of courtesy and decorum appropriate for the efficient discussion of business at meetings. The Mayor, or in the Mayor's absence, the President of the Board of Aldermen shall serve as the Presiding Officer of meetings. It is the responsibility of the Presiding Officer (and the members of the Board of Aldermen) to maintain an atmosphere of courtesy and decorum. The Presiding Officer should always ensure that debate and discussion focus on the item and the matter at hand, not on the personalities of the participants of the discussion. In order to assist in the creation and maintenance of that atmosphere the following rules shall govern all meetings:
1. 
Request To Speak. Before an Alderman, staff member, or an audience member may speak, they should first be recognized by the Presiding Officer. Upon recognition the person requesting to speak shall hold the floor and shall make their point clearly and succinctly. Public comments must be kept relevant to the subject before the Board. The Presiding Officer shall rule on the relevance of comments. Persons making irrelevant, personal, impertinent, overly redundant, or slanderous remarks may be barred by the Presiding Officer from further comment before the Board during the meeting when the person's conduct disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. Audience members who wish to speak during an agenda should first complete a Speaker Request Form and submit it to the City Clerk. In the event an audience member wishes to speak to matters being discussed, they may request to speak and may be recognized by the Presiding Officer to speak.
2. 
Order. If a person fails to request to speak before speaking, the Presiding Officer may rule them Out of Order and remind them that they do not have the floor. While the Board is in session, all Aldermen must preserve order and decorum. A person shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the meeting, nor disturb any other person while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the Presiding Officer. Except in cases of necessity or emergency, members of the Board of Aldermen should not leave their seats during a meeting without first obtaining permission of the Presiding Officer or making a Motion to Recess.
3. 
Improper References Prohibited. Every person desiring to speak shall address the entire Board and shall not single out a member of the Board, the audience or a staff member. Speakers shall confine themselves to the question under debate.
4. 
Interruptions. An Alderman, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call him or her to order, or other such interruption expressed below. If the Alderman, while speaking, is called to order, he or she shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and if the Alderman is found to be in order, he or she shall be permitted to proceed speaking.
B. 
Enforcement Of Rules And Procedures. The following provisions may be used to enforce the good order and decorum of the meeting. The action may be taken by the Presiding Officer under his or her own action, or upon a Motion to Enforce by any Alderman.
1. 
Warning. The Presiding Officer may order any person (Alderman, staff member or audience member) in violation of these rules to be silent when the person's conduct disrupts, disturb, or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the meeting.
2. 
Removal. If, after receiving a warning from the Presiding Officer, the person continues to disrupt, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting, the Presiding Officer may order the person to leave the meeting. If the person does not leave the room, the Presiding Officer may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the person.
3. 
Sergeant-at-Arms. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be the highest-ranking Police Officer in attendance at the Board Meeting, or such other officer designated by the Chief of Police for the purpose. Upon instruction of the Presiding Officer, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove from the meeting any person who intentionally disturbs the proceedings of the Board of Aldermen.
4. 
Resisting Removal. Any person who resists removal by the Sergeant-at-Arms may be charged with violating City ordinance or Missouri Statutes as appropriate.
5. 
Motion To Enforce. Any Alderman may move to request the Presiding Officer to enforce these rules and the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Board shall require the Presiding Officer to do so. A motion to enforce is an allowable interruption and is not debatable.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.110; CC 1984 § 24.090]
A. 
At the meetings of the Board of Aldermen, the order of business shall be as follows:
1. 
Call the meeting to order.
2. 
Roll call.
3. 
Reading and acting upon unapproved minutes of previous meetings.
4. 
Petitions, remonstrances, complaints and requests and the hearing of any person or group desiring to address the Board. All Petitions, remonstrances, complaints and requests shall be presented to the Board in writing. However, the Board may decide to act on oral discussions of any petitions, remonstrances, complaints or requests presented by the interested parties appearing in open meeting. In this case such discussion by the interested parties shall be limited to five (5) minutes per speaker, except where an extension of time for oral discussion is granted by the Board.
5. 
Public hearing as required by law or ordinance.
6. 
Acting on unfinished business. The unfinished business from the last preceding meeting shall take precedence over any new business.
7. 
Reports of special boards, committees, and City Officers.
8. 
Resolutions which require action by the Board.
9. 
Reading of bills requiring a second reading for passage.
10. 
Introduction and reading of bills.
11. 
New business.
12. 
Adjournment.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.120; CC 1984 § 24.100]
Any member of the Board of Aldermen shall have the right to express dissent from or protest against any ordinance or resolution of the Board and to have the reason therefor entered upon the journal. Such dissent or protest must be filed in writing and presented to the Board not later than the next regular meeting following the date of the passage of the ordinance or resolution to which objection is taken.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.130; CC 1984 § 24.110]
All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public, except when permitted by law the Board may hold a closed meeting.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.150; CC 1984 § 24.160; Ord. No. 2289-08 § 1, 11-18-2008]
All special committees shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City, subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen, unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the Board. At least one (1) but no more than two (2) Board members shall be on each special committee.
[R.O. 1992 § 110.180; CC 1984 § 24.200]
Any rule of the Board may be repealed, altered or amended by a majority vote of the members. Every amendment offered shall lie on the table until the next meeting of the Board before voted upon except by the unanimous consent of all elected members of the Board of Aldermen (including the Mayor). Any rule may be suspended by a majority vote of the members of the Board.