[Ord. 02-10-04-20, 10-7-2002]
A. 
Election And Terms; Number Of Aldermen: The Mayor and Aldermen shall be elected to terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. The number of Aldermen shall consist of eight, two elected from each ward.
B. 
Time Of Taking Office: Newly elected officers shall take office at the first regular or special meeting held in the first month succeeding the month in which the election for office is held.
[1975 Code §§ 2.02, 2.03; amended by Ord. 498, 6-21-1993; 2003 Code]
A. 
Regular Meetings: The regular meetings of the Council shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month of the year at the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the City hall. Any regular meeting falling upon a legal holiday shall be held on the next following secular day at the same hour and place.
B. 
Special Meetings:
1. 
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any three members of the Council by written request or notice being filed with the City Clerk at least 52 hours prior to the time specified for such meeting.
2. 
At least 48 hours' written notice of such special meeting shall be given by the City Clerk which notice shall specify the time and purpose of such meeting and shall be delivered to each member of the Council personally if the member can be found, and if the member cannot be found, then by leaving a copy of such notice at the home of such Council member in the presence of an adult member of the family of the Alderman. The Clerk shall cause an affidavit showing service of such notice as herein provided to be filed in the Clerk's office prior to the time fixed for such special meeting; together with a statement of compliance with the notices to members of the media as provided in the "Open Meetings Act".[1] Any special meetings attended by all of the members of the Council shall become a regular meeting for the transaction of any business that may come before such meeting if all members are present and so agree. All meetings of the Council shall be held in the City hall, including special and adjourned meetings, and all meetings, except executive sessions thereof, shall be open to the public, as is required by statute.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.
C. 
Adjourned Meetings: Each meeting of the Council shall convene at the time appointed for such meeting, as provided by ordinance. The Clerk, or someone appointed to fill the Clerk's place by the presiding officer, shall thereupon immediately call the roll of members. If no quorum be present, the Council shall not thereby stand adjourned, but the members present shall be competent to adjourn or recess the Council by a majority vote.
[1975 Code § 2.04]
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of all the Council entitled by law to be elected. If no quorum is present, and the members present desire to compel the attendance of absent members, they themselves, or by their agents, shall attempt to communicate the call to the session personally to the absentees. Any absent member who refuses to attend the meeting (or a meeting to which the members present have adjourned) after personal notice to attend may be fined by the members present a sum not to exceed $25 for each occurrence.
[Ord. 600, 6-5-1995]
While it is the duty of every member of the corporate authorities (Mayor and all members of the City Council) who has an opinion on any question to express it by his vote, such member cannot be compelled to do so; such member may prefer to abstain from voting, and in such instance, a vote of "present", "abstain", or of "pass" shall be an unexcused abstention and considered a vote on the prevailing side upon announcing the adoption or rejection of a motion on the floor. However, as a general rule, no member shall vote on any question in which he has a direct, personal, or pecuniary interest. In such case (the member having a direct, personal or pecuniary interest in the matter upon which a vote is to be taken), such member shall announce his conflict and the nature thereof at the time the issue is to be debated, and shall then announce his intention to abstain from the voting when a vote on the question is called for, and upon the vote being taken, his abstention shall be excused.
[Ord. 15-01-02-60, 1-19-2015; amended 1-6-2020 by Ord. No. 20-01-02-50]
The following rules of procedure and order of business shall be invariably adhered to by the City Council unless the same be suspended by unanimous consent:
Rule 1: At the appointed hour for the meeting, the City Clerk (or as appointed to temporarily replace) shall proceed to call the roll of the members, marking the absentees, and announce whether a quorum is present. Upon the appearance of a quorum, the Council shall be called to order, the Mayor taking the chair, if present, or the Mayor pro tem if the Mayor is absent. The Council shall then proceed to the business before it, which shall be conducted in the following order:
1.
Consent or reading of invoices and minutes of the proceedings of the last regular and all special meetings, amendment and approval of same;
2.
Public appearances (visitor), otherwise known as public comment, which is limited to three minutes per visitor, a total of 15 minutes, and must address topics other than those listed for business on the City Council agenda;
3.
Reports of staff;
4.
Reports of standing committees;
5.
Reports of special committees;
6.
Communications to City Council;
7.
Old business; and
8.
New business
Rule 2: "Robert's Rules Of Order" shall govern the proceedings of the Council, except when in conflict with the foregoing rule.
Rule 3: The Mayor and Aldermen shall conduct themselves in a manner befitting their office and shall treat the body and each other with respect and courtesy. Leaving a meeting without leave of the Mayor (or Mayor pro tem) for other than illness or an emergency, using profanity or acting in a manner that unreasonably disrupts the conduct of the meeting, may subject each offending elected official to a fine of not more than the amount paid to said official for the meeting. The City Council shall impose any such discipline through a vote upon a resolution of censure setting forth the conduct and the amount of the fine.
[Ord. 06-04-03-50, 4-26-2006]
The following will represent the six standing committees of the City Council:
Budget and finance
Building and zoning
Community and economic development
Personnel
Public safety
Public works
A. 
Budget And Finance: Budget and finance will evaluate the operation budget, capital budget, property tax levy, and any requests for expenditures that exceed staff authority. This committee is responsible for the cash position of the City and will assist other committees with rate evaluations. Any issue that requires the expenditure of more than $5,000 may be evaluated by the budget and finance committee.
B. 
Building And Zoning: This committee will address all issues relating to the building code, zoning code, subdivision regulations and property maintenance code.
C. 
Community And Economic Development: This committee will evaluate all proposals for tax increment financing allocations, as well as any other economic development proposals, issues or problems. In addition, all City involvement with local civic groups, community events or other activity that offers community development will be reviewed in this committee to ensure continued growth to all citizens.
D. 
Personnel: This committee works with staff in reference to hiring, discipline, rate adjustments, employee benefits, and termination. This includes grievances and any other employee concern that cannot be handled at the staff level. All personnel issues should be addressed from hourly employees, to supervisors, to administration prior to any committee involvement.
E. 
Public Safety: This committee will address all emergency service issues. This will include police and ESDA issues (with the exception of personnel).
F. 
Public Works: This committee will address all issues relating to water, sewer, refuse, streets, signage, alleys, parks and public property. In addition, the City's agreements with outside utilities will also be evaluated by this committee.