[Ord. #84-27, § 2.1; Ord. #86-31, § 2.1; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
The Legislative Branch shall consist of the City Council who shall be paid a salary, as set forth in the annual salary ordinance.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.2; Ord. #86-31, § 2.2; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
Vacancies on Council shall be filled in the manner prescribed by law.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.3; Ord. #86-31, § 2.3; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
The Council shall meet during the first week in July of each year to elect a president and a vice-president for one year and to conduct such other business as may come before it.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.4; Ord. #86-31, § 2.4; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
Members-elect of the Council shall be notified of all Council meetings to be held between election day and the date of organization, the same as incumbents. They shall be entitled to attend all such meetings and to participate in all pre-meeting conferences without vote.
[Ord. #86-27, § 2.5; Ord. #86-31, § 2.5; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
a. 
Legislation. Except as may be otherwise provided by general law, the Council shall exercise the legislative power of the City.
b. 
Inquiry. Council may, by majority vote of the whole Council, require any municipal officer to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding the performance of his official duties and may otherwise investigate the conduct of any department, office or agency.
c. 
Administration. The Council and individual members thereof shall deal with officers and employees of the City through the Mayor or his designee(s), and except for inquiries as provided in Subsection b above, all communication regarding administration of the City shall be with them.
d. 
Removals. Council may, by majority vote of the whole Council, and for cause, remove any municipal officer except the Mayor or a Council member, upon notice and an opportunity to be heard in public. Council may also disapprove mayoral removals in accordance with Section 43-C of the OMCL.
e. 
Appointments. On request of the Mayor, Council shall receive and consider any nomination for appointment requiring Council advice and consent. Candidates shall be formally nominated at any regular meeting and may be confirmed or rejected at the same meeting but, in any case, no later than the next regular meeting. Multiple appointments to any body shall be confirmed individually.
f. 
Annual audit. The Council will at least once annually, have an independent audit made of the City's accounts and financial records as required by law.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.6; Ord. #86-31, § 2.6; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
a. 
Open to the Public. All meetings, including pre-meeting conferences shall be public and held at times and places fixed by the Council, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-1 et seq.). Exceptions, if any, shall be as authorized therein.
b. 
Regular Meetings. Council shall hold its regular meetings and work sessions as per a Resolution to be adopted at each yearly re-organizational meeting. This Resolution may be amended or modified by subsequent resolutions duly adopted.
c. 
Special Meetings. The Mayor may call special Council meetings. The Council president shall call special Council meetings upon written request of a majority of the whole Council. The request and call for a special meeting shall state the purpose thereof and no other business shall be transacted. The call shall be filed with the Clerk at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time for which the meeting is called; provided, that if the Mayor declares an emergency affecting the public health or safety, the call so stating may be filed three (3) hours before the meeting. Upon receipt of notice, the Clerk shall forthwith notify each member and member-elect, make copies of the call available to the press and post at least one copy in a prominent place in the City Clerk's Office.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.7; Ord. #86-31, § 2.7; Ord. #90-20, § 1; Ord. #01-15, § 1]
In addition to such by-laws as Council may adopt by resolution, the following procedural rules shall be in effect:
a. 
Quorum. A majority of the whole Council — four (4) members — shall constitute a quorum for all business except adoption of ordinances which shall be in accordance with Subsection 2-1.15 below.
b. 
Order of Business. At each regular meeting the order of business shall be as follows, except if waived by a majority of Council:
1. 
Pledge of Allegiance.
2. 
Moment of prayer.
3. 
Roll call.
4. 
Open Public Meetings Act announcement.
5. 
Citizen comment — one-half (1/2) hour.
6. 
Approval of minutes of previous meetings. Minutes need not be read at length if they have been distributed to members twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.
7. 
Reports and recommendations of the Mayor and other officials.
8. 
Ordinances.
(a) 
Introduction and first reading by title.
(b) 
Second reading and public hearing.
(c) 
Action after public hearing.
9. 
Resolutions and motions.
10. 
Other pending business.
11. 
New business.
12. 
Citizen comment.
13. 
Adjournment.
c. 
Rules of Order. Except as may be provided in Charter or Code, the conduct of Council meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order Revised.
d. 
Manner of Addressing Council. Each person addressing the Council shall:
1. 
Give his name and address;
2. 
Have such time as is reasonably necessary for the orderly presentation of his remarks;
3. 
Address all remarks to the Council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person other than members of the Council and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Council, without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked of a member of Council except through the presiding officer.
e. 
Rights of Presiding Officers. Presiding officers may move, second and debate from the chair and shall not be deprived of any of the rights or privileges of Council members by reason of presiding.
f. 
Voting. The vote on resolutions may be by roll call in alphabetical order, the President voting last. The vote of each member shall be entered on the minutes. During roll call no member shall discuss or explain his/her vote.
The vote on every ordinance shall be by roll call in alphabetical order, the President voting last. The vote of each member shall be entered on the minutes. During roll call no member shall discuss or explain his/her vote.
g. 
Minutes. The Clerk shall keep minutes of all regular and special meetings. The minutes shall record the time and place of meeting, the members attending, and every action of the Council whether by motion, resolution or ordinance, with the names of the mover and seconder. They may include other pertinent matter, as suggested by the Order of Business. Copies shall be provided to each Council member and member-elect, the Mayor, and the City Attorney. Minutes shall be signed by the Clerk and the presiding officer and shall be kept permanently as public records.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.8; Ord. #86-31, § 2.8; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
The Mayor shall submit items on behalf of the Administration to the Clerk. The Council President shall then establish the Council agenda and submit it to the City Clerk for preparation and distribution to Council members, Mayor, Business Administrator, City Attorney and other appropriate officials. It shall be distributed by noon, at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Additional matters shall be added to the agenda upon the request in writing of three (3) or more Council members.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.9; Ord. #86-31, § 2.9; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
Committees shall be appointed by the Council President at a regular Council meeting and shall consist of not more than three (3) Council members.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.10; Ord. #86-31, § 2.10; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
Any member of Council may introduce a resolution in writing at any meeting, if it is on the agenda, or is admitted by an affirmative vote of at least four (4) Council members in the proper order of business. When possible, it shall be duplicated and distributed before the meeting. The Resolution shall be read by the Clerk when introduced by title unless reading in full is requested by any Council member and may be adopted immediately, provided that a resolution to adopt or amend a budget shall be subject to the procedure specified in the Local Budget Law.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.11; Ord. #86-31, § 2.11; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
a. 
Preparation, Evaluation. Ordinances shall be prepared by the City Attorney on request of the Mayor or any Council member or, if prepared by others, shall be reviewed and approved by him as to legality and form before introduction.
b. 
Introduction, Publication. Any member of Council may introduce an ordinance if it is on the agenda, or is admitted by an affirmative vote of at least four (4) Council members in the proper order of business. After passage of first reading, which may be by title, the ordinance shall be published and publicized in accordance with general law.
c. 
Public Hearing, Adoption. A public hearing shall be held on every ordinance, as provided by general law, at least ten (10) days after passage on first reading and at least one week after publication. At the hearing, the ordinance shall be given second reading, which may be by title, and all residents and other interested parties shall be heard concerning the ordinance, with the right to ask pertinent questions. Thereafter, the ordinance may be adopted by a majority of the whole Council, except ordinances adopted pursuant to the Local Bond Law, which require an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the whole Council, with such amendments as do not substantially alter the intent or effect of the original. Substantial amendments shall be read, optionally by title, and published and publicized in accordance with general law, and the ordinance may be finally adopted without further public hearing at least one week after the meeting at which it was amended.
d. 
Mayor's Veto. On the next business day after adoption, the Clerk shall deliver the ordinance to the Mayor who shall either approve it by signing and returning it within ten (10) calendar days after receiving it or disapprove it by returning it to Council via the Clerk with the statement setting forth his objections thereto or to any item or part thereof. No ordinance or any item or part thereof shall take effect without the Mayor's approval unless he fails to return it to Council within ten (10) calendar days after it has been presented to him, or unless Council upon reconsideration thereof on or after the third day following its return, shall override the veto by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members.
e. 
Passage over Veto. Council shall reconsider any ordinance returned by the Mayor with his/her veto. Such reconsideration shall be at the next regular or special meeting held three (3) days or more after return. If, upon reconsideration, two-thirds (2/3) of the members of Council (five (5) or more) vote to override the veto, the ordinance shall take effect ten (10) calendar days thereafter. Whenever an ordinance has been reconsidered following veto, the Clerk shall append thereto a certificate reciting the facts of delivery, return and override and the new effective date.
f. 
Ordinances Not Returned by the Mayor. Whenever an ordinance shall take effect without the Mayor's signature by reason of his/her failure to return it to Council within ten (10) calendar days after passage, the Clerk shall append thereto a certificate reciting the fact.
g. 
Effective Date. No ordinance other than a local budget ordinance shall take effect less than twenty (20) days after its final passage by Council and approval by the Mayor when such approval is required, unless Council shall adopt a resolution declaring an emergency, with at least two-thirds (2/3) (five (5)) members of Council voting in favor.
[Ord. #84-27, § 2.11; Ord. #86-31, § 2.12; Ord. #90-20, § 1]
a. 
Appointment, Term, Compensation. Council shall appoint a Clerk qualified by education and experience in office management or business administration to serve for three (3) years from July 1 of the year in which appointed and to receive an annual salary as provided in the salary ordinance.
b. 
Duties. The Clerk shall be Clerk of Council, shall provide such stenographic and other staff services as the members shall require, shall select Deputy Municipal Clerk(s) with the advice and consent of Council. The Clerk shall remove or discipline such personnel subject to Civil Service Provisions, and shall:
1. 
Attend all Council meetings, including pre-meeting conferences.
2. 
Provide for the taking of and preparation of appropriate minutes of all Council meetings.
3. 
Compile, index and preserve all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, minutes and other documents and papers to which the City is a party and which require retention as public records.
4. 
Prepare agendas for all Council meetings and send copies of all pertinent materials in advance of pre-meeting conferences to Council members and members elect, Mayor and Business Administrator and other affected City officials.
5. 
Prepare and publish notices, ordinances and other matters as required by Charter or general law in sufficient number to meet requirements of the public.
6. 
Have custody of the City Seal and affix it to appropriate documents without charge.
7. 
Issue licenses and register vital statistics.
8. 
Perform such other duties as Council may assign and as are prescribed by general law and Charter.
9. 
Compile and index all ordinances and resolutions adopted during the year, and shall obtain sufficient copies of each to satisfy normal public demand. At the close of each year the Clerk shall index and bind the originals of all ordinances and resolutions and preserve them as permanent public records. The Clerk may also provide for codification of ordinances, with assistance of the City Attorney and within available budgeted resources.
10. 
Charge and receive for use of the City such fees for searches, transcripts and copies of official records as Council shall authorize by resolution.