The governing and law-making body of the Town shall consist
of the Mayor and five (5) Council Members and shall be known as the
Town Council of the Town of Highland Park.
The members of the Council shall be the only elective officers
of the Town and they shall be elected and hold office as herein provided.
Said members shall be elected from the Town-at-large.
No person shall serve as Mayor for more than three (3) successive
terms and no person shall serve as a Council Member for more than
three (3) successive terms. A term of office shall be for a period
of two (2) years or any portion thereof.
Each candidate for mayor and council member shall meet the following
qualifications: 1. Shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
2. Shall be a citizen of the United States of America and a qualified
voter of the State of Texas; 3. Shall be a qualified voter of the
Town; 4. Shall have resided for at least twelve (12) months preceding
the election within the corporate limits of the Town; 5. Shall be
a bona fide owner of real estate within the corporate limits of the
Town; 6. Shall not be in arrears in the payment of any taxes or other
liabilities due the Town; 7. No candidate may file for more than one
office or position number per election; 8. No employee of the Town
shall continue in such position after becoming a candidate for an
elective office.
When any member of the Council no longer possesses all of the
qualifications specified in this section, or is convicted of a felony
or any offense involving moral turpitude while in office, such office
shall immediately and automatically become vacant. The Council shall
be the judge of the qualifications of its members and for such purposes
shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and require the production
of records, but the decision of the Council in any case shall be subject
to review by the courts.
The members of the Council shall serve without pay or compensation;
provided, however, that they shall be entitled to reimbursement for
expenses in the performance of their specific duties when approved
by the Council.
The Mayor shall preside over the meetings of the Council, and
perform such other duties consistent with the office as may be imposed
upon the Mayor by this Charter, and by ordinances and resolutions
passed in pursuance thereof. The Mayor may participate in the discussion
of all matters coming before the Council and in case of a tie vote,
the Mayor shall have a casting vote. The Mayor shall sign, after authorization
by the Council, all contracts and conveyances made or entered into
by the Town, all bonds, warrants and any other obligation issued under
the provisions of this Charter, in the manner prescribed in the ordinance
authorizing the signing of any such obligation. The Mayor shall be
recognized as the official head of the Town by the courts for the
purpose of serving civil process, by the Governor for the purpose
of enforcing military law, and for all ceremonial purposes.
At the first meeting of each new Council, or as soon thereafter
as practicable, the Mayor shall appoint one of the Council Members,
with the approval of the Council, as Mayor Pro Tempore who shall hold
office for two (2) years. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the
duties of Mayor in case of the absence or disability of the Mayor,
and if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Mayor, shall become
Mayor until the next regular election. In case of absence or disability
of both the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tempore, the remaining members
of the Council shall elect one of its members to act as Mayor Pro
Tempore.
A vacancy in the Council shall be filled by a qualified person
possessing all of the qualifications outlined in 2.04 hereof. Such
a vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members
of the Council.
Where more than one vacancy shall exist at the same time, then
a special election shall be called within forty-five (45) days after
the occurrence of the second vacancy, and the vacancies shall be filled
in the same manner as herein provided for general elections; provided,
however, if such vacancies occur within ninety (90) days of a general
election, then no special election shall be called.
The Council shall hold at least one (1) regular meeting in each
month at a time to be fixed by it for such regular meeting, and may
hold as many other meetings as may be necessary for the transaction
of the business of the Town. All meetings shall be held at the Town
Hall or at such other places as will permit the attendance of the
general public.
The Mayor or any two (2) of the other members of the Council
may call special meetings by giving notice to the Town Secretary who
shall notify each member of the Council of the time of such meeting
and purpose thereof. Only matters mentioned in the call shall be considered.
The Council shall determine its own Rules of Procedure. It shall
cause and require the Town Secretary to keep a permanent record or
journal of the minutes of these meetings.
A majority of the Council, not including the Mayor, shall constitute
a quorum to do business. A number less than a quorum may adjourn from
time to time and compel the attendance of absent members. If the Council
is reduced to less than three members on account of vacancies, the
remaining members shall constitute a quorum for the sole purpose of
calling an election. The vote upon the passage of all ordinances and
resolutions shall be taken by the “Ayes” and “Nays”
and entered upon the minutes, and every ordinance or resolution, upon
its final passage, shall be authenticated by the signature of the
presiding officer and the person performing the duties of Town Secretary.
No person related within the second degree by affinity or third
degree by consanguinity to the Mayor or any member of the Council
or the Town Administrator shall be appointed to any permanent paid
office, position, clerkship, or other service of the Town.