[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of New Rochelle as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 1-1-1932; last amended 5-18-1982 by Res. No. 101]
[Amended 4-20-2006 by Ord. No. 97-2006]
A.
The Council shall meet on the second and third Tuesdays
of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 515 North Avenue,
New Rochelle, New York, or at such other place as the Council may
designate.
B.
The second Tuesday of the month shall be a Committee-of-the-Whole
meeting for the purpose of reviewing the Council calendar and discussion
items on the Council agenda and voting on legislative items which
cannot wait until the next regular Council meeting. Such meeting shall
commence at 3:45 p.m. on said day or at such other hour as a majority
of the Council may designate. Citizens shall be heard and petitions
and communications received at 7:00 p.m. on said days.
[Amended 3-16-2010 by Ord. No. 41-2010; 2-9-2016 by Ord. No. 29-2016]
C.
The third Tuesday shall be the regular Council meeting
for the purpose of conducting regular legislative business and to
vote on the legislative items previously discussed at the Committee-of-the-Whole
session on the second Tuesday of the month. Such regular Council meeting
shall commence at 6:15 p.m.
[Amended 7-9-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-132]
D.
The Mayor or majority of the members of the Council
may call a special meeting by causing a written notice therefor, specifying
the objects of the meeting, to be delivered by the City Clerk or his
or her designee to each and every member at their places of business
or places of residence 24 hours before the time fixed for such meeting.
Such meeting shall commence at the time set forth in the written Notice
therefor.
E.
The Council may, at any time, on approval of a majority
of its members, hold a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting or an executive
session at such other times and places as it may designate.
A.
The first business of each regular legislative meeting
to be held on the third Tuesday of each month shall be the call of
the roll.
B.
The order of business, which shall not be departed
from except by a majority vote of the Council, shall be as follows:
(1)
Submission and approval of minutes.
(2)
Public hearings as required.
(3)
Receipt of reports of boards, committees and commissions.
(4)
Recess.
(6)
Adjournment of legislative session.
(7)
Convening of meeting in Council Chambers following
adjournment of the legislative session for the purpose of conferences
and hearings with boards, committees or commissions or upon citizen
request consented to by Council.
A.
It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to forward
to each member of the City Council copies of the minutes of the preceding
meetings of the Council, whether regular or special, which minutes
may, however, omit the text of reports, communications, resolutions,
etc., provided that a summary thereof is inserted sufficient for identification.
B.
Minutes of any meeting of the Council shall not be
adopted or approved unless a copy of the same shall have been furnished
to each member of the City Council on or before the regular meeting
at which the minutes are moved for adoption or approval.
Every main motion, resolution or ordinance shall
be first stated by the Chairman or by the Clerk and shall be reduced
to writing. Upon being seconded, it shall be deemed in the possession
of the Council, but it may be withdrawn at any time before it shall
be decided or amended. Every resolution, ordinance or local law, before
being deemed in the possession of the City Council, shall be approved
as to form by the Corporation Counsel or, during his absence or disability,
by an Assistant Corporation Counsel by affixing his signature.
A motion to reconsider any vote must be made
at the same meeting at which the vote proposed to be reconsidered
was taken or at the next meeting next succeeding and by a member who
voted in the majority. Such motion may be made under any order of
business but shall be considered only under the business in which
the vote proposed to be reconsidered occurred.
A motion of reconsideration being put and lost
shall not be renewed, nor shall any vote be a second time considered
without unanimous consent.
[Amended 11-17-1992 by Res. No. 269; 12-14-1993 by Res. No. 272]
The yeas and nays may be taken on any question
if required by any member and shall be taken when required by the
provisions of Section 15 of the City Charter. Upon any call of the
roll of members, the same shall be called in Council district order,
calling the name of the Mayor last, and when taken shall be entered
on the minutes.
Any of the foregoing rules may be suspended for a special purpose by a unanimous vote of the members present, except as provided for special meetings in § 16-1 above.
Any question of order not governed by the foregoing
rules shall be decided in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order
Revised.
These rules are not to be construed as abridging
in any manner any powers given to any member of the Council, or the
Mayor, by the City Charter.
[Adopted 10-24-1989 by Res. No.
242]
The written agenda for each session of City
Council shall be delivered, where possible, to the Mayor and Council
members no later than seven days prior to each session.
Each item included in the agenda shall be categorized
under topic headings, e.g., development, zoning, contracts, etc.
Each agenda item shall include the following
information:
A.
Whether a Council member, the City Manager or department
head or other employee shall have brought the item to the attention
of Council.
B.
A summary description and synopsis of the item.
C.
A statement, if practicable, of alternatives to any
item proposed by the City Manager.
D.
A statement of whether there are any deadlines, legal
statutes of limitation or other time periods requiring Council or
other action by a certain date.
E.
A statement as to whether the services of outside
consultants may be required and the reasons for such services and
the estimated cost thereof.
B.
The City Manager shall, on a regular basis, meet with
the City Council in association with each department head for the
purpose of a discussion of the activities, goals, financial status
and recommendations of each department. The City Manager and each
department head shall present to the Mayor and Council at each such
meeting a statement concerning the manner in which that department
is meeting the policy objectives established by the Council.
[Added 6-15-2004 by Ord. No. 135-2004]
A consent agenda may be presented by the Mayor
at the beginning of voting at a regular Council meeting. Any item
shall be removed from the consent agenda on the request of any one
Council Member. Items not removed shall be adopted by single motion
without debate. Removed items shall be taken up in the regular voting
order.
