[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Kane 12-6-1982 by Ord. No. A-822 as Ch. 1, Part
1B, of the 1982 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following rules of order and procedure shall
govern the deliberations and meetings of the Borough Council and of
committees thereof:
A. The Borough Council shall meet stately at least once
a month. Any regular meeting falling upon a legal holiday shall be
held on the next following day, at the same hour and place.
[Amended 1-9-1995 by Ord. No. A-903; 2-12-1996 by Ord. No. A-913; 3-27-2000 by Ord. No. A-943]
B. Special meetings of the Borough Council may be called
by the President of Council or upon written request of at least 1/3
of the members thereof, filed with the Secretary at least 24 hours
prior to the meeting to the time specified for such meeting. The Secretary
shall immediately notify each Council member of the time and purpose
of such meeting. The Secretary shall notify the media at least 24
hours prior to the meeting stating the purpose, time and place of
the special meeting.
[Amended 3-27-2000 by Ord. No. A-943]
C. The Borough Council shall organize on the first Monday
of January of each even-numbered year, by selecting one of their number
as President, one of their number as Vice President, and one of their
number as President Pro Tem.
[Amended 4-8-2002 by Ord.
No. A-953]
D. The business of the Council shall be conducted in
the following order:
(1) Call to order by presiding officer.
(2) Opening prayer and pledge of allegiance.
(4) Approval of preceding meeting minutes.
(5) Comments and suggestions from citizens present.
(10) Remarks from the Solicitor.
E. The President at the stated hour shall call the meeting
to order. He shall preserve order and decorum, decide all questions
of order and conduct the proceedings of the meeting in accordance
with parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order. Any
member shall have the right of appeal from a decision of the presiding
officer. No appeal shall be debatable, and the appeal may be sustained
by a majority of the members present, exclusive of the President.
F. If the President is absent at the designated time
for any meeting, the Vice President shall call the meeting to order
and preside. In the event of the absence of both the President and
Vice President, a temporary chairman shall be appointed.
G. Whenever the presiding officer shall desire to speak
upon any question, or make any motion, he shall vacate the chair and
designate the Vice President to preside temporarily.
H. Committees.
[Amended 2-12-1996 by Ord. No. A-913; 3-27-2000 by Ord. No. A-943]
(1) The following committees shall be appointed by the
President by the second regular meeting:
(b) Committee on Public Works.
(c) Committee on Public Safety.
(d) Committee on Borough Properties.
(2) Each committee shall consist of three Council members.
In addition to the above committees, the President may appoint such
other committees as are reasonable and necessary.
[Amended 11-9-2016 by Ord. No. A-1036]
I. All ordinances and resolutions shall be read to the
Council at two consecutive meetings.
J. The deliberations of the Council shall be conducted
in the following manner:
(1) No Council member shall address the Council until
he has been recognized by the presiding officer. He shall thereupon
address himself to the President and confine his remarks to the question
and avoid all personalities.
(2) No person other than a Council member shall address
the board, except under the heading of "Comments and Suggestions from
Citizens Present" or if the presiding officer calls upon this person.
(3) No motion shall be discussed or acted upon unless
and until it has been seconded. No motion shall be withdrawn or amended
without the consent of the person making the same and the person seconding
it.
(4) Questions.
(a) When a question is under discussion no action shall
be in order except:
[4]
to postpone to a certain day.
[7]
To postpone indefinitely.
(b) These motions shall have precedence in the order listed.
K. Any member desirous of terminating the debate may
move the previous question, in which event the President shall announce
the question as "Shall the main question now be put"? If a majority
of the members present vote in the affirmative, the main question
shall be taken without further debate, its effect being to put an
end to all debate and bring the Council to a direct vote, first upon
any pending amendments, and then upon the main question.
L. Each Council member shall vote either "yes" or "no"
when a question is put, unless the Council by a majority vote of those
present shall excuse him for a special cause. A majority vote of the
quorum present in favor of any proposed ordinance, resolution or appointment
shall be necessary for passage or approval.
M. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, and
a motion to adjourn, to lay on the table and a call for the previous
question shall be decided without further debate.
N. These rules or any parts thereof may be temporarily
suspended in connection with any matter under consideration by a record
vote of 2/3 of the members present.