Township of Bristol, PA Council

§ 5-4 Composition; election; terms; compensation; vacancies.

Composition; election; term of office. Council shall consist of seven members, who shall be elected at large at regular municipal elections. Their term of office shall be as provided in the Optional Plans Law at 53 Pa.C.S. § 3162.

Compensation. The annual compensation of a Council member shall be $3,500. The compensation of Council members elected subsequent to January 2, 2012, shall be fixed by ordinance of Council adopted at least two days prior to the last day fixed by law for candidates to withdraw their names for nomination previous to the municipal election. Thereafter only an increase or decrease in compensation need be fixed by ordinance.

Vacancies. Vacancies in the office of Council member shall be filled as provided in the Optional Plans Law at 53 Pa.C.S. § 3132.

§ 5-5 Organization.

The organization meeting of Council shall be held in the Township building at 7:00 p.m. on the first Monday of January, unless it is a legal holiday, in which event the meeting shall be held on the next day following.

The first order of business shall be the election of a President and Vice President, and thereafter the appointment of the Secretary and such other officers as Council may deem appropriate. The President last elected shall preside as President pro tem until a President is elected. Should the predecessor President no longer be a member of Council, then the Vice-President last elected shall so preside; should the predecessor Vice-President no longer be a member of Council, then the member of Council with the most continuous seniority present shall preside pro tem until a President is elected.

If within five ballots to be taken within seven days of said organization meeting the members of Council shall be unable to elect either a President, Vice President or Secretary, the candidates for such positions shall be reduced to the two receiving the most votes from the Council members in the last ballot and all Council members shall be required to vote for one or the other.

In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall exercise the duties of the President. In the absence of both the President and the Vice President, the Council member with the most seniority in office shall exercise the duties of the President.

§ 5-6 Meetings.

Public notice. Public notice of meetings shall be provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Optional Plans Law, the First Class Township Code, the Sunshine Act, and all other applicable provisions of general law.

Regular meetings. Council shall meet at least once a month, at 7:00 p.m. on the day established by Council at the organization meeting for the ensuing year at the Township building, or at such other time and place as the Council may from time to time designate. The Council may adjourn to a stated time for general business or for special business. If no quorum is present at a stated monthly or adjourned meeting, a majority of those who do meet may agree upon another date for a meeting and may continue to do so until a meeting at which a quorum is present is held. Council shall give public notice of the date and time of all regular meetings.

Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President of Council, or upon written notice to the President signed by a majority of council members then in office. A written notice shall be delivered to each Council member at least 24 hours before a special meeting is held. Such notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meeting by Council. Presence at the meeting constitutes waiver of notice.

All meetings of Council shall be open to the public except as otherwise provided by the Sunshine Act: Open Meetings Law.

Rules and procedure. Except as provided in the Optional Plans Law, the First Class Township Code and this chapter, all meetings of Council shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and such other rules as Council may from time to time establish.

Council executive sessions. Council may hold executive session in accordance with a stated resolution, or motion to adjourn to executive session, and shall give such public notice of the Executive Session as is required by the Sunshine Act. No official action shall be taken by Council on any matter in executive session except as provided by the Sunshine Act.

Quorum and majority action. A majority of all members of Council shall constitute a quorum. Council shall conduct no business except in the presence of a quorum. The action of a majority of the Council members present and entitled to vote shall be binding upon and constitute the action of Council, except as otherwise provided in the Optional Plans Law, the First Class Township Code and general law.

§ 5-7 Agenda.

The proposed agenda for any meeting of Council shall be prepared by the Township Manager, with such input from the President of Council or the Council as a body, as they may direct.

The proposed agenda for any stated meeting shall be forwarded to all members of Council and be available to the public at least five days prior to any stated monthly meeting of Council and 24 hours prior to any special meeting of Council. In addition, the agenda for all meetings of Council shall be posted in the Township building.

The title of any ordinance or resolution to be considered shall be printed as part of the agenda.

The published agenda may be amended at any meeting of Council by a majority of members present. No matters other than those on the agenda, as amended, shall be acted upon by Council.

§ 5-8 Conduct of business.

At the time appointed for any meeting of Council, the President shall be the chair and call the meeting to order. If a quorum is present, the President shall proceed with the agenda for the meeting. If, upon the call of the roll, a quorum is not present, the President shall order a recess for a maximum period of 30 minutes, and if no quorum has developed by that time, a majority of those who do meet may agree upon another date for a meeting and may continue to do so until a meeting at which a quorum is present is held.

§ 5-9 Public participation at meetings.

Residents shall be provided the opportunity to address Council on any agenda item, provided that written notice thereof is given to the Township Secretary prior to the roll call of the meeting. Such opportunity to address Council shall be immediately prior to the final action of Council thereon, unless the opportunity to be heard has theretofore been provided either at prior public hearing of Council. Additional public comment may be invited at the discretion of Council.

When a group of residents wishes to address Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the President to request that a spokesperson be chosen by the group.

Any person making offensive, insulting, insolent, slanderous or obscene remarks or who becomes boisterous or who makes threats against any person or against public order and security while in the Council meeting room shall be forthwith barred by the President from further audience at the meeting, unless permission to remain is granted by the majority of the Council members present.

Council may provide for a police officer on duty to be ex officio Sergeant at Arms of Council to carry out instruction given him by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum in the Council meeting room.

§ 5-10 Official actions.

Every legislative act of Council shall be taken by ordinance or resolution or as provided in the applicable provisions of the Optional Plans Law, the First Class Township Code, this chapter or general law. Other official actions may be by motion made, seconded and carried as may be appropriate.

§ 5-11 Powers and duties.

All powers and duties of the Township shall be exclusively vested in and exercised by Council pursuant to the First Class Township Code, except as may otherwise be provided by the Optional Plans Law.

Council shall be the legislative body of the Township charged with the responsibility and duty to establish the policies, goals and objectives for the legislative, administrative and advisory functions of the Township and to enact and adopt ordinances and resolutions consistent with the Optional Plans Law, the First Class Township Code, this chapter and general law.

Council may appoint by resolution such nonprofessional advisors and liaisons as it may, from time to time, deem appropriate and necessary, and set their compensation.

Council may require any Township officer, in its discretion, to prepare and submit sworn statements regarding his official duties and the performance thereof, and may otherwise investigate the conduct of any department, office or agency of Township government.

Council shall continue or create, and determine and define, the powers and duties of any executive and administrative departments, boards and offices as it deems necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the Township, including the office of deputy manager. Any department, board or office so continued or created may be abolished by Council. No member of Council shall head an administrative department.

Council shall act in all matters as a body, and no member thereof shall seek individually to influence the official acts of the Township Manager or any other officer.

Neither Council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to or removal from office, or to interfere in any way with the performance by the officers of their duties.

Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the Township Manager, and shall not give orders to any subordinates of the Township Manager, either publicly or privately.