[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Cedarburg 1-2-1991 as Title 2, Ch. 2 of the 1991 Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
In this Code, the following terms shall have
the meaning indicated:
The Town Meeting held under § 60.11, Wis. Stats.
A Town Meeting, other than the Annual Town Meeting, held
under § 60.12, Wis. Stats.
The Annual Town Meeting or a Special Town Meeting.
A.
Direct powers. Town Meeting may:
(1)
Raise money. Raise money, including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the Town, unless the authority has been delegated to the Town Board under Subsection B(1) below.
(2)
Town offices and officers.
(a)
Fix the compensation of elective Town offices under § 60.32, Wis. Stats., unless the authority has been delegated to the Town Board under Subsection B(10) below.
(b)
Combine the offices of Town Clerk and Town Treasurer
under § 60.305(1), Wis. Stats.
(c)
Combine the offices of Town Assessor and Town Clerk
under § 60.305(2), Wis. Stats.
(d)
Establish or abolish the office of Town Constable
and establish the number of Constables. Abolition of the office is
effective at the end of the term of the person serving in the office.
(e)
Designate the office of Town Clerk, Town Treasurer
or the combined office of Clerk and Treasurer as part time under § 60.305(1)(b),
Wis. Stats.
(3)
(4)
Cemeteries. Authorize the acquisition and conveyance
of cemeteries under § 157.50(1) and (3), Wis. Stats.
(5)
Administrator agreements. Approve agreements to employ
an Administrator for more than three years under § 60.37(3)(d),
Wis. Stats.
B.
Directives or grants of authority to Town Board. Except as provided under Subsection C, directives or grants of authority to the Town Board under this subsection may be general and continuing or may be limited as to purpose, effect or duration. Resolutions adopted by a Town Meeting directing or authorizing the Town Board to exercise one of the optional powers of this subsection shall include language that makes the intent of those attending the Town Meeting clear. A resolution adopted under this subsection shall specify whether the directive or grant is general and continuing or whether it is limited as to purpose, effect or duration. A resolution that is continuing remains in effect until rescinded at a subsequent Town Meeting. This subsection does not limit any authority otherwise conferred on the Town Board by law. By resolution, the Town Meeting may:
(1)
Raise money. Authorize the Town Board to raise money,
including levying taxes, to pay for expenses of the Town.
(2)
Membership of Town Board in populous towns. If the
Town has a population of 2,500 or more, direct the Town Board to increase
the membership of the Board under § 60.21(2), Wis. Stats.
(3)
Exercise of village powers. Authorize the Town Board
to exercise powers of a village board under § 60.22(3),
Wis. Stats. A resolution adopted under this subsection is general
and continuing.
(4)
General obligation bonds. Authorize the Town Board
to issue general obligation bonds in the manner and for the purposes
provided by law.
(5)
Purchase of land. Authorize the Town Board to purchase
any land within the Town for present or anticipated Town purposes.
(6)
Town buildings. Authorize the Town Board to purchase,
lease or construct buildings for the use of the Town, to combine for
this purpose the Town's funds with those of a society or corporation
doing business or located in the Town and to accept contributions
of money, labor or space for this purpose.
(7)
Disposal of property. Authorize the Town Board to
dispose of Town property, real or personal, other than property donated
to and required to be held by the Town for a special purpose.
(8)
Watershed protection and soil and water conservation.
Authorize the Town Board to engage in watershed protection, soil conservation
or water conservation activities beneficial to the Town.
(9)
Appointed Assessors. Authorize the Town Board to select
Assessors by appointment under § 60.307(2), Wis. Stats.
(10)
Compensation of elective Town offices. Authorize the
Town Board to fix the compensation of elective Town offices under
§ 60.32(1)(b), Wis. Stats.
C.
Authorization to Town Board to appropriate money.
The Town Meeting may authorize the Town Board to appropriate money
in the next annual budget for:
(1)
Conservation of natural resources. The conservation
of natural resources by the Town or by a bona fide nonprofit organization
under § 60.23(6), Wis. Stats.
(2)
Civic functions. Civic and other functions under § 60.23(3),
Wis. Stats.
(3)
Insects, weeds and animal diseases. The control of
insect pests, weeds or plant or animal diseases within the Town.
(4)
Rural numbering system. Posting signs and otherwise
cooperating with the county in establishment of a rural numbering
system under § 59.54(4) and (4m), Wis. Stats.
(5)
Cemetery improvements. The improvement of a Town cemetery
under § 157.50(5), Wis. Stats.
A.
Requirement. This Town of Cedarburg shall hold an
Annual Town Meeting as provided in this section.
B.
C.
Where held.
(1)
The Annual Town Meeting may be held in the Town or
in any village or city within or adjoining the Town of Cedarburg.
(2)
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held at the location
of the last Annual Town Meeting unless the location is changed by
the Town Board. If the Town Board changes the location, it shall publish
a Class 2 notice under Ch. 985, Wis. Stats., stating the location
of the meeting not more than 20 nor less than 15 days before the date
of the meeting.
D.
Adjournment. The Annual Town Meeting may be recessed to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30 days after the date of the meeting originally scheduled under Subsection B. Business not acted on at the annual meeting, or within the 30 days allowed for adjourning and reconvening the meeting, shall be left to the next annual meeting or taken up by a Special Town Meeting convened under § 60.12, Wis. Stats.
F.
Jurisdiction. The Annual Town Meeting may transact
any business over which the Town Meeting has jurisdiction.
G.
Poll list. The Annual Town Meeting may require the
Clerk of the Town Meeting to keep a poll list with the name and address
of every elector voting at the meeting.
A.
Who may convene. A Special Town Meeting may be convened
if:
B.
Time, date and purpose to be stated. If a Special Town Meeting is requested or called under Subsection A, the time, date and purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the request or as part of the call.
C.
Notice. The Town Clerk shall, not more than 20 nor
less than 15 days before the date of a Special Town Meeting, publish
a Class 2 notice of the meeting under Ch. 985, Wis. Stats. The notice
shall state the purpose, date, time and location of the meeting. If
notice is posted instead of published, the same time and content requirements
apply.
E.
Adjournment. A Special Town Meeting may be recessed
to a time and date certain if the resumed meeting is held within 30
days after the date of the originally scheduled meeting.
F.
Jurisdiction. Any business which may be transacted
at an Annual Town Meeting may be transacted at a Special Town Meeting.
A.
Who presides.
(1)
If present, the Town Board Chairperson shall chair the Town Meeting, as defined in § 82-1. If the Town Board Chairperson is absent, another Town Board Supervisor shall chair the Town Meeting. If no Town Board Supervisor is present, the Town Meeting shall elect the Chairperson of the meeting.
(2)
If the Annual Town Meeting is held in a year when the office of Town Board Chairperson is filled by election, the person holding the office on the day prior to the date of the election to fill the office shall preside at the Annual Town Meeting and is entitled to receive the per diem which is ordinarily paid to the presiding officer. If such person is absent or refuses to serve as the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall be chosen under Subsection A(1) above.
B.
Duties. The Town Meeting Chairperson shall conduct
the meeting's proceedings in accordance with accepted parliamentary
procedure.
C.
Enforcement authority. The Town Meeting Chairperson
shall maintain order and decorum and may order any person to leave
a Town Meeting if the person has conducted himself or herself in a
disorderly manner and persisted in such conduct after being directed
by the Chairperson to cease the conduct. If the person refuses the
Chairperson's order to withdraw, the Town Meeting Chairperson may
order a Constable or other law enforcement officer to take the person
into custody until the meeting is adjourned.
A.
Qualified voters. Any qualified elector of the Town,
as defined under Ch. 6, Wis. Stats., may vote at a Town Meeting.
B.
Definition. A qualified elector, as defined under
Ch. 6, Wis. Stats., means an individual who is a United States citizen,
18 years of age or older, and who has been a resident of the Town
for at least 10 days on the date a Town Meeting is held.
C.
Method of action; necessary votes. All actions of
a Town Meeting shall be by vote. All questions shall be decided by
a majority of the electors voting.
D.
Order of business. At the beginning of the Town Meeting,
the Town Meeting Chairperson shall state the business to be transacted
and the order in which the business will be considered. No proposal
to levy a tax, except a tax for defraying necessary Town expenses,
may be acted on out of the order stated by the Town Meeting Chairperson.
E.
Reconsideration of actions.
(1)
No reconsideration of any vote shall be had at any
Town Meeting unless it is taken by a majority vote within one hour
from the time such vote shall have been passed or, if taken later
than one hour, unless it is sustained by a number of votes equal to
a majority of all the names entered on the poll list at such election
up to the time the motion therefor shall be made. All other questions
upon motions at a Town Meeting shall be determined by a majority of
the electors voting.
(2)
No action of a Town Meeting may be reconsidered at
a subsequent Town Meeting held prior to the next Annual Town Meeting
unless a Special Town Meeting is convened under § 60.12(1)(b)
or (c), Wis. Stats., and the written request or the call for the meeting
states that a purpose of the meeting is reconsideration of the action.
The Town Clerk shall serve as Clerk of the Town
Meeting. If the Town Clerk is absent, the Deputy Town Clerk, if the
Town has one, shall serve as Town Meeting Clerk. If the Deputy Clerk
is absent, the Town Meeting Chairperson shall appoint a Clerk of the
meeting. The Clerk of the Town Meeting shall keep a poll list if required
by the Annual Town Meeting under § 60.11(7), Wis. Stats.
The Town Meeting minutes shall be signed by the Clerk of the Town
Meeting and filed in the office of the Town Clerk within five days
after the meeting.
