Source: https://ecode360.com/10136063
Timestamp: 2019-11-15 15:37:40
Document Index: 567810996

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3']

Township of Evesham, NJ Township Council
Ch 3 Art II Township Council
§ 3-2 General powers.
§ 3-4 Selection of Deputy Mayor.
§ 3-5 Powers and duties of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
§ 3-7 (Reserved)
§ 3-8 Quorum.
§ 3-9 Conduct of meetings; rules of order.
Township of Evesham, NJ / Part I, Administrative Legislation / Administrative Code
Article II Township Council
All powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the Township Council, except as otherwise provided by the Charter, general law or this chapter.
[Amended 11-1-1977 by Ord. No. 40-11-77; 12-15-2009 by Ord. No. 16-12-2009]
The compensation of each member of the Council shall be as set forth in the annual Salary Ordinance.[1] Any member elected or reelected after 2008 may participate in the Township’s group health, dental or prescription benefits plan only at his/her own expense.
[Amended 12-21-1971 by Ord. No. 22-12-71; 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004]
At the annual reorganization meeting of the Township Council, the Township Council shall designate one of its members to serve as Deputy Mayor, to assume the functions of the Mayor in the Mayor's absence, such as presiding at meetings of the Council, executing bonds, notes, contracts and other written obligations to the municipality and such other duties as would otherwise be performed by the Mayor.
[Amended 12-21-1971 by Ord. No. 22-12-71]
The Mayor shall have only such powers and duties as Mayor as are expressly vested in him by this chapter. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Township Council and shall have a voice and vote in its proceedings.
In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall preside at all regular and special meetings. In the absence of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, the Township Clerk shall call the Council to order, in the event there is a quorum, and it shall thereupon elect a temporary Chairman for the time being. Upon the arrival of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor or the temporary Chairman, as the case may be, shall immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before the Council.
All bonds, notes, deeds, contracts and written obligations of the municipality shall be executed on its behalf by the Mayor, or in the event of his inability to act, the Deputy Mayor, or in the event of the inability of the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to act, such Councilman as the Township Council shall designate to act as Mayor during his absence or disability.
Regular Meetings. The Council shall meet annually for organization on the first regular business day of January. The Council shall meet regularly thereafter on such dates and at such times as shall be set forth on the resolution establishing that year’s meetings as adopted at the organization meeting; but in no event shall the Council meet less than monthly.
[Amended 5-19-1970 by Ord. No. 8-70; 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004; 7-19-2005 by Ord. No. 10-7-2005; 12-7-2010 by Ord. No. 30-12-2010]
Special meetings. The Mayor may, and upon written request of a majority of the Council shall, call a special meeting of the Council. The call for a special meeting shall specify the purpose of the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that specified. The Mayor's call for a special meeting shall be filed with the Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the time for which the meeting is called. The Clerk shall forthwith give notice thereof by telephone or telegraph to each Councilman, at such place as he shall have previously designated for that purpose, and also serve or cause to be served a written copy of the call upon each Councilman by delivery of a copy to him personally or by the leaving of a copy at his usual place of abode. The municipal police shall cooperate with the Clerk in effectuating such service of notice. Upon written waiver of notice executed by all of the members of the Council, a special meeting may be held without prior notice, notwithstanding the above provisions of this subsection.
[Amended 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004]
All regular and special meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. The Manager, Attorney, Clerk and Engineer, and such other municipal officers and employees as may be required by general or special order of the Council, shall attend regular and special meetings of the Council.
§ 3-7 (Reserved) [1]
Editor's Note: Former § 3-7, Conferences, as amended, was repealed 2-17-2004 by Ord. No. 3-2-2004.
A majority of all the members elected to the Council shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Council, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn any meeting. If no member of the Council is present 1/2 hour after the appointed time for any meeting, the Clerk shall adjourn the meeting.
[Amended 4-28-1981 by Ord. No. 9-4-81]
The format for Council meeting agendas shall be as follows:
[Amended 6-9-1998 by Ord. No. 27-6-98]
Statements of conformance with Open Public Meetings Act[1]
Preliminary public comment
Ordinances, second reading
Ordinances, first reading
Items may be added to or removed from the agenda at any point by a majority vote of those Council members present.
Preliminary public comment shall be limited to five minutes per speaker. The total time for preliminary public comment shall not exceed 15 minutes. Time limits imposed on preliminary public comment can be suspended by a 2/3 vote of those Council members present.
Additions to the agenda will be considered only after Council comments have been made.
Beginning at 11:00 p.m., the Mayor will entertain a motion for adjournment at the conclusion of each item of business. An affirmative vote by a majority of those Council members present shall constitute approval of such a motion.
Procedure for Council motions or comments.
Motions or comments shall be made only by the member who has the floor.
Motions shall not be discussed until seconded.
Each Council member will have an opportunity to discuss the motion for five minutes, after which each member will have a second opportunity for a two-minute discussion.
Amendments to motions will be discussed in the same manner as motions, except that both opportunities for discussion shall be limited to two minutes.
A motion to table a specific date shall be discussed only as to the date. Discussion shall be limited in the same manner provided for amendments to motions.
A motion to table to no specific date shall not be discussed.
A Council member shall not grant his allotted discussion time to another Council member without the consent of a majority of the Council members present.
Council and staff comments at the end of the agenda shall be limited to five minutes per person.
All votes on motions shall be by roll call, with the Township Clerk calling Council members in alphabetical order, with the exception that the Mayor shall vote only after all other members present have voted or abstained.
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3 vote of the Council members present.
Procedure for public comment.
The chair will receive and direct all questions from and answers to the public. Each Council member will be given the opportunity to discuss or answer a public comment or question. Comments or answers shall be limited to five minutes.
Ordinances. The Council, by a vote of a majority of the members present, may permit public comment prior to first reading. This comment shall not be considered a public hearing and is subject to the time limitations of § 3-9A(1)(b).
Resolutions. The Council, by a vote of a majority of the members present, may permit public comment before a vote on the resolution is taken. This comment shall not be considered a public hearing and is subject to the time limitations of § 3-9A(1)(b).
In lieu of, or in addition to, public comment at meetings, the Council, by a majority vote of the members present, may authorize the Township Clerk to send a copy of a proposed ordinance or resolution to appropriate community groups. The Township Clerk shall include a notice that all comments, if in writing, must be received by the Friday before the next meeting at which the ordinance or resolution is to be considered. Oral comments will be permitted at the meeting in accordance with § 3-9A(1)(b).
Caucus meetings.
The format for caucus meeting agendas shall be as follows:
Ordinances, tabled
Ordinances, proposed
Introduction of new ordinances
Introduction of new resolutions
Discussion of any item shall not exceed one hour. At the end of that time the chair will call for a vote to place the item on the next Council meeting agenda. If a majority of the Council members present do not approve, the chair will call for a vote to place the item on the next caucus agenda or a specified future caucus agenda. If a majority of the Council members present do not approve, the chair will call for a vote to remove the item from the agenda until revised and resubmitted.
Procedure for discussion.
Beginning at 11:00 p.m. the Mayor will entertain a motion for adjournment at the conclusion of each item of business. An affirmative vote by a majority of those Council members present shall constitute approval of such a motion.
Except as may be provided in this Code or by other applicable law, questions of order, methods of organization and the conduct of business of the Council shall be governed by the latest revised edition of Robert's Rules of Order.