1. When a holiday observed by the Town falls on a regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting or Committee Work Session, such meeting shall be held the following workday.
2. The AGENDA shall contain the items to be considered by the Council. The deadline for placing items on the Agenda shall be 5:00 p.m. on Monday prior to the regular Council Meetings or Council Committee Work Sessions. Matters not on the Agenda may be considered on the request of a Councilmember unless two members object.
3. Unless a READING OF THE MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING is requested by a Councilmember, such minutes may be approved without a reading if the Municipal Clerk has previously furnished each member with a copy.
4. Each Councilmember ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL shall speak with permission of the Chair and shall address the Chair, and no member shall interrupt anyone who is speaking, except to call him/her to order or for an explanation.
5. ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL MAY SPEAK to the Council with permission of the Chair and shall address the Chair; each person, after stating his/her name and address, may make comments which are relevant to the subject matter at hand and which are limited to three (3) minutes, unless additional time is granted in advance by the Chair.
6. All votes of the Council shall be done publicly and by a show of hands, and shall be recorded in the minutes. However, Council may vote by secret ballot for the appointments to Town Boards/Commissions when more than one name is submitted for each vacancy.
7. Telephone votes by Council are not authorized unless the matter is deemed an emergency, which will be determined by the Town Administrator and the Municipal Clerk.
For the purpose of this rule of procedure, an emergency item shall be defined as an item which requires immediate legislative action because it significantly bears on the ability of the Town government to deliver services; because it threatens the safety, livelihood or general well-being of the people of the Town; because delaying action might result in the loss of public funds; or because failure to act might result in litigation or exacerbation of pending litigation.
8. The Council may, by majority vote, meet in EXECUTIVE SESSION at any time, but only in compliance with South Carolina law. Attendance at such sessions shall be limited only to Councilmembers, the Town Administrator and the Municipal Clerk, plus such invitees as may meet the unanimous approval of the Council.
9. It is a general rule that no member can vote on a question in which (s)he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest. If a conflict of interest exists on any issue, the member must: declare, in writing, the conflict of interest; present it to the Municipal Clerk; and, then physically remove him(her)self from all discussion of the matter as well as from the voting process.
10. While it is the duty of every member who has an opinion on the question to express it by his/her vote, the member can not be compelled to do so. (S)he may abstain from voting, even though the member knows the effect is the same as if (s)he voted on the prevailing side. It shall be required, however, that an explanation be given to the other members and public as to why the member abstained.
11. No motion shall be entertained nor voted upon regarding any matter which appears on the meeting agenda for discussion only, unless the agenda is properly amended pursuant to the Town Code of Ordinances. |
