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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Charter Review_Tab 08_08/17/2007 �� h� SPECIAL MEETINGS Tequesta Section, 2.07, Meetings Palm Beach Section 3.07, Procedure (a) Meeting. Jupiter Island Section 3.6, Procedure (a) Meeting Gulf Stream Section 3.07, Procedure (a) Meetings Manalapan Section 3.09, Procedures, (A) Meetings Any or all members of the Village Council may be removed or recalled from office in accordance with procedures established by Florida law. State law references: Recall, F.S. § 100.361. Section 2.05. Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy on the Village Council because of death, resignation, removal from or forfeiture of office, and the period of vacancy is to be more than six (6) months, the Village Council shall provide for a special election to fill the vacancy until the expiration of the term. If the period of vacancy is to be for a period of less than six (6) months but more than three (3) months, then the Village Council may appoint a substitute to fill the vacancy until the expiration of the term. If the period of vacancy is to be for a period of less than three (3) months, no appointment shall be made and the position shall remain open until the expiration of the term. The criteria for selection of substitute Councilmembers pursuant to the terms of this provision shall be established by ordinance. Section 2.06. Mayor and Successors. The Village Council at its first regular meeting subsequent to the date of the annual election of Village Councilmembers shall appoint one of its members as and to be Mayor of said municipality and another of its members as and to be Vice - Mayor. Said officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Council for one (1) year and /or until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings; shall be recognized by the courts for the purpose of military law; and shall, execute all instruments to which the Village is a party, as approved by vote of the Village Council, unless otherwise provided hereby or by ordinance; but the Mayor shall have no administrative duties. The Vice -Mayor shall act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor. Section 2.07. Meetings. The Village Council shall determine the time and place for holding its meetings provided, however, it shall meet at least once per month. Special meetings shall be held when called by the Mayor, Manager, or independently by any two (2) members of the Village Council. The amount of notice for special meetings shall be determined by the Village Council by ordinance. State law references: Open meetings, F.S. § 286.011. Section 2.08. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but no action shall. be taken except to adjourn, when only three (3) members are present unless their votes are unanimous; provided, however, in the event of a vacancy of two (2) members of the Village Council, under the provisions of Section 2.05, then and in that event a majority of the remaining members of the Council may act. A majority of those present may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such a manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance. No member shall be excused from voting except as determined by Florida Law. Section 2.09. Ordinances and Resolutions. http:// Iibrary2 .municode.com /mcc /DocView /13868/1/3/5 7/2/2007 7 - pe- Council vacancy; provided, however, that a Mayor or Town Council member so chosen shall serve only until the next regular Town election, at which time any unexpired term of the Mayor or Town Council member whose vacancy was so filled shall be submittedto the electors for the election of a successor; and provided further that the individual so chosen by the Town Council to fill such vacancy shall be disqualified from running for elected office at such next regular Town election. In filling any such vacancy, the Town Council shall first consider former elected officials of the Town as candidates to fill such vacancy. In the case of a tie vote to fill a Town Council vacancy, the Mayor shall have the right to vote to break the tie. Notwithstanding any quorum requirements established in this Charter, if at any time the membership of the Town Council is reduced to less than a quorum, the remaining members shall, by majority vote, appoint additional members in the manner provided above and the Mayor shall have the right to vote to break a tie. (d) Extraordinary Vacancies. In the event that all members of the Town Council are removed by death, resignation, removal from office in any manner prescribed by law, or by forfeiture, the Governor of the State of Florida shall appoint an interim Town Council which shall call a special election to be held no sooner than sixty (60) days, or more than ninety (90) days, following the occurrence of said extraordinary vacancies. (Ord. No. 18 -99, § 1, 12- 14 -99) Sec. 3.07. Procedure. (a) Meeting. The Town Council shall meet regularly at least once in each month at such times and places as the Town Council may prescribe by rule. Special meetings may be held when called by the President of the Town Council, or by the President Pro Tern of the Town Council, or by any two (2) members of the Town Council, or by the Mayor. Whenever practical, such call shall be upon nq. less than twelve (12) hours' notice to each Council member, to the Mayor and to the public. (b) Rules. The Town Council shall adopt its own rules and order of business. (c) Voting. Voting on final action of all ordinances, resolutions and motions shall be by roll call and shall be recorded. A, majority of the Town Council shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members pursuant to the rules of the Town Council. No action of the Town Council except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentence and in Section 3.06(c) shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present. (Ord. No. 18 -99, § 1, 12- 14 -99) State law references: Procedure for adoption of ordinances and resolutions, F.S. § 166.041. Sec. 3.08. Compensation. No elected official of the Town shall receive any compensation for his or her services to the Town except reimbursement of direct out -of- pocket expenses legitimately incurred on Town business and as prescribed by law. (Ord. No. 18 -99, § 1, 12- 14 -99) State law references: Per diem and travel expenses for public officers and employees, F.S. § 112.061. http:// library2 .municode.com/mcc /DocView /11397/1/3/6 7/2/2007 CHARTER §3.6 Section 3.3. Organizational Meeting; Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor. At the first regularly scheduled meeting after election of new Commissioners, the Town Commission shall appoint one member the Mayor and one member the Vice Mayor of the Town, each of whom shall hold office for a term of two years and until his or her successor shall be qualified and appointed. Section 3.4. Vacancy. In the event of death, disability, resignation, forfeiture or removal of any member of the Town Commission, such vacancy may be filled by the appointment of a new Commissioner by a majority of the remaining members of the Town Commission. For purposes of this Section 3.4, a Town Commissioner shall forfeit office if he or she lacks any qualification of office prescribed by this Charter or applicable law at any time during the term of office. The person appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death, disability, resignation, forfeiture or removal of a member of the Town Commission shall serve until the next scheduled general election of the Town. In the event the governor of the State of Florida, or any other governmental agency, shall suspend any member of the Town Commission in accordance with applicable laws, the remaining members of the Town Commission shall, upon such suspension order being received in writing, appoint, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Town Commission, a new Town Cowbaissioner to fill such temporary vacancy created by the suspension. The appointee shall serve until such time as the suspension is terminated; provided, however, in the event the regular term of office of the suspended Commissioner shall regularly expire during the period of suspension, such Commission seat shall be filled at the regularly scheduled election. If such suspended Commissioner shall be later removed from office in accordance with law, then such Commissioner shall be replaced in accordance with the foregoing provisions pertaining to removal. Section 3.5. Oath of Office. Each person appointed or elected as a member of the Town Commission, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of the office, shall take and subscribe the following oath before some officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the State of Florida: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Florida; and that I will well and faithfully perform all the duties of the office of Town Commissioner of the Town of Jupiter Island, Florida, upon which I am about to enter. So help me God." Section 3.6. Procedure. (a) Meeting. The Town Commission shall meet at such times and places as the Town Commission may prescribe by rule. Special meetings may be held when called by the Mayor, or by any two members of the Town Commission. Supp. No. 3 5 s.06 GULF STREAM CODE (2) Violates any standard conduct or code of ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATIVE ethics established by law for public offi- cials, such violation to be determined by Section 4.01. Town officers. remaining members of the Commission. The Commission shall appoint a Town Man- (c) Filling of Vacancies. Avacancy on the Com- ager, Town Clerk, and a Chief of Police who shall mission shall be filled by a majority vote of the serve at the pleasure of the Commission and remaining members of the Commission for the perform such duties as may be specified by law or period of time until the next election, when a the Commission. The Commission may appoint Commissioner shall be elected for the remainder such other officers, consultants and employees as of the term vacated. may be needful. (d) Extraordinary Vacancies. In the event that Section 4.02. Compensation. all members of the Commission are removed by death, disability of forfeiture of office, the Gover- The Commission shall determine for each of- nor shall appoint an interim Commission that ficer, consultant or employee his kind and amount shall call a special election. of compensation and his employee benefit status. Section 3.07. Procedure. ARTICLE V. NOMINATIONS AND (a) Meetings. The Commission shall meet reg- ELECTIONS ularly at least once in every month at the Town Hall or at such time and place as the Commission Section 5.01. Electors. may prescribe. Special meetings may be held on the call of the Mayor or of a majority of the Any person who is a resident of the Town who embers and, whenever practicable, upon no less has qualified as an elector of this state, and who „,ian twelve (12) hours' notice to each member registers in the procedural manner prescribed by and the public. All meetings shall be public. general law and ordinance of the Town, shall be an elector of the Town. (b) Rules and Minutes. The Commission shall determine its own rules and order of business. Section 5.02. Nonpartisan elections. The Commission shall keep minutes of its meet - ings All nominations and elections for the office of Town Commissioner shall be conducted on a non- (c) Voting. Voting, on ordinances and resolu- partisan basis without regard for or designation tions, shall be by majority vote, or if requested by of political party affiliation of any nominee on any a Commissioner, by a roll call, and shall be nomination petition or ballot. recorded in the minutes. A majority of the Com- mission shall constitute a quorum; but a smaller Section 5.03. Nominations. number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in the Candidates for the office of Town Commis - manner and subject to the penalties prescribed by sioner shall be nominated for such office(s) by the the rules of the Commission. No action of the filing of a written notice of candidacy with the Commission except as otherwise provided in the designated Town official at such time and in such preceding sentence shall be valid or binding un- manner as may be prescribed by ordinance. less adopted by the affirmative vote of the major- ity of a quorum present. Section 5.04. Form of ballots. (d) Annual Audit. At the end of each fiscal year The Commission by ordinance shall prescribe the Commission shall select and employ compe- the form of the ballot or method of balloting tent independent auditors to review the Town's including the method of listing candidates for nancial activities and condition for the year and Town Commission elections, and any other Town express their opinion thereof. election. A Charter amendment to be voted on by CHTA may by majority vote by resolution fill any vacancy as above. C. Extraordinary vacancies. In the event that there are no members of the Town Commission due to resignation, death, disability, removal by law, forfeiture of office, or otherwise, the Florida Governor shall appoint an interim Town Commission, which shall call a special election to elect a new Town Commission, which election shall be held not sooner than sixty (60) days, nor more than ninety (90) days after said appointment. (Amended, June 11, 2002) Sec. 3.09. Procedures. A. Meetings. The Town Commission shall meet regularly at such times and places as a majority of the Commissioners may prescribe. Either special or workshop meetings may be held on the call of the mayor or any two (2) Commissioners, and, whenever practicable, upon no less than twelve (12) hours notice to each Commissioner and the public. Special meetings may be called for general or specified purposes; when called for specified purposes, no other purpose may be the subject of the special meeting. No votes or official actions shall be taken at any workshop meetings. Regular and special meetings at which there is not a quorum shall adjourn until a quorum is obtained; no quorum need be obtained for the conduct of a workshop meeting. B. Rules and journal. The Town Commission shall determine its own procedures and rules, and when not in conflict therewith, Robert's Rules of Order may obtain. The mayor shall set the order of business for each meeting and the mayor may revise the order of business during any meeting; the mayor may adjourn any meeting at which business scheduled is not completed until any later day or days at any specified time until the business is completed. C. Voting. Voting shall generally be by voice vote, but a roll call vote may be required on the request of any Commissioner or the Mayor. Voting on ordinances and resolutions shall be by roll call on final action and shall be recorded in the Minutes. A majority of the voting Commissioners on the Town Commission shall constitute a quorum; but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and subject to the penalties prescribed by the rules of the Town Commission. No action of the Town Commission except as otherwise provided herein, by law or by Town ordinance shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of a quorum present. D. Voting on increases in Zoning Density. Any action taken by the Town Commission to increase the density in any zoning district http: / /www. amlegal. com/nxt/gateway. dll/Florida/ manalapan /charterofmanalapanflorida ?fn =... 7/2/2007 nUU. IV LUUJ Z. IUFVI JUIN_J FUJI[IN JUMIN01UIV 0 JIUDD M ObJ rr b Laurie McWilliams • August 16, 2007 Page 3 3. Section 2.07 of the Village Charter has been questioned as a result of the language which indicates that a. meeting may be called independently by any two members of the Village Council. The Charter Review Committee may wish to discuss this matter further, but the language is not uncommon in other charters and I do not believe it creates a problem under the Sunshine Law. Section 286.011, Florida Statutes, applies to "any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action." In calling a special meeting, the two Council members would not be discussing a matter which would come before the Council. Rather, the two members would be scheduling the time for a special meeting, which is a matter of administrative business. 4. Questions have been raised in regard to Section 2.08 relating to quorum, to compare the state statutes to see how the state statute deals with unanimous votes, super majority, etc. Section 2.08 of the Village Charter currently provides that a majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but no action shall be taken except to adjourn, when only three (3). members are present unless their votes are unanimous. This is a common provision and it does not create any problems under state law. In the absence of a statutory provision to the contrary, the common • law rule that action may be taken by the majority of the members present, provided they are sufficient in number to constitute a quorum of the body, applies in Florida. A city charter's requirement of unanimous consent to a designated action is validly met by the votes of all members present who constitute a quorum even though they are less than the full membership. However, where a statute requires a unanimous vote of a municipal governing body as a prerequisite to effectiveness of a designated action, the vote must be the unanimous vote of all members of the governing body rather than a unanimous vote of the quorum present. For example, the new legislation regarding property taxes requires the unanimous vote of the entire governing body in order to override the roll -back provisions. I do not believe that Section 2.08 needs to be amended since the state statute will govern in those cases requiring unanimous votes of the entire Council. 5. 1 believe that Section 2.10 relating to electors and elections is appropriate as stated. It simply provides that electors and elections shall be as prescribed by Florida law and as may be prescribed by ordinance of the Village in matters not preempted by said law. If there has been a problem with poll workers in the past, the answer would be determined by state law or, if it is not .preempted by, state law, .the Village could pass an ordinance relating to said matter. • AUG -16 -2007 01:24PM FAX:5616500465 ID: PAGE:003 R =97% nua, IU, LV�I L: IUrlY1 JVIN ru. lI JUMNJIVIN 6( JIutSb Vu, pOJ Laurie McWilliams • August 16, 2007 Page 3 3. Section 2.07 of the Village Charter has been . questioned as a result of the language which indicates that a meeting may be called independently by any two members of the Village Council. The Charter Review Committee may wish to discuss this matter further, but the language is not uncommon in other charters and I do not believe it creates a problem under the Sunshine Law, Section 286.011, Florida Statutes, applies to "any gathering of two or more members of the same board to discuss some matter which will foreseeably come before that board for action." In calling a special meeting, the two Council members would not be discussing a matter which would come before the Council. Rather, the two members would be scheduling the time for a special meeting, which is a matter of administrative business. 4. Questions have been raised in regard to Section 2.08 relating to quorum, to compare the state statutes to see how the state statute deals with unanimous votes, super majority, etc. Section 2.08 of the Village Charter currently provides that a majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum to do business, but no action shall be taken except to adjourn, when only three (3) members are p res ent unless their votes are unanimous. This is a common provision and it does not create any problems under state law. In the absence of a statutory provision to the contrary, the common • law rule that action may be taken by the majority of the members present, provided they are sufficient in number to constitute a quorum of the body, applies in Florida. A city charter's requirement of unanimous consent to a designated action is validly met by the votes of all members present who constitute a quorum even though they are less than the full membership. However, where a statute requires a unanimous vote of a municipal governing body as a prerequisite to effectiveness of a designated action, the vote must be the unanimous vote of all members of the governing body rather than a unanimous vote of the quorum present. For example, the new legislation regarding property taxes requires the unanimous vote of the entire governing body in order to override the rollback provisions. I do not believe that Section 2.08 needs to be amended since the state statute will govern in those uses requiring unanimous votes of the entire Council. 5. 1 believe that Section 2.10 relating to electors and elections is appropriate as stated. It simply provides that electors and elections shall be as prescribed by Florida law and as may be prescribed by ordinance of the Village in matters not preempted by said law. If there has been a problem with poll workers in the past, the answer would be determined by state law or, if it is not preempted by state law, the Village could pass an ordinance relating to said matter. AUG -16 -2007 01:24PM FAX:5616500465 ID: PAGE:003 R =97%