§ 2-21. Mayor and council responsibilities.

(a)

The mayor shall be the presiding officer at all meetings. The mayor pro tem shall preside in his absence.

(b)

The mayor shall preserve order and decorum and shall require council members engaged in debate to limit discussion to the question under consideration.

(c)

The mayor will encourage all council members to participate in council discussion and give each member an opportunity to speak for five minutes before any member can speak again on the same subject.

(d)

When addressing an agenda item, the council member shall first be recognized by the mayor, confine himself to the question under debate, avoid reference to personalities, and refrain from impugning the integrity or motives of any other council member or staff member in his argument or vote.

(e)

Any council member may appeal to the council as a whole from a ruling by the mayor. If the appeal is seconded, the person making the appeal may make a brief statement and the mayor may explain his position, but no other member may speak on the motion. The mayor will then put the ruling to a vote of the council.

(f)

Any council member may ask the mayor to enforce the rules established by the council. Should the mayor fail to do so, a majority vote of the council members present shall require him to do so.

(g)

During an open meeting of the council, it will be considered inappropriate for a council member to introduce unexpected issues or information for council consideration.

(Code 1994, § 1.1501; Ord. No. 515, § 1, 5-9-2011)