ORD NO 39-1981 CITY OF VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS
ORDINANCE NO. -1981
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PRODECURAL RULES FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE
CITY OF VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS, INCLUDING PROCEDURE FOR CALLING SPECIAL
COUNCIL MEETINGS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY: AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS.
Section 1. Council meetings Regular. That beginning in the
month of January, 1982, and effective from and after the passage of
this ordinance, the regular meeting dates of the City Council of the
City of Van Buren, Arkansas, shall be on the third Monday of each
month at City Hall at 7:00 P.M.
Section 2. Council meetings Special, Called by Mayor. The
Mayor shall have power, when in his judgment it shall be for the in-
terest of the City,to call a meeting of the City Council. Such meet-
ings shall be called by the Mayor fixing the time of the meeting and
issuing or causing to be issued a notice to each alderman to attend
such meeting in which notice the object of the meeting shall be stated
in general terms.
Section.3. Council meetings Special called by Council.
Whenever three (3) aldermen shall sign a notice to the other members
of the City Council of a special meeting of the Council, stating therein
the object of such meeting, such special meeting shall be held at the
time designated in the call, such notice shall be served by the Police
Chief.
Section 4. Business at special meeting. At any special meeting
no other business shall be transacted except that for which the meet-
ing was called. The Council can lawfully sit and transact any business
at any time without notice when all the members of the Council are
present.
Section 5. Notice to news media of special meeting_ In the event
of a special meeting, the Mayor or aldermen calling the meeting shall
notify the representatives of the newspapers, radio stations and tel-
evision stations, if any, located in this county, and which have request-
ed to be so notified of such special meetings, of the time, place and
date at least two (2) hours before such a meeting takes place in order
that the public shall have representatives at the meeting.
Section 6. Presiding Officer. The Mayor shall preside at the
meetings during the term for which he was elected, and in case his vote
is needed to pass any by -law, ordinance, resolution or order or motion,
the Mayor may vote. In the absence of the Mayor, an Alderman shall be
elected to preside over the Council.
Section 7. Conduct. Any person who shall disrupt or interfere
with a meeting of the Council or creates a disturbance in such meeting,
may be charged with such offense, and if convicted, shall be punished
in accordance with the laws of the State.
Section 8. Record of proceedings. The City Clerk /Treasurer shall
keep a journal of its proceedings in the manner as other legislative
bodies. The yeas and nays shall be taken and entered upon the journal
on any by -law, motion, ordinance, or resolution.
Section 9. Publication. When any ordinance of a general or per-
manent nature and those imposing any fine, penalty or forfeiture shall
be passed, the City Clerk /Treasurer shall furnish a copy to a newspaper
of general circulation in the city for publication.
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Section 10. Writing required. No amendment or resolution shall
be offered except in writing and the questions shall be put on the
last amendment offered, and in filling blanks, the question shall
always be taken on the longest time, largest and highest number
proposed.
Section 11. Procedure. The Procedural Rules for Municipal
Officials booklet published by the Arkansas Municipal League, three
(3) copies of which are on file in the City Clerk /Treasurer's office,
are hereby adopted as the rules to be followed in the conducting of
meetings of the governing body.
Section 12. Readings. All resolutions must be read, seconded
and stated by the chair before they shall be subject to debate.
Section 13. Suspension of rules. No rules contained in this
ordinance or the Procedural Rules for Municipal Officials adopted by
reference hereby shall be suspended except by unanimous consent of
all the members of the Council.
Section 14. Repealing clause. All ordinances or parts of
ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 15. Emergency clause. Whereas new laws have been
passed by the 1981 General Assembly changing the procedure of council
meetings of cities and towns and it is of the utmost urgency that
our ordinances conform to state law; NOW THEREFORE, an emergency is
hereby declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force
and effect upon its passage, approval and publication.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS p DAY OF December 19 81
i ,0 1 7
MAYOR
ATTESTED:
/.-i as.
CITY CLERK- REASURER
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