Article II City Council - Warwick City Charter

ARTICLE II.

CITY COUNCIL

2-1. Structure and powers.

The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in the city council. The city council shall consist of nine members who shall be elected at the general election in each even year for a term of two years. One member of the council shall be elected from each of the nine wards, and members shall be residents of the wards they represent.

2-2. Qualifications of members.

The council shall be the judge of the qualifications and election of its own members subject to review by the courts on questions of fact and law.

2-3. Salary.

Members of the council to serve first under this Charter shall receive an annual salary of $800.00 or such other salary as may be prescribed by ordinance. The salary of any member shall not be changed during the term of office for which he was elected.
Cross References: For current salary of councilmembers, see § 64-2 of the Code of Ordinances.

2-4. Vacancies.

If a vacancy occurs in the office of councilman more than one hundred eighty (180) days before the time of holding the next succeeding general election, the canvassing authority shall forthwith call a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy for the remainder of the term. If any such vacancy occurs one hundred eighty days, or less, before the time of holding the next succeeding regular city election, the council may in its discretion direct the canvassing authority to call a special election for said purpose, to be held according to law.

2-5. Council president.

At the first meeting of the term, the council shall elect one of its members as president of the council to serve for the entire term. The president shall have the right to vote and shall preside at all meetings of the council. At the first meeting of the term, the council shall also elect one of its members as president pro-tem, to serve for the entire term. The president pro-tem shall act as president when the president is temporarily absent. If there is a permanent vacancy in the office of president due to resignation, death, disability or other cause, then the council shall elect another of its members to serve as president for the remainder of the term, with said election to take place at the same meeting at which council finds the permanent vacancy to exist by either accepting the resignation or acknowledging the death, disability or other cause. The president of the council shall receive an annual salary to be established by ordinance in addition to such other compensation prescribed for members of the council.
(Ref. of 11-3-98)

2-6. Rules and proceedings.

The council by resolution shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall keep a journal of its proceedings which shall be open to public inspection in the office of the city clerk.

2-7. Time and place of meetings.

The council shall determine the time and place of its regular meetings. The first meeting of a newly elected council shall be held on the first day of the new term of office and the mayor shall preside until a council president shall be elected. All meetings shall be held within the City of Warwick, unless prohibited from doing so by an emergency situation.
(Ref. of 11-3-98)

2-8. Public meetings.

All meetings of the council shall be open to the public, and citizens shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard on such matters as the council determines require public hearings, in such manner and subject to such restrictions as the rules of the council may provide.

2-9. Special meetings.

A special meeting of the council shall be called by the city clerk at the request of the mayor, the council president, or a majority of the members of the council.

2-10. Notice of special meetings.

Notice of a special meeting shall be served in person upon or left at the usual place of residence of each member of the council and the mayor at least 48 hours previous to the time of such meeting. The council may meet upon shorter notice at times of emergency.
(Ref. of 11-3-98)

2-11. Purpose of special meetings.

The purpose of a special meeting shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. No business shall be considered at any special meeting other than that stated in the notice except by unanimous consent and unless all members of the council are present.

2-12. Quorum.

A majority of the total number of members of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.

2-13. Notice of adjourned meetings.

At least twenty-four hours notice, as defined in 2-10, of the holding of an adjourned meeting shall be given to all members who were not present at the meeting from which adjournment was taken.

2-14. Power of inquiry.

The council shall have power by resolution to inquire into the conduct of any officer, department or agency of the city and to make an investigation relating to city affairs and for such purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books, records, papers and other evidence.

2-15. Consultants.

The council may authorize by resolution employment of any professional or technical consultants within the limits of appropriations provided for such purpose.

2-16. Restrictions.

No member of the council shall vote in the matter of any contract, franchise, job, work or service or the purchase, sale or lease of any property by or for the city in which he is interested directly or indirectly, nor shall he take any official action relating thereto. All such transactions shall be by the authority of the council with the interested member not voting.

2-17. Powers of committees.

Any committee of the council may investigate and report on any matter referred to it and make a recommendation thereon but no committee shall have any executive or legislative powers and all matters shall be determined by the council as a whole.

2-18. Ordinances.

The council shall have authority to enact ordinances for the preservation of the public peace, morals, health, safety, comfort and welfare of the inhabitants of the city and for the protection of persons and property. The affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the council shall be required to enact ordinances.

2-19. Actions by ordinance.

In addition to such acts of the council as are required by statute or by this Charter to be by ordinance, every act of the council establishing a fine or other penalty or providing for the expenditure of funds or for the contracting of indebtedness, shall be by ordinance.

2-20. Passage of ordinances.

An ordinance shall require passage at two council sessions before it shall become effective.

2-21. Passage of amended ordinances.

An amended ordinance shall require passage at two council sessions before it shall become effective. The second passage of any ordinance pursuant to this Charter shall be final and no further passage shall be required.

2-22. Effective date of ordinance.

Within ten (10) days after final passage every ordinance shall be published in full at least once in a public newspaper of general circulation in the city of Warwick and unless it shall specify another date, shall become effective at the expiration of twenty days after such publication following final passage, or, if the ordinance be submitted at a referendum election, then upon a favorable vote of a majority of those voting thereon.

2-23. Exceptions as to publication.

Notwithstanding the provisions of 2-22, ordinances establishing regulations for the construction of buildings, the installation of plumbing, the installation of electric wiring, or any similar construction code, need not be published in a newspaper after final passage. At least three correct copies of the ordinance as passed shall be made available to public inspection in the office of the city clerk. In lieu of publication of the ordinance, there shall be published a notice, describing the ordinance in brief and general terms and stating that the ordinance is available for public inspection at the office of the city clerk, and that it shall take effect twenty days after such publication.

2-24. Copies of ordinances and resolutions.

A copy of all ordinances and resolutions and of all amendments to and revisions of the same shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk and shall be open to public inspection.

2-25. Publication.

The council shall provide for the printing, publication and distribution of the Charter and ordinances of the city and may require that a reasonable charge be made for copies thereof.