Rule No. 5 Presiding Officer

The President of Council and, in his absence, the President Pro Tem, shall preside over the meetings of Council. In the absence of the President of Council, the President Pro Tem shall preside until the President of Council appears and shall discharge all the duties and be clothed with all the powers of the President of Council as such Presiding Officer during his absence. The Presiding Officer shall call all meetings of Council to order at the appointed hour and shall proceed with the order of business. If a quorum is present he shall give the members an opportunity for correcting the journal of the previous meeting following a reading thereof by the Clerk of Council. In the absence of any objections or corrections the minutes shall stand approved. He shall preserve order and decorum, prevent personalities or the impugning of the members’ motives, confine members in debate to the question under discussion, decide all points of standing committees and all other committees which Council shall not vote to elect. The President Pro Tem shall be appointed by the President of Council upon the concurrence of a majority of the voting members of Council.

   In the absence of the President of Council and the President Pro Tem at a regular scheduled meeting, such meeting shall be called to order by the most senior member of Council. In the event two or more members have served the same length of time, the most senior member whose name occurs first alphabetically, shall call the meeting to order. The first order of business in such case shall be to elect an acting President Pro Tem upon a majority vote of the members present. Said acting President Pro Tem shall preside and vote as acting President Pro Tem for the purpose of conducting the meeting and shall have all powers and duties as previously set forth herein. (Ord. 24-08. Passed 5-27-08.)