CHAPTER 6. THE COUNCIL; PROCEDURES AND MISCELLANEOUS POWERS AND DUTIES
Section 6.1. Regular meetings
The Council shall provide by resolution for the time and place of its regular meetings each month.
Section 6.2. Special meetings
Special meetings shall be called by the Clerk on the written request of the Mayor, the City Manager, or any two (2) members of the Council on at least eighteen (18) hours' written notice to each member of the Council, served personally or left at his/her usual place of residence.
State law reference(s)--Open meetings act, MCL 15.261 et seq., MSA 4.1800(11) et seq.
Section 6.3. Business at special meetings
No business shall be transacted at any special meeting of the Council unless the same has been stated in the notice of such meeting. However, any business which may lawfully come before a regular meeting may be transacted at a special meeting if all members of the Council present consent thereto and all the members absent file their written consent.
Section 6.4. Meeting to be public
All regular and special meetings of the Council unless otherwise authorized by state law shall be open to the public and citizens shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard under such rules and regulations as the Council may prescribe. All business which the Council may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting held in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1976 (MCL 15.261 et seq., MSA 4.1800(11) et seq.), as amended.
Section 6.5. Quorum; adjournment of meetings
A majority of the members of the Council in office at the time shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at all Council meetings, but in the absence of a quorum a lesser number may reschedule any meeting to a later time or date, and in the absence of all members the Clerk may reschedule any meeting within a time frame not to exceed a period of one week.
Section 6.6. Compulsory attendance and conduct at meetings
Any three (3) or more members of the Council may by vote either request or compel the attendance of its members and other officers of the City at any meeting of the Council. Any member of the Council or other officer who when notified of such request for their attendance fails to attend such meeting for reasons other than confining illness or absence from Van Buren or Allegan Counties shall be deemed guilty of misconduct in office unless excused by the Council. The presiding officer shall enforce orderly conduct at meetings and any member of the Council or other officer who shall fail to act in an orderly manner at any meeting shall be deemed guilty of misconduct in office.
Any police officer designated by the presiding officer of the meeting shall serve as the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Council in the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
Section 6.7. Organization and rules of the Council
The Council shall determine its own organization, rules, and order of business subject to the following provisions:
(a) A journal of the proceedings of each meeting shall be kept in the English language by the Clerk and shall be signed by the Clerk of the meeting.
(b) A vote upon all ordinances and resolutions shall be taken by ``yes'' and ``no'' vote and entered upon the records, except that where the vote is unanimous it shall only be necessary to so state.
(c) No member of the Council shall vote on any question in which they have a financial interest, other than the common public interest, or on any question concerning their own conduct, but on all other questions each member who is present shall vote when their name is called unless excused by the unanimous consent of the remaining members present. Any member refusing to vote except when not so required by this paragraph shall be guilty of misconduct in office.
(d) The proceedings of the Council shall be published in a local newspaper within fifteen (15) days following each meeting.
State law reference(s)--Mandatory that Charter provide for keeping in the English language a written or printed journal of every session of the legislative body, MCL 117.3(m), MSA 5.2073(m).
Section 6.8. Investigations
The Council or any person or committee authorized by it for the purpose, shall have power to inquire into the conduct of any department, office or officer and to make investigations as to matters in which the municipality has an interest.
Section 6.9. Providing for public health and safety
The Council shall see that reasonable provision is made for the public peace and health and for the safety of persons and property in accordance with state law.