Revising the Governing Rules Regulations of the Legislative Branch of the City of South Bend

Home Browse Search

(ff) Effective Date: The effective date of all bills shall be prescribed therein, however no bill shall become effective before publication thereof as required by State law. (gg) Severability: Unless a bill shall expressly provide to the contrary, if any portion of a bill or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be found to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions or applications of the bill which can be given effect without the invalid portion or application, provided such remaining portions or applications are not determined by the court to be inoperative and to this end bills are declared to be severable. (hh) The presiding officer may, upon a member of the public being recognized to address the Council, limit him to no more than five (5j minutes, unless a majority of the Councilmen present vote to extend such period. SEC. 2-10 STANDING COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL; TITLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) There shall be seven (7) standing committees or- ganized within the City Council. Each committee except the Council Rules Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) councilmen each and this number shall constitute at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership of each standing committee. Councilmen shall be appointed as herein provided by the President of the Common Council. Each committee, except the Council Rules Committee, shall also have not less than one (1) citizen member and at no time shall the number of citizen members constitute more than one-third (1/3) of the total membership of each standing committee. (b) The citizen members of the standing committees shall have been residents of the City of South Bend for not less than one (1) year prior to appointment and shall continue such residency as a qulaification for membership. The citizen members of the standing committees shall serve without compensation for one (1) year terms with each appointment expiring by the first meeting of the new calendar year. (c) Citizen members shall be appointed by the majority of the Common Council. In making such appointments, the Council shall assure that the citizen members are broadly representative of the South Bend community. (d) Any citizen member vacancy of the standing com- mittees shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A vacancy shall be deemed to exist upon the occurrence of any one of the following conditions: below: (1) if a citizen member moves his permanent place of domicile out of the City of South Bend; dies; resigns; or for any reason re- fuses to serve during the period for which he or she was appointed; or (2) if a citizen member fails to attend and participate in the meetings of the standing committees as may be determined by the President of the Council. Any decision of the President in this regard shall be subject to review by the Common Council. (e) The seven (7) standing committees shall be listed -12-