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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmending Chapter 2 Standing Committee of the Common CouncilORDINANCE No 6139 -77 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana ril 13 TA 77 e�'- Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana April 14 19_27 IRENE K. GAMMON Approved and signed by m I Ai 19� Clerk ORDINANCE NO. 621% AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 10 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL; TITLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES, BY THE ADDITION OF THE UTILITIES COMMITTEE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council of the impact which both private on the lives of its citizens. Council sees the need for and committee whose attention and the services they render. the City of South Bend recognizes and public utilities companies have After careful consideration, the importance of creating a council focus is on utility companies and In the interest of promoting better services and enhanced accountability to the citizens by all private and public utilities, the Utilities Committee is hereby created by this ordinance. NOVA, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: SECTION I. Section 2 -10 of the Municipal Code of the City of South Bend is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows: SEC. 2 -10 STANDING COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL; TITLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) There shall be seven -43+ eight (8) standing committees organized 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 committee 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 qualification for membership. The citizen members of the stand- ing 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 committees 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: (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 committee 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} eight (8) standing committees shall be listed below: (1) Personnel and Finance. (2) Council Rules. (3) Human Resources and Economic Development.. (4) Parks and Recreation. (5) Public Safety. (6) Public Works. (7) Residential Neighborhoods. (8) Utilities. (f) Responsibilities and Scope of Council Committees. The general responsibilities of each Council Committee shall in- clude the right to review all legislative proposals, reports and other pertinent information under its jurisdiction; and to monitor on a continuing basis the department, bureaus and public officials under its jurisidction. Each Council Committee shall report periodically to the Council, with a minimum of semi - annual reports being given by each committee. All committees shall also deal with the issues referred to them by the President of the Council or by at least a majority of the Council. (g) The first named Councilman of each committee shall be chairman and in his absence the next named Councilman.. No citizen member shall serve as chairman of any standing committee. (h) The committee shall meet on the call of the chairman or by the call of any two (2) of its councilmen, in case the chairman is absent or declines to call such meeting. A majority of the total membership of a standing committee shall constitute a quorum. (i) A special committee, when its report (if made) is disposed of and it has no other business, stands dissolved without motion; but an affirmative vote on recommitment has the effect of reviving such committee. (j) The rpport of a minority of a committee or sup - plemental report shall be regarded as an amendment to, or supplement to the report of the committee if so designated. (k) When any matter has been referred to a committee, the Councilman introducing the same shall have the right to meet with such committee during its deliberations thereon, but shall not vote. (1) A committee may not erase, interline or blot any ordinance, resolution or other paper referred to it; but must enter upon a separate paper any amendments it may propose, stating the words which it is proposed to insert or omit, and make reference to page, line and words of the original paper. (m) All reports of committee shall be in writing, and majority reports shall be signed by a majority of the members thereof. (Code 1916, Sec. 7; Code 1962, Sec. 2 -11; Ord. No. 5484 -73, Sec. 1; Ord. No. 4783 -75, Sec. 1). (n) The rules of the Council as far as they are applic- able shall not be the rules of the committee, and procedure in the committee where not otherwise provided herein, shall follow the procedure of the Council. -2- (o) It shall be the duty of the Chairman of each Council committee to report promptly to the Common Council on all bills, resolutions, reports, or other matters referred to it for considera- tion; and each chairman shall take or cause to be taken the neces- sary steps to bring such matters to a vote of the Council. (p) If a standing committee desires to conduct a formal hearing the following procedures shall be followed; (1) The proceedings of the Committee shall be recorded by the Chairman or his designate in a journal which shall among other things, show those present at each meeting and include a record of the votes on any question on which a record vote is requested. (2) The Chairman shall make public, pursuant to the Office of the City Clerk, the announcement of the date, place and subject matter of any hearing to be conducted on any measure or matter at least one week before the commencement of-that hearing unless the committee determines that there is good cause to begin such hearing at an earlier date. In the latter event the chairman shall make such public announcement at the earliest possible date. (3) The committees are authorized to received exhibits, hear witnesses, and report to the Common Council for final action, to- gether with.such recommendations as may be agreed upon by the Com- mittee. (4) Any public hearing of a Council committee may be covered by the news media. However, in order to assure respect to the conduct of the public hearings observing acceptable standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy, and decorum,.and toassure the proper fact- finding mission through the hearing process, the Chair - :man may, provide special rules governing such matters as to placement of microphones, location of cameras, and the allocation of space for representatives of the media in the hearing rooms as circumstances may require. SECTION II. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, and its proper execu ion by the ayor. mb r f the Common Council % 7 PASSED � 7 -3- FILED IN CUR �'� U��l�E r) 7 Irene GaMmOn CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IND. CITY OF SOUTH BEND CITY OF SOUTH BEND South Bend, Indiana 46601 March 22, 1977 COMMON AREA 219 284 -9321 441 COUNTY -CITY BUILDING COUNCIL SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 Members of the Common Council JOSEPH T. SERGE Fourth Floor, County -City Bldg. First District WALTER M. SZYMKOWIAK South Bend, Indiana 46601 Second District TERRY S. MILLER Re: Ordinance Creating a Utilities Committee Third District ROGER O. PARENT Fourth District Dear Councilmen: ROBERT G. TAYLOR Fifth District The attached ordinance is presented for your con - WALTER T. KOPCZYNSKI sideration In the interest of creating a new standing com- Sixth District MARY CHRISTINE ADAMS mittee of the Common Council. At Large RICHARD C. DOMBROWSKI Over the past several years the growing need for At Large greater Council and citizen involvement in the utilities FRANK HORVATH At Large area has grown more and more apparent. Rate increases of service adjustments requested by electric companies, telephone companies, gas and oil companies, water and sewage disposal companies affects not only the City but all of its many citizens. More importantly, the need for greater consumer pro- tection and increased public awareness of the public and private services and the workings of the Public Service Commission warrants the needs for a committee focusing on such services. Therefore in the interest of promoting better services and enhanced accountability to the citizens of South Bend by all private and public utility companies servicing this area, an ordinance establishing a Utilites Committee as a standing committee of the Common Council is presented for your favorable review. Sincerely, Mary Kristine Adams Councilman -at -Large US 1 Attach: TommtUrr Irpor# too 14e flommm Tounrtl of t4f Titil of Oou#4 Brnd: Your Committee OF THE WHOLE to whom was referred A BILL AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 10 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL; TITLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES, BY THE ADDITION OF THE UTILITIES COMMITTEE. Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion THIS BILL BE RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL FAVORABLE. FRANK HORVATH Chairman FREX PRESS PUBLISHING CO.