§ 14-43-501 - Organization of city council. - Arkansas Statutes

14-43-501. Organization of city council.

(a) (1) The aldermen elected for each city or town shall annually, at the first council meeting in January, assemble and organize the city council.

(2) (A) A majority of the whole number of aldermen constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(B) (i) They shall be judges of the election returns and of the qualifications of their own members.

(ii) These judgments are not subject to veto by the mayor.

(C) (i) They shall determine the rules of their proceedings and keep a journal of their proceedings, which shall be open to the inspection and examination of any citizen.

(ii) They may also compel the attendance of absent members in such a manner and under such penalties as they shall think fit to prescribe.

(iii) They may consider the passage of rules on the following subjects, including without limitation:

(a) The agenda for meetings;

( [A><A] b) The filing of resolutions and ordinances; and

(c) Citizen commentary.

(b) (1) (A) The mayor shall be ex officio president of the city council and shall preside at its meetings.

(B) The mayor shall have a vote to establish a quorum of the city council at any regular meeting of the city council and when his or her vote is needed to pass any ordinance, bylaw, resolution, order, or motion.

(2) In the absence of the mayor, the city council shall elect a president pro tempore.