The governing body shall consist of a mayor and city council to be elected as set out in Chapter 6 of this code.

(Code 1994)

All powers exercised by cities of the third class or which shall hereafter be conferred upon them shall be exercised by the governing body, subject to such limitations as prescribed by law.  All executive and administrative authority granted or limited by law shall be vested in the mayor and city council as governing body of the city.

(K.S.A. 12-103; Code 1994)

(a)   Regular meetings of the governing body shall be held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers, 112 W. Main, in the city. In the event that the regular meeting day shall fall on any legal holiday or any day observed as a holiday by the city offices, the governing body shall fix the succeeding day not observed as a holiday as a meeting day.

(b)   Special meetings may be called by the mayor or acting mayor, on the written request of any three members of the council, specifying the object and purpose of such meeting, which request shall be read at a meeting and entered at length on the journal.

(c)   Regular or special meetings of the governing body may be adjourned for the completion of its business at such subsequent time and place as the governing body shall determine in its motion to adjourn.

(K.S.A. 15-106; Ord. 92-6-2E, Sec. 1; Code 1994; Ord. 172-2009)

In all cases, it shall require a majority of the councilmembers-elect to constitute a  quorum to do business.

(K.S.A. 15-106; Code 1994)

The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the governing body.  The mayor shall have the tie-breaking vote on all questions when the members present are equally divided.  The mayor shall:

(a)   Have the superintending control of all officers and affairs of the city;

(b)   Take care that the ordinances of the city are complied with;

(c)   Sign the commissions and appointments of all officers elected or appointed;

(d)   Endorse the approval of the governing body on all official bonds;

(e)   From time to time communicate to the city council such information and recommend such measures as he or she may deem advisable;

(f)   Have the power to approve or veto any ordinance as the laws of the state shall prescribe;

(g)   Sign all orders and drafts drawn upon the city treasury for money.

(K.S.A. 15-301:309; Code 1994)

The city council shall elect one of its own body as president of the council.  The president of the council shall preside at all meetings of the council in the absence of the mayor.  In the absence of both the mayor and the president of the council, the council shall elect one of its members as “acting president of the council.”  The president and acting president, when occupying the place of mayor, shall have the same privileges as other councilmembers but shall exercise no veto.

(K.S.A. 15-301:311; Code 1994)

The governing body may designate whether the administration of a policy or the carrying out of any order shall be performed by a committee, an appointive officer, or the mayor.  If no administrative authority is designated it shall be vested in the mayor.

(Code 1994)

In case of a vacancy in the council occurring by reason of resignation, death, or removal from office or from the city, the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the remaining councilmen, shall appoint some suitable elector to fill the vacancy until the next election for that office.  In case any person elected as a councilman neglects or refuses to qualify within 30 days after his or her election, he or she shall be deemed to have refused to accept such office and a vacancy shall exist, and thereafter the mayor may, with the consent of the remaining councilmen, appoint some suitable elector to fill the vacancy.  In case of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the president of the council shall become mayor until the next regular election for that office and a vacancy shall occur in the office of the councilman becoming mayor.

(C.O. No. 77-1-18, Sec. 3)

Members of the governing body shall receive as compensation such amounts as may be fixed by ordinance.

(Code 1994)

Each member of the governing body shall receive for his or her services and as reimbursement for his or her expenses, compensation as follows:

(a)   Mileage at the same rate as is established by law by the state of Kansas for state employees for each mile traveled by the shortest route upon the performance of duties assigned by the mayor and/or city council.

(b)   Reimbursement for actual food and lodging expenses upon the performance of duties assigned by the mayor and/or city council, provided such expenses shall be documented by proper receipts.

(Code 1994)

The following shall constitute guidelines for the rules and order of business of the city.

Rule 1.            Adjourned Meetings. Adjourned meetings of the governing body may be held at such time and place as the governing body may determine in the motion to adjourn.

Rule 2.            Special Meetings. Special meetings may be held at any time upon a call signed by a majority of the governing body. The call of a special meeting shall be in substantially the following form:

 

CALL FOR SPECIAL GOVERNING BODY MEETING

 

Mount Hope, Kansas

                                    , 20     

 

To the Members of the Governing Body

 

A special meeting of the governing body is hereby called to be held at the city hall,                                   , 20__ at __ o’clock __.m., the object of said meeting being to ____________________________ (state object)

 

Signed:

 

                                               

                                               

                                               

 

 

A notice of such special meeting, stating the time, place, and object of the meeting, directed to the council shall be issued by the city clerk to the chief of police, his or her deputy, or a law enforcement officer or other city employee, who shall be required to make service of said notice at once personally upon each council member or to leave it at his or her usual place of residence, and such notice must be served or left at the usual place of residence at least two hours before the time of meeting. The person serving the notice shall make a return in writing of the service, showing the manner of such service. Attendance at a special meeting by any member of the governing body shall constitute a waiver of the right to notice under this rule for that member. The notice and the return shall be in substantially the following form:

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL GOVERNING BODY MEETING

 

Office of the City Clerk

Mount Hope, Kansas

 

To: _______________________

 

You are hereby notified that there will be a special meeting of the Governing Body at _______o’clock ____m.,                                   , 20__ at the city hall for the object of                                                 (state the same object as shown in the call).

 

Witness my hand and the seal of said city this ___ day of                             , 20__.

 

State of Kansas                       )

                                                )           ss:

County of Sedgwick               )

 

                                               

City Clerk

City of Mount Hope

 

To (chief of police, his or her deputy, or a law enforcement officer or other city employee).

 

Greeting:

 

You are hereby directed to serve the above notice at once personally upon ____________________ _________________________ or to leave it at his or her usual place of residence before _______ o’clock __m., ________ 20__, and to make a return in writing of said service, showing the manner of such service.

 

(SEAL)

________________________

City Clerk

 

 

RETURN

 

Received the original notice of special governing body meeting, of which the foregoing is a copy, at ______ o’clock __m., on the _____ day of                            , 20__, and [served the same personally on ___________________ __________________] [left said original notice at the usual place of residence of _________________] at ______ o’clock __m., on the _____ day of                                    , 20__.

 

Dated this _____ day of                                  , 20__.

 

Signed: ________________________

                        Person serving notice

Rule 3.            Order of Business. At the hour appointed for meeting, the governing body shall be called together by the mayor, and in his or her absence by the acting mayor. The city clerk shall record the roll and note the absentees. Upon the appearance of a quorum the governing body shall proceed to business, which shall be conducted in the following order:

(1)   Reading of the minutes of the last regular meeting and intervening special meetings, which if no corrections are offered, shall stand approved;

(2)   Presentation of petitions, memorials, and remonstrances;

(3)   Presentations of claims and appropriation ordinance;

(4)   Unfinished business;

(5)   New business;

(6)   Reports of other city officers.

Rule 4.            Order. The mayor shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide questions of order subject to an appeal to the council.

Rule 5.            Decorum. Every member previous to his or her speaking shall address himself or herself to the chair and shall not proceed until recognized by the chair. He or she shall indulge in no personalities and confine his or her remarks to the matter under debate.

Rule 6.            Point of Order. A member called to order shall immediately suspend until the point of order raised is decided by the chair.

Rule 7.            Certain Motions in Writing. Every motion except to adjourn, postpone, reconsider, commit, lay on the table, or for the previous question, shall be reduced to writing if the chair or any member requires it; when made and seconded, it shall be stated by the chairperson or being written shall be read by the clerk, and may be withdrawn before decision or amendment, or any disposition thereof has been made, or a vote thereon had.

Rule 8.            Resolutions. All resolutions must be in writing.

Rule 9.            Motions During Debate. When a question is under debate no motion shall be entertained except:

(1)   To adjourn;

(2)   To lay on the table;

(3)   To take the previous question;

(4)   To postpone;

(5)   To amend;

which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are named, and the first three shall be decided without debate.

Rule 10.          Division. Any member may call for a division of a question when the same will admit thereof.

Rule 11.          Voting; Abstaining From Voting. When a question is put by the chair, every member present shall vote unless for special reasons the chair shall excuse him or her. For those questions for which an abstention is permitted, such a vote shall be counted as a vote cast in favor of the position taken by the majority of those persons present and voting. In doubtful cases the chair may direct, or any member may call for, a division. The yeas and nays shall be called upon a requisition of the chair or any member, and upon the final passage of all ordinances in which case the names of the members voting and their votes shall be recorded in the minutes.

Rule 12.          Precedence of Questions. All questions shall be put in the order in which they are moved, except in case of privilege questions, and in filling blanks the longest time and the largest sum shall be first.

Rule 13.          Previous Question. The previous question shall be put in these words: “Shall the main question now be put?” It shall be admitted on demand of any member and until decided shall preclude all amendments and debate of the main question.

Rule 14.          Passing of Ordinances. All ordinances shall be read by sections, at which time amendments, if any, may be offered, but the reading of any section shall not preclude the offering of an amendment to any preceding one. If amendments are made the chair shall so report, and each section shall be read as amended before the vote on the passage of the ordinance is taken. After reading and amendment (if any) of the ordinance, the question shall be: “Shall the ordinance pass?” If a majority of the council members present vote to waive the reading of the ordinance, said reading shall be waived. The vote on the final passage of an ordinance shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be entered on the journal by the clerk; and no ordinance shall be valid unless a majority of (or otherwise as required by law) the members of the council vote in favor thereof: Provided, That no ordinance shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, and no section or sections of an ordinance shall be amended unless the amending ordinance contains the entire section or sections as amended and the section or sections amended shall be repealed.

(K.S.A. 12-3002, 12-3004)

Rule 15.          Signing and Engrossing Ordinances. After an ordinance shall have passed it shall be correctly entered in the original ordinance book and the original and the book copy shall be signed by the mayor, or in the absence of the mayor by the acting mayor, and attested by the clerk, who shall secure publication of the ordinance as required by law.

Rule 16.          Clerk Reads Communications. Petitions and other papers addressed to the governing body shall be read by the clerk under proper order of business upon presentation of the same to the board.

Rule 17.          Robert’s Rules of Order. In all points not covered by these rules the governing body shall be governed in its procedure by Robert’s Rules of Order.

(Code 1994)

(a)   Declaration of Policy - The proper operation of our government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channels and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.  In recognition of those goals, there is hereby established a Code of Ethics for all officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid.  The purpose of this code is to establish ethical standards by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the city.

(b)   Responsibilities of Public Office - Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state, and city and thus to foster respect for all government.  They are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the long term public interest must be their primary concern.  Their conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach.

(c)   Dedicated Service - All officials and employees of the city should be responsive to the political objectives expressed by the electorate and the programs developed to attain those objectives.  Appointive officials and employees should adhere to the rule of work and performance established as the standard for their positions by the appropriate authority.

Officials and employees should not exceed their authority or breach the law or ask others to do so, and they should work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees unless prohibited from so doing by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of their work.

(d)   Fair and Equal Treatment –

(1)   Interest in Appointments. Canvassing of members of the city council, directly or indirectly, in order to obtain preferential consideration in connection with any appointment to the municipal service shall disqualify the candidate for appointment except with reference to positions filled by appointment by the city council.

(2)   Use of Public Property - No official or employee shall request or permit the use of city-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as city policy for the use of such official or employee in the conduct of official business.

(3)   Obligations to Citizens - No official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.

(e)   Conflict of Interest - No elected or appointive city official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or shall have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties.  Personal as distinguished from financial interest includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association.

Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance of officials and employees:

(1)   Incompatible Employment - No elected or appointive city official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties.

(2)   Disclosure of Confidential Information - No elected or appointive city official or employee, shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the city.  Nor shall he or she use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself, herself or others.

(3)   Gifts and Favors.  No elected or appointive city official or employee shall accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person, firm, or corporation which to his or her knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the city; nor shall any such official or employee (a) accept any gift, favor or thing of value that may tend to influence him or her in the discharge of his or her duties or (b) grant in the discharge of his or her duties any improper favor, service, or thing of value.  The prohibition against gifts or favors shall not apply to: (a) an occasional nonpecuniary gift, of only nominal value or (b) an award publicly presented in recognition of public service or (c) any gift which would have been offered or given to him or her if not an official or employee.

(4)   Representing Private Interest Before City Agencies or Courts - No elected or appointive city official or employee whose salary is paid in whole or in part by the city shall appear in behalf of private interest before any agency of this city.  He or she shall not represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the interest of the city in any litigation to which the city is a party.

(Code 1994)