Town council creation; composition; number; election.
The legislative authority of the government of this town, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter, shall be vested in a town council to be composed of a mayor and four council members. The mayor and council members shall be elected in the manner provided by article V of this Charter.
Town council terms and qualifications for office.
The members of the town council shall serve for terms of four years and until their respective successors are elected and oaths of office taken. No person shall be eligible to serve as mayor or town council member unless he shall have been a resident of the town six months immediately prior to the date of the election of mayor or members of the town council; each shall continue to reside therein during his period of service and shall be registered and qualified to vote in municipal elections of this town. No person related within the second degree by affinity, or within the third degree by consanguinity, to any elected officer of the town shall be elected or appointed to any office of the town other than as an unpaid volunteer, and with the consent of the majority of the remaining council members. “Unpaid volunteer” shall mean any person who takes on a role on behalf of the town for no compensation or remuneration.
Election of mayor; compensation.
The mayor shall be elected and serve for a term of four years and until his successor is elected and oath of office administered. He shall be a qualified elector of this town and shall have been a resident of this town six months immediately preceding his election. He shall continue to reside in the Town of Tallulah Falls during the period of his service. The compensation of the mayor shall be established in the same manner as for council members.
Mayor pro tem.
The town council shall elect by majority vote from among its members a mayor pro tem who shall assume the duties, powers, and restrictions of the mayor upon declaration by the town council in the event of the mayor’s disability or absence.
Powers and duties of the mayor.
The mayor shall be the chief executive of this town. He shall possess all of the executive and administrative powers granted to the town under the constitution and laws of the State of Georgia, and all the executive and administrative powers in this Charter. It shall be the duty of the mayor to:
(1) See that all laws and ordinances of the town are faithfully executed;
(2) Exercise supervision over all executive and administrative work of the town and provide for the coordination of administrative activities;
(3) Be the official head and spokesperson for the town for service of process and ceremonial purposes;
(4) Sign as a matter of course all written contracts, ordinances, and other instruments executed by the town which by law are required to be in writing;
(5) Vote as a member of the town council only at such times as are necessary to break a tie of the council;
(6) Prepare and submit to the town council a recommended annual operating budget and recommended capital budget; and
(7) Fulfill such other executive and administrative duties as the town council shall by ordinance establish.
Regular and special meetings.
(a) The town council shall hold regular meetings at such times and places as prescribed by Charter.
(b) Special meetings of the town council may be held on call of the mayor or three members of the town council. Notice of such special meetings shall be served on all other members personally, or by telephone personally, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice to council members shall not be required if the mayor and all council members are present when the special meeting is called. Such notice of any special meeting may be waived by a council member in writing before or after such a meeting, and attendance at the meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of any business transacted in such council member’s presence. Only the business stated in the call may be transacted at the special meeting.
(c) All meetings of the town council shall be public to the extent required by general state law and notice to the public of special meetings shall be made as fully as is reasonably possible twenty-four hours prior to such meetings.