Mayor Council Handbook 2020

Municipal Government Overview ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Sec. 1. Source of Handbook Materials …………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Sec. 2. Scope of Handbook …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Sec. 3. Legal Advice Available ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9

Sec. 4. League Website …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

Sec. 5. Source and Scope of Municipal Authority ………………………………………………………………..10

Sec. 6. General Legislation……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

Sec. 7. Unfunded Mandates……………………………………………………………………………………………….11

Sec. 8. Joint Powers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12

Sec. 9. Character of Incorporated Municipalities …………………………………………………………………….. 13

Sec. 10. Classification and Form of Government …………………………………………………………………….. 15

The Office of Mayor ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17

Sec. 11. The Office of Mayor – Generally……………………………………………………………………………….. 17

Sec. 12. Qualifications and Eligibility – Mayor………………………………………………………………………… 17

Sec. 13. Candidacy for Election ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

Sec. 14. Term of Office ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18

Sec. 15. Mayor’s Oath of Office ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 19

Sec. 16. De Facto Officers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19

Sec. 17. Absence of Mayor ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19

Sec. 18. Vacancy in the Office of Mayor ………………………………………………………………………………… 20

Sec. 19. Location of Mayor’s Office ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21

Sec. 20. Mayor’s Salary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21

Sec. 21. Mayor’s Expenses ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Sec. 22. Mayor’s Working Hours ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

Sec. 23. Mayor as Superintendent of Utilities …………………………………………………………………………. 24

Sec. 24. Mayor as Chief Executive ………………………………………………………………………………………… 24

Sec. 25. Mayor Presides Over Council—Municipalities Under 12,000 ………………………………………. 27

Sec. 26. Mayor’s Report to Council ………………………………………………………………………………………. 27

Sec. 27. Mayor Responsible for Municipal Audit ……………………………………………………………………. 28

Sec. 28. Fiscal Year – Formulating the Municipal Budget…………………………………………………………. 28

Sec. 29. The Mayor’s Role in Disbursing Funds ……………………………………………………………………… 29

Sec. 30. Legality of Expenditures …………………………………………………………………………………………. 29

Sec. 31. Investment of Municipal Funds ………………………………………………………………………………… 30

Sec. 32. Municipal Contracts ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33

Sec. 33. Execution of Deeds and Conveyances ……………………………………………………………………….. 35

Sec. 34. Election Duties of Mayor …………………………………………………………………………………………. 35

Sec. 35. Emergency Powers of the Mayor ………………………………………………………………………………. 35

Sec. 36. Conflicts of Interest ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35

Sec. 37. Mayor’s Approval or Disapproval of Ordinances ………………………………………………………… 40

Sec. 38. Mayor’s Judicial Functions ………………………………………………………………………………………. 41

Sec. 39. Mayor’s Relation with Municipal Boards …………………………………………………………………… 41

Sec. 40. Suggestions and Observations Relating to Mayor’s Office ………………………………………….. 42

The Municipal Council ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 45

Sec. 41. The Office of Councilmember Generally …………………………………………………………………… 45

Sec. 42. Size of Council ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45

Sec. 43. Qualifications and Eligibility of Councilmembers ………………………………………………………. 47

Sec. 44. Candidacy and Election ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 47

Sec. 45. Term of Office ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48

Sec. 46. Oath of Office ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48

Sec. 47. Bond Not Required ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 48

Sec. 48. Vacancy in Office of Councilmember ………………………………………………………………………. 48

Sec. 49. Presiding Officer ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 49

Sec. 50. Absence of Presiding Officer ……………………………………………………………………………………. 49

Sec. 51. Quorum …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49

Sec. 52. Journal (Minutes of Proceedings) ……………………………………………………………………………… 50

Sec. 53. Organizational Meeting ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 50

Sec. 54. Types of Meetings …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 50

Sec. 55. Laws Governing Open Meetings ………………………………………………………………………………. 51

Sec. 56. Laws Governing Public Records ………………………………………………………………………………. 53

Sec. 57. Subpoenas …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 54

Sec. 58. Suggestions for Expediting Meetings ………………………………………………………………………… 54

Sec. 59. Attendance at Council Meetings ……………………………………………………………………………….. 54

Sec. 60. Voting ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 55

Sec. 61. Election of Officers …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 56

Sec. 62. Compensation for Councilmembers ………………………………………………………………………….. 57

Sec. 63. Expenses of Councilmembers ………………………………………………………………………………….. 57

Sec. 64. Salaries, Benefits, and Working Conditions of Officers and Employees …………………………. 57

Sec. 65. Dismissal of Officers ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 61

Sec. 66. Surety Bonds – Officers and Employees …………………………………………………………………….. 62

Sec. 67. Council’s Control over Expenditures …………………………………………………………………………. 62

Sec. 68. Revenues ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 62

Sec. 69. Credit Card Payments ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 65

Sec. 70. Borrowing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 65

Sec. 71. Adopting the Budget ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 67

Sec. 72. The Municipal Audit ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 67

Sec. 73. Ordinances and Resolutions …………………………………………………………………………………….. 67

Sec. 74. Codification of Ordinances ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 70

Sec. 75. Municipal Contracts ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71

Sec. 76. Municipal Liability ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 71

Sec. 77. Claims against Municipalities ………………………………………………………………………………….. 72

Sec. 78. Suits Challenging Municipal Ordinances …………………………………………………………………… 72

Sec. 79. Municipal Property – Liens on and Levy and Sale of …………………………………………………… 72

Sec. 80. Prohibitions Governing Councilmembers ……………………………………………………………………. 72

Sec. 81. Sales Tax Liability…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 72

Sec. 82. Rewards …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 73

Sec. 83. Escheat Law ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 73

Sec. 84. Relocation of Utilities ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 73

Sec. 85. Firearms ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 73

Sec. 86. Rural Scenic Right-of-Way Plan ………………………………………………………………………………….. 74

Sec. 87. Municipal Option Elections ………………………………………………………………………………………. 74

Sec. 88. Public Safety …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 77

Sec. 89. Alabama Convention Facilities Act ……………………………………………………………………………. 77

Sec. 90. Rent Control Prohibition ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 77

Sec. 91. Defacing Public Property …………………………………………………………………………………………. 77

Sec. 92. Community Notification Act …………………………………………………………………………………….. 78

Sec. 93. Alabama Competitive Access Provider Act…………………………………………………………………..78

Sec. 95. Water Diversion………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 78

Sec. 96. Energy Cost Savings Contracts ……………………………………………………………………………………. 78

Sec. 97. Immigration …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 78

Establishing Council Committees ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 79

Sec. 98. Council Committees …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 79

Establishing Council Procedure ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 81

Sec. 99. Council Procedure ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 81

Parliamentary Procedure ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 85

Sec. 100. Parliamentary Procedure ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 85