§ 2-56. Appointments and appointed bodies.

Rule 37. Appointments.

(a)

Appointments in open session. The council must consider and make any appointment to another body or, in the event of a vacancy on the council, to its own membership in open session.

(b)

Nomination and voting procedure. The council shall use the following procedure to fill a vacancy in the council itself or in any other body over which it has the power of appointment. The nominating committee shall be called upon to make its report and recommendation(s), if any. The mayor shall open the floor for nominations, whereupon council members may put forward and debate nominees. When debate ends, the mayor shall call the roll of the members, and each member shall cast a vote for the member's preferred nominee. The voting shall continue until a nominee receives a majority of votes cast during a single balloting.

(c)

Mayor. The mayor may make nominations and vote on appointments under this rule.

(d)

Multiple appointments. If the council is filling more than one (1) vacancy, each member shall have as many votes in each balloting as there are slots to be filled, and the votes of a majority of the total number of members voting shall be required for each appointment. No member may cast more than one (1) vote for the same candidate for the same vacancy during a single balloting.

(e)

Duty to vote. It is the duty of each member to vote for as many appointees as there are appointments to be made, but failure to do so shall not invalidate a member's ballot.

Rule 38. Committees and boards.

(a)

Establishment and appointment. The council may establish temporary and standing committees, boards, and other bodies to help carry on the work of city government. Unless otherwise provided by law or the council, the power of appointment to such bodies lies with the council.

(b)

Open meetings law. The requirements of the open meetings law apply whenever a majority of an appointed body's members gather in person or simultaneously by electronic means to discuss or conduct official business. They do not apply to meetings solely among the city's professional staff.

(c)

Council committee meetings. In accordance with G.S. 143-318.10, a duly appointed committee of the city council is a "public body" and shall be subject to all applicable open meetings requirements under state law.

(d)

Procedural rules. The council may prescribe the procedures by which the city's appointed bodies operate, subject to any statutory provisions applicable to particular bodies. In the absence of rules adopted by the council, an appointed body may promulgate its own procedural rules, so long as they are in keeping with any relevant statutory provisions and generally accepted principles of parliamentary procedure.

(Ord. No. 2018-54, § 1, 10-16-18)