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| Mail 314 South "G" St Wellington, KS 67152 Telephone 620-326-5430 bjtracy@sbcglobal.net |
The Governing Body
| Information |
| Who is "The City"? "It's not the Mayors, the Council Members, or the Commissioners who make up the municipal corporation, nor is it the City's Government, it's officers, or it's employees. A municipal corporation would continue to exist without any of these persons. The people are, in fact, the political body. They comprise the corporate units which forms the organized society. The people act as a political entity, by and through their elected and appointed officials." - League of Kansas Municipalities |
| CONTACT JOHN |
| CONNECT |
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 3
Wellington, Kansas
Different cities have different forms of Government. All have a
Mayor, but that is where the similarities end. Some have City
Council Members, some have City Commissioners. Some have four
City Council Members, most have five, some six, some seven, and
some eight.
Wellington observes the Mayor-Council-City Manager form of
Government. The City is divided into four districts called Wards,
and each Ward has two City Council Members representing it.
Council Members serve two year terms; one Council Member from
the Ward elected on even numbered years, the other elected on odd
numbered years. The Mayor is elected to a two year term "At
Large". At-Large means that all citizens, regardless of the Ward they
live in, are allowed to vote for the Mayor.
The City Manager, at the Governing Body's discretion, oversees the
day-to-day operations of the City. He is allowed certain authority in
accordance with State Statutes, but otherwise must act according to
established Governing Body policies.
The City is assisted in various operations by Boards and
Authorities. Members of these Boards are nominated by the Mayor
and their appointment ratified by the Governing Body. The link
leads you to the City of Wellington website where the duties and
responsibilities of each Board are outlined. If you would like to serve
on a City Board, contact the City Clerk's Office at 326-2811.
Mayor, but that is where the similarities end. Some have City
Council Members, some have City Commissioners. Some have four
City Council Members, most have five, some six, some seven, and
some eight.
Wellington observes the Mayor-Council-City Manager form of
Government. The City is divided into four districts called Wards,
and each Ward has two City Council Members representing it.
Council Members serve two year terms; one Council Member from
the Ward elected on even numbered years, the other elected on odd
numbered years. The Mayor is elected to a two year term "At
Large". At-Large means that all citizens, regardless of the Ward they
live in, are allowed to vote for the Mayor.
The City Manager, at the Governing Body's discretion, oversees the
day-to-day operations of the City. He is allowed certain authority in
accordance with State Statutes, but otherwise must act according to
established Governing Body policies.
The City is assisted in various operations by Boards and
Authorities. Members of these Boards are nominated by the Mayor
and their appointment ratified by the Governing Body. The link
leads you to the City of Wellington website where the duties and
responsibilities of each Board are outlined. If you would like to serve
on a City Board, contact the City Clerk's Office at 326-2811.
Regular Council Meetings
Except for holidays and other
extenuating circumstances, the
City Council meets the first and
third Tuesdays of each month,
6:30p.m., at Wellington City Hall.
Meetings are held in the Council
Chambers, and the public is not
only welcome, but encouraged to
attend.
The purpose of the Regular meetings are to conduct official City
Business. Before a regular meeting can convene, there must be a
Quorum of City Council Members present. The quorum does not
include the Mayor, only City Council Members.
Council Meetings convene with the Pledge of Allegiance and approval
of the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda includes routine items
such as past meeting minutes, expenses and payroll, and the receipt
and filing of reports from Boards and Authorities and other Council
Correspondence.
The Council hears comments and concerns from citizens who are on
the agenda for Audience Participation, offers their own reports on
their actions and requests during "Reports of Mayor and Council",
and then hears reports from City Officials concerning ongoing or
future projects.
In the event a Public Hearing is scheduled, the Council then
conducts the Public Hearing. Ordinances and Resolutions are then
addressed, and if needed, an Executive Session is held. The meeting
is finalized with a report on future agenda items from the City
Manager, followed by Adjournment.
Regular meetings or Special Meetings are the only time that any
official binding action is allowed to occur, and the action must be
taken in open meeting where the public and press are allowed to
attend.
A sample agenda can be found here.
Except for holidays and other
extenuating circumstances, the
City Council meets the first and
third Tuesdays of each month,
6:30p.m., at Wellington City Hall.
Meetings are held in the Council
Chambers, and the public is not
only welcome, but encouraged to
attend.
The purpose of the Regular meetings are to conduct official City
Business. Before a regular meeting can convene, there must be a
Quorum of City Council Members present. The quorum does not
include the Mayor, only City Council Members.
Council Meetings convene with the Pledge of Allegiance and approval
of the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda includes routine items
such as past meeting minutes, expenses and payroll, and the receipt
and filing of reports from Boards and Authorities and other Council
Correspondence.
The Council hears comments and concerns from citizens who are on
the agenda for Audience Participation, offers their own reports on
their actions and requests during "Reports of Mayor and Council",
and then hears reports from City Officials concerning ongoing or
future projects.
In the event a Public Hearing is scheduled, the Council then
conducts the Public Hearing. Ordinances and Resolutions are then
addressed, and if needed, an Executive Session is held. The meeting
is finalized with a report on future agenda items from the City
Manager, followed by Adjournment.
Regular meetings or Special Meetings are the only time that any
official binding action is allowed to occur, and the action must be
taken in open meeting where the public and press are allowed to
attend.
A sample agenda can be found here.
Public Hearings.
There are certain times, by State Statute, that the City
Council must conduct a Public Hearing on a particular
subject. The Public Hearings are "meetings" within the
Regular Council Meeting; the Mayor will open and close the
Public Hearing.
During Public Hearings, any and all parties affected by the
subject are invited to attend and speak on the issue. The
Council will deliberate the issue based on the comments heard.
A Public Hearing may be held on the issuance of debt, the
proposed annual budget, the annexation of land, etc.
There are certain times, by State Statute, that the City
Council must conduct a Public Hearing on a particular
subject. The Public Hearings are "meetings" within the
Regular Council Meeting; the Mayor will open and close the
Public Hearing.
During Public Hearings, any and all parties affected by the
subject are invited to attend and speak on the issue. The
Council will deliberate the issue based on the comments heard.
A Public Hearing may be held on the issuance of debt, the
proposed annual budget, the annexation of land, etc.
Executive Session
In certain cases, the City Council will recess from their
Regular Meeting and convene in Executive Session.
Executive Sessions are not open to the media or the public.
An Executive Session can be called in order to discuss
confidential employee information, to discuss City/City
Attorney privileged information, to discuss matters regarding
the purchase of real estate, and for other reasons.
Before the Council can recess into Executive Session, they
must openly state;
At the conclusion of the specified time, the Council must
return to Regular Session. In the event more time is needed,
the Council can go through the steps of entering into
Executive Session once again, but in no case can they remain
in Executive Session longer than the announced time.
The minutes of Executive Session are not recorded and the
matters discussed are sealed. No binding action can be taken
in Executive Session however; if action, based upon the
discussion is warranted, the Council must reconvene into the
Regular Meeting, announced the action that is planned, then
vote upon the action.
For more information about Executive Sessions, review the
Kansas Open Meetings Act.
In certain cases, the City Council will recess from their
Regular Meeting and convene in Executive Session.
Executive Sessions are not open to the media or the public.
An Executive Session can be called in order to discuss
confidential employee information, to discuss City/City
Attorney privileged information, to discuss matters regarding
the purchase of real estate, and for other reasons.
Before the Council can recess into Executive Session, they
must openly state;
- The legal grounds allowing them to enter into Executive
Session - Staff members allowed to participate in the Executive
Session - How long they will be in Executive Session.
At the conclusion of the specified time, the Council must
return to Regular Session. In the event more time is needed,
the Council can go through the steps of entering into
Executive Session once again, but in no case can they remain
in Executive Session longer than the announced time.
The minutes of Executive Session are not recorded and the
matters discussed are sealed. No binding action can be taken
in Executive Session however; if action, based upon the
discussion is warranted, the Council must reconvene into the
Regular Meeting, announced the action that is planned, then
vote upon the action.
For more information about Executive Sessions, review the
Kansas Open Meetings Act.
Special Meetings
In an urgent situation in which action is needed that cannot wait for
the next Regular Meeting, the Mayor and/or two Council Members
can request a Special Meeting.
A quorum is needed before binding action can be taken and the same
rules apply to Special Meetings that apply to Regular Meetings except;
no other business may be discussed or deliberated at a Special
Meeting outside the topic that the meeting was called for.
Worksession
Frequently, the Governing Body meets to conduct a work session. A
quorum need not be present for the worksession as no binding action
can be taken at a worksession. The purpose of worksessions is to
hear information about future agenda items and to ask questions
concerning the information. No votes are taken and no binding
decisions made.
In an urgent situation in which action is needed that cannot wait for
the next Regular Meeting, the Mayor and/or two Council Members
can request a Special Meeting.
A quorum is needed before binding action can be taken and the same
rules apply to Special Meetings that apply to Regular Meetings except;
no other business may be discussed or deliberated at a Special
Meeting outside the topic that the meeting was called for.
Worksession
Frequently, the Governing Body meets to conduct a work session. A
quorum need not be present for the worksession as no binding action
can be taken at a worksession. The purpose of worksessions is to
hear information about future agenda items and to ask questions
concerning the information. No votes are taken and no binding
decisions made.
| "QUORUM" ________________________ |
| A majority of the Council Members-Elect. Wellington has eight City Council members, therefore five must be in attendance at a meeting before Binding Action can be taken. |
| ORDINANCES ________________________ |
| As the need arises, the City Council will consider an Ordinance. Some Ordinances pertain to crime, others are ordinances adopting codes and standards, and others are simply binding Ordinances to approve of official City Business. An example is the Ordinance passed each year approving the City Budget. In order to pass, an Ordinance requires a "majority of Council Members-Elect" to pass. In Wellington, this requires five votes. In the event only four affirmative votes are recorded, the Mayor has the opportunity to vote in the affirmative. A sample Ordinance can be found here. |
| RESOLUTIONS ________________________ |
| Resolutions can cover the purchase of vehicles, property, equipment,or supplies, agreements between the City and other organizations, etc. Resolutions only require a simple majority vote of those Council Members present at the meeting. A sample Resolution can be found here. |
| Additional Info |
Council Meetings