Brentwood aldermen could vote at Monday’s meeting to remove a sentence from the city ordinance that describes how a bill is passed. Bill #5980 on the agenda, would make future bills’ passage take at least two meetings. In the past, bills were normally introduced and passed in the same meeting meeting.
Mayor Chris Thornton said the intention is to make it the default to defer a bill’s passage to a second meeting. Maplewood and Richmond Heights require two meetings to pass a bill. Thornton said Monday morning the change is to make Brentwood’s process more like the other two cities.
Correction: This article previously stated that the change would make the deferral more difficult. Mayor Thornton said the intention is the exact opposite.
The Brentwood ordinance now states that a bill can become an ordinance if:
…Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen in writing and shall be read by title or in full two (2) times prior to passage. Both readings may occur at a single meeting of the Board of Aldermen. The second (2nd) reading of any proposed ordinance may be deferred to a subsequent meeting of the Board of Aldermen whenever a majority of the Board of Aldermen present shall so decide by motion…
If Bill #5980 passes on Monday, the final sentence, above, would be removed from the ordinance:
The second (2nd) reading of any proposed ordinance may be deferred to a subsequent meeting of the Board of Aldermen whenever a majority of the Board of Aldermen present shall so decide by motion.
The Maplewood City council is required to take two meetings to pass an ordinance:
Except in the case of emergency ordinances, every proposed ordinance shall be read by title in open meeting three times before final passage. The first and second reading may be at the same meeting; however, at least one week shall lapse between introduction and final passage, unless the ordinance is declared to be an emergency.
Richmond Heights is also required to wait between council meetings to pass a bill:
Every proposed ordinance shall be read by title in an open Council meeting at least twice before final passage, and at least one (1) week shall elapse between its first (1st) reading and final passage.