Rules of Procedure and Organization of the County Council

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RULE NO. 4 OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES 1. Officers. The officers of the Council shall consist of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson who shall perform the duties prescribed by law and these rules. Each shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membershipof the Council and serve at its pleasure. Any vacancy shall be filled in like manner. 2. Presiding Officer. The Chairperson of the Council shall be the Presiding Officer of the Council and have the right to vote as other members. In the absence, disability, or virtual attendanceof the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall act as the Presiding Officer. In of both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, the absence, disability, or virtual attendance the Finance Committee Chairperson shall serve as the presiding officer. In the absence, disability, or virtual attendance of theChairperson, Vice Chairperson, and the Finance Committee Chairperson, the Council shall elect from among its members a temporary presiding officer. It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to: (a) Open all meetings of the Council at the appointed hour by taking the chair and calling the Council to order. (b) Maintain order and proper decorum and reasonably administer the receipt of oral and written testimony in accordance with these rules. The Chairperson shall not engage in debate or discussion of any issue unless first relinquishing the chair to the Vice Chairperson. (c) Announce the business before the Council in the order prescribed by these rules and the results of any Council vote. (d) Sign all documents and authenticate all official acts of the Council as required. (e) Receive all reports, communications, bills, resolutions, and other items from the public, the Mayor, various departments of the government, and individual Council Members, and immediately make the proper referrals of these matters to the Council or to the appropriate Committee Chairperson(s). All communications shall be numbered and made available to the public, except as otherwise provided by law. (Section 13-20(a), Hawai‘i County Charter) 4-1