The governing body shall consist of a mayor and six councilmembers to be elected as set out in Chapter 6 of this code.

(Code 1990)

All powers exercised by cities of the second class or which shall hereafter be conferred upon them shall be exercised by the governing body, subject to such limitations as prescribed by law. All executive and administrative authority granted or limited by law shall be vested in the mayor and city council as governing body of the city.

(K.S.A. 12-103; Code 1990)

(a)   Regular meetings of the governing body shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 p.m. In the event that the regular meeting shall fall on any legal holiday, or any day observed as a holiday by the city offices, the governing body shall fix the following business day not observed as a legal holiday as a meeting day.

(b)   Special meetings may be called by the mayor or acting mayor, on the written request of any three members of the council, specifying the object and purpose of such meeting, which request shall be read at a meeting and entered at length on the minutes.

(c)   Regular or special meetings of the governing body may be adjourned for the completion of its business at such subsequent time and place as the governing body shall determine in its motion to adjourn.

(K.S.A. 14-111; Code 1968, 1-101:102; Code 1990; Ord. 1098, Sec. 1; Ord. 1123, Sec. 1; Ord. 1442)

(a)   A majority of the councilmembers-elect shall constitute a quorum to do business, but any less number may adjourn from day to day in the event that a quorum is not present to conduct a meeting. The mayor of the city and all members of the city council of the city are hereby required to attend all meetings of the city council of the city including all special and regular meetings of the city council of the city, except when the attendance of the mayor or a member of the city council is excused for the following reasons:

(1)   When the mayor or a council member is sick and unable to attend;

(2)   When a member of the immediate family of the mayor or a city council member is sick thus causing the inability of the mayor or the city council member to attend;

(3)   When a death has occurred in the family of the mayor or a city council member;

(4)   Any other excused absence which is approved by the governing body of the city.

(b)   Except for the excused absences set out above the mayor and all city councilmembers shall attend all meetings of the city council of the city and if the mayor or any council member is absent for three regular consecutive meetings such mayor or council member shall be deemed to have vacated his or her office and the vacancy shall be filled as provided for in section 1-208.

(Code 1968, 1- 103)

The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the governing body. The mayor shall have the tie-breaking vote on all questions when the members present are equally divided. The mayor shall:

(a)   Have the superintending control of all officers and affairs of the city;

(b)   Take care that the ordinances of the city are complied with;

(c)   Sign the commissions and appointments of all officers elected or appointed;

(d)   Endorse the approval of the governing body on all official bonds;

(e)   From time to time communicate to the city council such information and recommend such measures as he or she may deem advisable;

(f)   Have the power to approve or veto any ordinance as the laws of the state shall prescribe;

(g)   Sign all orders and drafts drawn upon the city treasury for money.

(K.S.A. 14-301 et seq.; Code 1990)

The mayor shall appoint, from the council, and with the consent of a majority of the council, a president of the council. The president of the council shall preside in the absence of the mayor, if a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor by death, resignation, removal from the city, or removal from office, refusal to qualify, or otherwise, the president of the council shall become mayor and shall serve in such capacity for the remainder of the unexpired term of the mayor who is leaving office. The vacancy created in the office of the council member becoming mayor shall be filled by appointment of the mayor for the unexpired term of that council position, such appointment to be made with the consent of a majority of the council.

(Code 1968, 1-203)

The governing body may designate whether the administration of a policy or the carrying out of any order shall be performed by a committee, an appointive officer, or the mayor. If no administrative authority is designated it shall be vested in the mayor.

(Code 1990)

Any vacancy occurring on the council of the city shall be filled by appointment by the mayor, with the consent of the majority of the remaining members of the city council. The appointment shall be for the unexpired term of the office.

(C.O. No. 12, Sec. 3; Code 1990)

Members of the governing body shall receive as compensation such amounts as may be fixed by ordinance.

(Code 1990)

Each member of the governing body shall receive for his or her services and as reimbursement for his or her expenses, compensation as follows:

(a)   Mileage at the same rate as is established by law by the state of Kansas for state employees for each mile traveled by the shortest route upon the performance of duties assigned by the mayor and/or council.

(b)   Reimbursement for actual food and lodging expenses upon the performance of duties assigned by the mayor and/or council, provided such expenses shall be documented by proper receipts.

(Code 1990)

There is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of establishing a code of procedure for the conduct of city council meetings of the City of Ellis, Kansas, that certain code known as the “Code of Procedure for Kansas Cities,” Edition of 2004, prepared and published in book form by the League of Kansas Municipalities, Topeka, Kansas, save and except such articles, sections, parts or portions as are hereafter omitted, deleted, modified or changed. No fewer than three copies of said Code of Procedure for Kansas Cities shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of Ellis, Kansas,” with all sections or portions thereof intended to be omitted or changed clearly marked to show any such omission or change and to which shall be attached a copy of this section, and filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours.

(Code 2005)

(a)   Declaration of Policy - The proper operation of our government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; that governmental decisions and policy be made in the proper channels and that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government. In recognition of those goals, there is hereby established a Code of Ethics for all officials and employees, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid. The purpose of this code is to establish ethical standards by setting forth those acts or actions that are incompatible with the best interests of the city.

(b)   Responsibilities of Public Office - Public officials and employees are agents of public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State and to carry out impartially the laws of the nation, state, and city and thus to foster respect for all government. They are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that the long term public interest must be their primary concern. Their conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach.

(c)   Dedicated Service - All officials and employees of the city should be responsive to the political objectives expressed by the electorate and the programs developed to attain those objectives. Appointive officials and employees should adhere to the rule of work and performance established as the standard for their positions by the appropriate authority. Officials and employees should not exceed their authority or breach the law or ask others to do so, and they should work in full cooperation with other public officials and employees unless prohibited from so doing by law or by officially recognized confidentiality of their work.

(d)   Fair and Equal Treatment –

(1)   Interest in Appointments. Canvassing of members of the city council, directly or indirectly, in order to obtain preferential consideration in connection with any appointment to the municipal service shall disqualify the candidate for appointment except with reference to positions filled by appointment by the city council.

(2)   Use of Public Property - No official or employee shall request or permit the use of city-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as city policy for the use of such official or employee in the conduct of official business.

(3)   Obligations to Citizens - No official or employee shall grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.

(e)   Conflict of Interest - No elected or appointive city official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or shall have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties. Personal as distinguished from financial interest includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association.

Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance of officials and employees:

(1)   Incompatible Employment - No elected or appointive city official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties.

(2)   Disclosure of Confidential Information - No elected or appointive city official or employee, shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the city. Nor shall he or she use such information to advance the financial or other private interest of himself, herself or others.

(3)   Gifts and Favors. No elected or appointive city official or employee shall accept any valuable gift, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person, firm, or corporation which to his or her knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business dealings with the city; nor shall any such official or employee (a) accept any gift, favor or thing of value that may tend to influence him or her in the discharge of his or her duties or (b) grant in the discharge of his or her duties any improper favor, service, or thing of value. The prohibition against gifts or favors shall not apply to:

(A)  an occasional nonpecuniary gift, of only nominal value or

(B)  an award publicly presented in recognition of public service or

(C)  any gift which would have been offered or given to him or her if not an official or employee.

(4)   Representing Private Interest Before City Agencies or Courts - No elected or appointive city official or employee whose salary is paid in whole or in part by the city shall appear in behalf of private interest before any agency of this city. He or she shall not represent private interests in any action or proceeding against the interest of the city in any litigation to which the city is a party.

(Code 1990)