Commission Terms

Open Meeting Law (popularly know as the "Sunshine Law" ) requires that the public be admitted to any meeting of a public agency at which public business is discussed, or action is taken. A few exceptions are allowed to discuss confidential business.

Regular Meetings-State Law requires that the Commission meet regularly, at least once a month, at a time and place fixed by ordinance. The Commission may take no action unless a majority of the members is present. All regular meetings are open to the public.

Closed Meeting- Closed meetings may be conducted for the following purposes: To discuss buying land, pending or proposed lawsuits. To discuss Personnel matters To meet with industrial prospects.
The general public and the news media are not allowed to attend closed sessions.

Minutes - The official written record of all business transacted in a regular or special meeting. The minutes must be signed by both the Mayor and the City Clerk.

Ordinance - An ordinance is a local law

Steps for enactment of an ordinance

• Step 1 Introduced and publicly read on first reading. - The ordinance is read the first time to give the public an opportunity to speak before action is taken. The ordinance is not voted upon at the first reading, but merely read.
• Step 2 Second Reading - An ordinance must be read before the city commission twice, on separate days, unless an emergency is declared.
• Step 3 Vote upon passage - The ordinance may be voted upon at the meeting where it is read for the second time. It must receive a "yes" vote of a majority of the members voting on the ordinance.
• Step 4 Mayoral Approval -The mayor must sign all ordinances but has no power to veto an ordinance.
• Step 5 Publication - No ordinance may become effective until published. Once enacted, an ordinance has the same force within the city's boundary as a state law.
• Step 6 Indexing and Recording - All ordinances must be recorded in an ordinance book.
• Step 7 Revision - At least every 5 years, the Code of Ordinances shall be examined and revised to eliminate "redundant, obsolete, inconsistent, and invalid provisions."

  Municipal Order - An official act of the city commission for such internal purposes as appointing members of city boards or establishing personnel rules. Municipal orders have only one reading.
  When a municipal order is violated, penalties are not imposed by the court system, but by the city commission. Ordinances, on the other hand, may be enforced by the court system and may subject the violator to criminal fines and imprisonment.

  Resolution (proclamation) - is simply an expression of the opinion or will of the city commission on a matter of business which has come before the body. For example, resolutions are commonly used to honor groups or individuals, etc.

  Open Records Act - Gives individuals the right to examine public records of public agencies, within certain limitations.

  Fiscal Year - The fiscal (financial) year of the City is from July 1 to June 30.

  Budget - The budget is a proposed financial plan for raising and spending money for the City Government's programs and activities during a fiscal year.

  Revenues - The dollars the city collects from property taxes, occupational license fees, special charges, and fees, and other revenue sources.

  Expenses - The dollars that the city spends for operation, maintenance, interest, and other charges for the community.

  Fund Balance - The excess dollars of the assets (what the City has) over the liabilities (what the City owes).

  Audit - A financial audit is conducted each fiscal year. An independent examination of financial reports done by an outside accounting firm.

  Statute (KRS) - A Kentucky Revised Statute is a state law.

  Oath of Office - The pledge made by an elected or appointed official that he/she will faithfully fulfill the duties of office.

  Second Class City- Kentucky ranks it cities by population. For example, Louisville is a first class city; Owensboro, with a population of approximately 54,000, is a second class city. Certain state laws apply to only cities of the second class.

  Form of Government - The city operates under the City Manager form of government.

  Board of Commissioners - The Mayor and four Commissioners make up the Board of Commissioners, and are elected by the citizens to act as their representatives. Their primary duties are to enact ordinances and make policies that are for the ultimate good of the community as a whole. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term and the Commissioners are elected for two-year terms. The Board of Commissioners possesses the legislative and executive powers of the City, They each have other occupations in Owensboro and serve "part-time" as Mayor or Commissioners.

  City Manager - Administrative powers are vested in the City Manager who is the full-time chief executive of the city government. All other city employees report to him.

  City Commission Meetings are broadcast Live on Century Cable Channel 44