FAQs • Little Elm • CivicEngage

How do I speak at a Town Council meeting?: You will need to fill out a Presentation and Announcement Form and deliver the completed form to the Town Secretary before starting the meeting. The Mayor will call up to the podium those individuals from the audience who have signed up to speak. All speakers are asked to direct their comments to the Town Council, not to the audience. All speakers are to begin by stating their full name and home address for the record. All speakers are given three minutes to speak and may address the Council only once. Speakers will not be allowed to cede time to another speaker. Homeowners Association/large groups are encouraged to designate a spokesperson. Such groups may designate one spokesperson to speak on its behalf with a maximum of ten minutes. The presentations and announcements will then close. State Law prohibits Council from responding to a speaker if the topic is not on the agenda.

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Town Council

1. How many members are on Council?: The Town Council consists of seven members: six (6) Council Members and the Mayor. The Mayor and Council Members for Place 1 and Place 6 may be residents of any portion of the Town. Council Members for Place 2, 3, 4 and 5 must reside in and be elected from the district for which the specific place applies. The term of office is for three years or any portion thereof.

2. When does the Town Council meet?: Regular meetings are the first and third Tuesday of the month at Town Hall. Special meetings and workshops can be called anytime.

4. What are the qualifications to serve as Mayor and Council?: Each candidate for Town Council or office of Mayor must be a qualified voter of the Town, must be twenty-one (21) years of age, and have resided in the Town not less than twelve months immediately preceding Election Day. The candidate must also meet the requirements of the Texas Election Code, and shall not after, notice of any delinquency, be in arrears in the payment of any taxes or other liabilities due the Town.

5. What are the duties of the Mayor?: A. the person elected Mayor shall be the presiding officer of all meetings of the Town Council. He/She shall be the official head of the Town government and be able to vote on all matters coming before Council.

6. What are Mayor Pro-Tem duties?: The Town Council shall elect one of its members as Mayor Pro Tem, who shall perform duties of Mayor in the case of the absence or inability of the Mayor to perform the duties of his/her office, and who shall, during that time, be vested with all the powers belonging to the Mayor.

7. What is a quorum of our Town Council?: A quorum consists of four council members, which is necessary to conduct business. The Council shall determine its own rules of procedure; may punish its members for misconduct, and may may compel the attendance of absent members.

8. Do council members get paid?: Yes, the Mayor receives $100 per meeting and Council Members receive $50 per meeting.

9. How can I participate at a Town Council meeting?: You may participate at a Town Council meeting by submitting a written request on what your topic will be. The request must be approved by either two Council Members, Town Manager, or Mayor. After the approval has been made, your topic will be put on the agenda for a future council meeting.

10. How do I speak at a Town Council meeting?: You will need to fill out a Presentation and Announcement Form and deliver the completed form to the Town Secretary before starting the meeting. The Mayor will call up to the podium those individuals from the audience who have signed up to speak. All speakers are asked to direct their comments to the Town Council, not to the audience. All speakers are to begin by stating their full name and home address for the record. All speakers are given three minutes to speak and may address the Council only once. Speakers will not be allowed to cede time to another speaker. Homeowners Association/large groups are encouraged to designate a spokesperson. Such groups may designate one spokesperson to speak on its behalf with a maximum of ten minutes. The presentations and announcements will then close. State Law prohibits Council from responding to a speaker if the topic is not on the agenda.

11. What are the procedures for enacting regulations and laws of the Town?: The Town Council official actions are by written ordinances, resolutions, or oral motions. Each proposed ordinance shall not be amended or repealed except by the adoption of another ordinance. All ordinances and resolutions passed by the Town Council shall become effective immediately after passage except where publication of a caption is required or where the ordinance, State law, or other provisions of this chapter provide otherwise, in which case the effective date shall be as prescribed in the ordinance.

12. How can I find out more information on what is being discussed at Town Council meeting?: You may go on line to Agendas and Minutes at www.littleelm.org under Departments, Town Secretary, click on Agendas and Minutes; or stop by Town Hall and pick one up.