Sec. 2-16. - Procedure of the council with regard to ordinances.

(1)

Acts by ordinance. In addition to such acts of the Council as are required by statute or by this Charter to be by ordinance, every act of the Council establishing a fine or other penalty or providing for the expenditure of funds or for the contracting of indebtedness, shall be by ordinance. The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be, "The Council of the City of East Providence hereby ordains:"

(2)

First reading. Every ordinance shall be introduced in writing, and after passage on first reading, at least three (3) copies of the ordinance, in the form in which it has been passed on first reading, shall be made available to public inspection at the office of the City Clerk and there shall be published a notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the city, describing the ordinance in brief and general terms and stating that the ordinance is available for public inspection at the office of the City Clerk, together with the time and place when and where it will be considered for final passage. Said notice shall be published at least one (1) week prior to the second reading.

(3)

Second reading and public hearing. At the time and place so advertised, or at any time and place to which such hearing shall from time to time be adjourned, such ordinance shall be read in full and, after such reading, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard.

(4)

Further consideration and final passage. After such hearing, the Council may finally pass such ordinance with or without amendment, except that if it shall make an amendment, it shall not finally pass the ordinance until it shall have caused the amended sections to be published at least once as provided in subsection (2) of this section, together with a notice of the time and place when and where such amended ordinance will be further considered. At the time so advertised or at any time and place to which such meeting shall be adjourned, the amended ordinance shall be read in full and a public hearing thereon shall be held and after such hearing the governing body may finally pass such amended ordinance, or again amend it subject to the same conditions. The second passage of any ordinance pursuant to this Charter shall be final and no further passage shall be required.

(5)

Publication of ordinances after final passage. After final passage, there shall be published within three (3) days as in subsection (2) of this section a notice describing the ordinance in brief and general terms and stating that it is available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk.

(6)

Date when ordinances go into effect. Every ordinance, unless it shall specify another date, shall become effective at the expiration of twenty (20) days after such publication following final passage.

(7)

Emergency ordinance. In an emergency affecting the public peace, health or safety, the Council by affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members may adopt without a hearing or second reading an emergency ordinance which shall take effect upon its passage.

(8)

Roll call. The vote upon any ordinance shall be by roll call and entered on the record of proceedings. A vote by roll call shall be taken on any other matter at the request of any two (2) members.