2.08 Exercise of power and presentation.
(1) The county board shall act by way of ordinances or resolutions. Except as otherwise noted, ordinances and resolutions shall be adopted by majority vote of a quorum or by such other vote as may be required by statute or ordinance. Reports submitted by county board committees or members shall be intended for informational or other recognized purposes but shall not, however, be used for the purpose of instituting policies or enacting laws.
Any paper presented to the board shall have endorsed thereon the date of presentation, subject matter, and the name of the presenting member(s). The chair or the board clerk shall read the endorsement and the matter shall then be either referred or otherwise disposed of as directed by the board.
(2) All committee resolutions and ordinances must be in writing and signed by sponsoring committee members and signifying their “yes” or “no” vote or their abstention. Resolutions, reports and ordinances not sponsored by a committee must be signed by the sponsoring member. If the County Board member initiating the resolution or ordinance or policy statement seeks additional support and sponsors he or she shall insure compliance with the Open Meeting law precluding a “walking quorum” by either (a) insuring that the number of co-sponsors does not create a quorum of the full board or committee if a majority vote is needed to pass the resolution or ordinance or where rules governing a “negative quorum” apply, does not equal or exceed the number of votes needed to defeat the resolution or ordinance, or (b) in the alternative solicits support or sponsorship at a County Board Meeting under Supervisors Comments by announcing that members wishing to sponsor the proposed resolution or ordinance or policy statement may do so by signing such resolution or ordinance or policy statement which will be left in the County Clerk’s office prior to the next Board meeting, or (c) in the alternative, have such resolution or ordinance or policy statement mailed to each Supervisor by the County Clerk as part of Board’s meeting packet with a memorandum informing all Board members that they may co-sponsor and sign the resolution, ordinance or policy statement immediately prior to the next County Board meeting. [Opinions of the Attorney General, March 11, 1993, July 28, 1998, September 16, 2002] (1/8/08)
(3) Ordinances and resolutions may be adopted by a majority vote of a quorum or by such majority vote as may be required and ordinances shall commence as follows: “The County Board of Supervisors of Kenosha County do ordain as follows . . .”
(4) Readings and Notations. Every resolution and report, except as otherwise noted, shall only require one reading. All ordinances and all resolutions which are intended to reflect policy or which are otherwise required by law to have more than one reading shall be read at two successive board sessions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Kenosha County Municipal Code, zoning map amendments shall only require one reading. The county board may suspend this rule requiring a second successive reading by two-thirds vote of the members present and consider such matter on the day presented. Notice of possible suspension of the second reading shall appear on all county board agendas. In regards to ordinances and resolutions requiring two readings, no debate shall be permitted at the first reading. Unless otherwise indicated, all resolutions shall remain in effect until such time as repealed. Any resolution intending to reflect the policy of the county board of supervisors shall be so duly noted and properly indexed and incorporated into a policy manual. When presenting these items for first reading, they shall read them by number and title only, but when requested by any one member of the county board, said item shall be read in its entirety. A copy of said resolution and ordinance shall be presented in writing to each supervisor at the time of the first reading. Thereafter, board action shall be had after the second reading. Any resolutions or ordinances shall be read by title only unless any one supervisor requests a reading of the resolution or ordinance in its entirety, which request can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of the members present. (3/6/12)
(5) All resolutions, ordinances and reports shall be filed and indexed cumulatively, with said file and index reflecting the subject matter and number of the report or resolution, and the page number where said report or resolution is reported in the yearly Proceedings of the County Board.
(6) Adoption. Upon the adoption of any ordinance or resolution enacted by the county board, it shall be countersigned by the board chair and the county clerk and forwarded to the county executive pursuant to the provisions of section 59.17(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes. Upon approval or abstention by the county executive or in the event of his veto, upon the subsequent overriding vote of the county board of supervisors, the county clerk shall publish said resolution or ordinance and distribute copies pursuant to the applicable state statutes.