§ 34. Powers. The common council shall determine the rules of its own
proceedings and be the judge of the election, returns and qualifications
of its members. Its meetings shall be public and its records open to
public inspection, and a majority of all its members shall constitute a
quorum to do business. The common council may compel the attendance of
absent members at any meeting properly called, and may punish or expel a
member for disorderly conduct, for a violation of its rules or for
official misconduct, or declare his seat vacant by reason of absence,
provided such absence has continued for the space of two months; but no
expulsion shall take place and no vacancy on account of absence be
declared except by the vote of three-fourths of all the members of the
common council, nor until the delinquent member has had an opportunity
to be heard in his defense. All appointments or designations made by the
common council shall be determined upon a vote taken by a roll call of
its members, and a statement of the choice of each member or the yeas
and nays, if any, shall be entered upon the journal.