Regular Meetings. This is the official, final public action meeting. It is the only meeting where the
council may adopt ordinances or regulations. There is no requirement that councils meet any set number
of times per month (nor even that they meet at all) in the Maryland Constitution or in state law. This
requirement is left to each municipality’s charter. The sample charter formally in the Annotated Code of
Maryland recommends meeting at least once each month (Art. 23B, Sec. 8). Many municipal charters
throughout the state prescribe regular meetings and require that the meeting date be set at the annual or
semi-annual organizational meeting of the council.
One very important feature of the regular meeting is the public forum aspect. The regular meeting
generally includes at least a citizen comment period and often incorporates a formal public hearing on one
or more subjects. While allowing public comment to some degree, the regular meeting always allows the
public an opportunity to hear the council discussion on each subject.