PART I.
THE CHARTER

Editor's note. – The Charter contained in this part was passed by the electors of the City of Fremont, Michigan on April 3, 1972.  The effective date of this Charter was April 17, 1972.  A uniform system of capitalization has been utilized, obvious misspellings have been corrected and catchlines and subcatchlines have been modified in some cases to make them more accurate and to facilitate editorial and indexing requirements.  Otherwise no changes have been made.  Amendments to the Charter are indicated by historical citations following the amended section.

Preamble.

Chapter I.
Names and Boundaries.

§ 1.1   Name.

§ 1.2   Boundaries.

§ 1.3   Wards.

Chapter II.  Municipal Powers.

§ 2.1   General powers.

§ 2.2   Specific powers.

§ 2.3   Intergovernmental contracts.

Chapter III.  Elections.

§ 3.1   Qualifications of electors.

§ 3.2   Procedure.

§ 3.3   Precincts.

§ 3.4   Date of regular city elections.

§ 3.5   Date of special elections.

§ 3.6   Notice.

§ 3.7   Voting hours.

§ 3.8   Nominations -- Generally.

§ 3.9   Same -- Form of petition.

§ 3.10   Same -- Approval of petition.

§ 3.11   Same -- Candidate to run for only one office.

§ 3.12   Same -- Withdrawal of candidate.

§ 3.13   Same -- Public inspection of petitions.

§ 3.14   Election commission created; composition; duties; compensation.

§ 3.15   Form of ballot.

§ 3.16   Board of canvassers.

§ 3.17   Custody and safekeeping of registration books and supplies

§ 3.18   Absentee ballots.

§ 3.19   Determination of election ending in tie vote.

§ 3.20   Recount.

§ 3.21   Purity of election; lawful and unlawful acts.

Chapter IV.  Organization of Government.

§ 4.1   Form.

§ 4.2   City council composition and power.

§ 4.3   Qualifications of council members.

§ 4.4   Election and terms of office of mayor and councilmen.

§ 4.5   Compensation of mayor and councilmen; reimbursement of expenses.

§ 4.6   Organizational meeting of council; selection of mayor pro tem.

§ 4.7   Powers and duties of mayor; mayor pro tem.

§ 4.8   Council's dealings with administration services; council's ordering of subordinates of city manager.

Chapter V.  General Provisions Regarding Officers and Personnel.

§ 5.1   Eligibility for office.

§ 5.2   Financial interest of officer in contract with city; officer standing as surety or giving bail required by Charter or city ordinance.

§ 5.3   Holding of appointive office or employment by relative of elective or appointive officer.

§ 5.4   Oath of office and bond required.

§ 5.5   Surety bonds.

§ 5.6   Delivery of effects of office to successor or superior when officer or employee ceases to hold the office.

§ 5.7   Declaration of vacancy in elective office.

§ 5.8   Declaration of vacancy in boards or commissions.

§ 5.9   Removal from office.

§ 5.10   Resignations of elective and appointive officers.

§ 5.11   Filling vacancy in council.

§ 5.12   Filling vacancies in offices.

§ 5.13   Changes in term of office or compensation.

§ 5.14   Compensation of employees not provided for by Charter; bona fide expenses incurred in service of city.

§ 5.15   Group insurance for officers and employees.

§ 5.16   Employees retirement system.

§ 5.17   Merit system for employees.

Chapter VI.  Council:  Procedures, Powers and Duties.

§ 6.1   Regular meetings.

§ 6.2   Special meetings.

§ 6.3   Business of special meetings.

§ 6.4   Meetings to be public.

§ 6.5   Quorum.

§ 6.6   Attendance; conduct; sergeant-at-arms.

§ 6.7   Organization, rules and order of business.

§ 6.8   Investigation into conduct of office, employee, etc.; power to summon and compel attendance of witnesses and production of evidence.

§ 6.9   Public peace, health and safety; composition and powers of board of health.

Chapter VII.  Administrative Services.

§ 7.1   Administrative officers generally.

§ 7.2   City manager -- Appointment; removal; compensation.

§ 7.3   Same -- Functions and duties.

§ 7.4   Clerk.

§ 7.5   Treasurer.

§ 7.6   Assessor.

§ 7.7   Attorney.

§ 7.8   City planning commission; zoning.

§ 7.9   Advisory boards or committees.

Chapter VIII.  Legislation.

§ 8.1   Prior legislation.

§ 8.2   Ordinances and resolutions generally.

§ 8.3   Ordinances -- Identification; repeal; amendment; record; Code.

§ 8.4   Same -- Publication; effective date; adoption by reference.

§ 8.5   Penalties.

§ 8.6   Initiatory and referendary petitions -- Generally.

§ 8.7   Same -- Contents; signatures; affidavit of petitioner; verification.

§ 8.8   Same -- Action by council upon receipt.

§ 8.9   Same -- Submission to electors.

§ 8.10   Same -- Suspension of operation of ordinance in referendum; amendment or repeal; adoption of conflicting ordinances at the same election.

§ 8.11   Recall.

Chapter IX.  Finances and Budgets.

§ 9.1   Fiscal year.

§ 9.2   Budget -- Recommended budget.

§ 9.3   Same -- Public hearing.

§ 9.4   Same --Adoption.

§ 9.5   Same -- Capital improvement bonds.

§ 9.6   Same -- Appropriations; charging of expenditures; interim accounting; end of year surplus.

§ 9.7   Depository.

§ 9.8   Investments.

§ 9.9   Independent audit and report.

§ 9.10   Withdrawal of funds.

Chapter X.  Taxation.

§ 10.1   Power of city; maximum ad valorem levy; procedure for levy and collection.

§ 10.2   Tax status day.

§ 10.3   Assessment roll.

§ 10.4   Board of review -- Composition; secretary; chairman; quorum.

§ 10.5   Same -- Functions and duties.

§ 10.6   Same -- Notice of meeting.

§ 10.7   Same -- Meetings; examination of persons appearing.

§ 10.8   Assessment of taxes.

§ 10.9   Warrant commanding collection by treasurer.

§ 10.10   Liens.

§ 10.11   Statement to taxpayer.

§ 10.12   Collection of city taxes.

§ 10.13   State, county and school taxes.

§ 10.14   Failure to pay personal property taxes.

§ 10.15   Acceleration of due date for personal property taxes.

§ 10.16   Failure to pay real estate taxes.

§ 10.17   Inequitable assessment or tax.

   Chapter XI.  Special Assessments.

§ 11.1   Power of council to assess.

§ 11.2   Procedure ordinance.

§ 11.3   Assessment lien.

§ 11.4   Contest of assessment.

   Chapter XII.  Borrowing.

§ 12.1   General power.

§ 12.2   Limitation.

§ 12.3   Use of borrowed funds.

§ 12.4   Separation of special assessment collections; payment of deficiency in special assessment fund.

§ 12.5   Bond interest rates.

§ 12.6   Execution of bonds.

§ 12.7   Records of bonds and other evidence of indebtedness; cancellation.

   Chapter XIII.  Contracts and Purchases.

§ 13.1   Establishment of procedures by ordinance; city manager responsible for purchases; authority; competitive prices.

§ 13.2   Funds to finance public improvements.

§ 13.3   Installment contracts.

   Chapter XIV.  Utilities, Franchises and Permits.

§ 14.1   General powers.

§ 14.2   Administration of municipally owned and operated utilities. 

§ 14.3   Utility rates.

§ 14.4   Ordinances for collection of public utility charges.

§ 14.5   Disposal of utility plants and property.

§ 14.6   Accounts and finances of public utility.

§ 14.7   Public utility franchises -- Granting.

§ 14.8   Same -- Conditions.

§ 14.9   Same -- Provisions for rates, fares and charges.

§ 14.10   Use of public places by utilities.

§ 14.11   Temporary permits.

§ 14.12   Existing franchises and permits.

   Chapter XV.  Miscellaneous.

§ 15.1   Liability of city; procedures for filing claim.

§ 15.2   Records.

§ 15.3   Estoppel against city.

§ 15.4   Processes against city.

§ 15.5   Trusts for municipal purposes.

§ 15.6   Quorum generally.

§ 15.7   Sundays and holidays.

§ 15.8   Chapter, section and subsection headings of Charter.

§ 15.9   Amendment of Charter.

§ 15.10   Severability of Charter provisions.

§ 15.11   Penalties for misconduct in office.

§ 15.12   Definitions generally.

§ 15.13   Definitions of publication and mailing of notices.