CHARTER
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Charter of the City of Howell, Michigan, was adopted at a special election held on November 8, 1955. Dates appearing in parentheses following a chapter or section heading indicate that the chapter or section was enacted or amended on the date given. Because of changes in law since the adoption of the Charter, some sections of the Charter may be superceded. Where possible, editor notes shall be supplied informing the reader of notable changes to the Charter.
CHAPTER 1   BOUNDARIES AND SUBDIVISIONS OF THE CITY
   Section 1.1   Name.
   Section 1.2   Boundaries.
   Section 1.3   Wards.
   Section 1.4   Election Precincts.
CHAPTER 2   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
   Section 2.1   Definitions.
CHAPTER 3   GENERAL MUNICIPAL POWERS
   Section 3.1   Powers of the City.
   Section 3.2   Specific Powers of the City.
   Section 3.3   Exercise of Powers.
   Section 3.4   Continuation of Rights and Liabilities.
CHAPTER 4   GENERAL PROVISIONS AFFECTING OFFICERS OF THE CITY
   Section 4.1   Officers to be Elected.
   Section 4.2   The Administrative Officers.
   Section 4.3   Terms of Elective Officers.
   Section 4.4   Administrative Officers; Appointment, Terms and Remuneration.
   Section 4.5   Eligibility for Office in City. (Nov. 8, 1988)
   Section 4.6   Vacancies in Office.
   Section 4.7   Resignations.
   Section 4.8   Filling Vacancies.
   Section 4.9   Term of Office Cannot Be Shortened or Extended.
   Section 4.10   Increase or Decrease of Compensation.
   Section 4.11   Oath and Bond of Office.
   Section 4.12   Surety and Fidelity Bonds.
   Section 4.13   Delivery of Office and Its Effects by Officer to His Successor.
CHAPTER 5   THE CITY COUNCIL
   Section 5.1   City Governing Body.
   Section 5.2   Council to Judge Qualifications of Its Members.
   Section 5.3   Salaries of Members of the Council.
   Section 5.4   Duties of Mayor.
   Section 5.5   Mayor Pro Tem.
   Section 5.6   Meetings of the Council.
   Section 5.7   Health.
   Section 5.8   Restriction on Powers of the Council.
   Section 5.9   Investigations.
   Section 5.10   Publication of Council Proceedings.
CHAPTER 6   CITY LEGISLATION
   Section 6.1   Prior City Ordinances and Regulations.
   Section 6.2   Ordinance Enactment.
   Section 6.3   Penalties.
   Section 6.4   Publication of Ordinances. (Amended Nov. 8, 1966)
   Section 6.5   Technical Codes.
   Section 6.6   Franchises and Contracts.
   Section 6.7   Compilation or Codification.
   Section 6.8   Initiative and Referendum.
   Section 6.9   Petitions.
   Section 6.10   Council Procedure.
   Section 6.11   Submission to Electors.
   Section 6.12   Ordinance Suspended.
   Section 6.13   Amendment of Ordinance Adopted by Initiative Procedure.
CHAPTER 7   THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE
   Section 7.1   City Manager.
   Section 7.2   City Clerk.
   Section 7.3   City Attorney.
   Section 7.4   City Treasurer.
   Section 7.5   Deputy Clerk or Treasurer.
   Section 7.6   Assessor.
   Section 7.7   Police Department.
   Section 7.8   Fire Department.
   Section 7.9   Nepotism.
   Section 7.10   Civil Service.
   Section 7.11   Pension Plan.
   Section 7.12   Employee Welfare Benefits.
CHAPTER 8   MUNICIPAL COURT
   Section 8.1   Municipal Court.
CHAPTER 9   SUPERVISORS
   Section 9.1   Supervisors.
CHAPTER 10   ELECTIONS
   Section 10.1   Qualifications of Electors.
   Section 10.2   Election Procedure.
   Section 10.3   Primary Election.
   Section 10.4   Regular City Elections.
   Section 10.5   Special Elections.
   Section 10.6   Election Commission.
   Section 10.7   Notice of Election.
   Section 10.8   Voting Hours.
   Section 10.9   Nomination Petition.
   Section 10.10   Approval of Petitions.
   Section 10.11   Public Inspection of Petitions.
   Section 10.12   Form of Ballots.
   Section 10.13   Canvass of Votes.
   Section 10.14   Tie Vote.
   Section 10.15   Recount.
   Section 10.16   Recall.
CHAPTER 11   GENERAL FINANCE; BUDGET PROCEDURE
   Section 11.1   Fiscal Year.
   Section 11.2   Budget Procedure.
   Section 11.3   Budget Document.
   Section 11.4   Adoption of Budget; Tax Limit.
   Section 11.5   Transfer of Appropriations.
   Section 11.6   Budget Control.
   Section 11.7   Depository.
   Section 11.8   Contractual Claims Against City.
   Section 11.9   Notice to City of Claims for Injuries.
   Section 11.10   Independent Audit.
CHAPTER 12   TAXATION
   Section 12.1   Power to Tax.
   Section 12.2   Subjects of Taxation.
   Section 12.3   Tax Procedure.
   Section 12.4   Exemptions.
   Section 12.5   Personal Property; Jeopardy Assessment.
   Section 12.6   Assessment.
   Section 12.7   Assessment Procedure.
   Section 12.8   Time for Making Assessment Rolls.
   Section 12.9   Notice of Change of Assessments.
   Section 12.10   Board of Review.
   Section 12.11   Notice of Meetings of Board of Review.
   Section 12.12   Notice of Assessment Charges.
   Section 12.13   Confirmation of Assessment Roll.
   Section 12.14   Records of the Board of Review.
   Section 12.15   Validity of Assessment Roll.
   Section 12.16   Clerk to Certify Levy.
   Section 12.17   City Tax Roll.
   Section 12.18   Taxes Lien on Property.
   Section 12.19   Tax Roll Certified for Collection.
   Section 12.20   Notification of Taxes Due.
   Section 12.21   Tax Payment Schedule.
   Section 12.22   Procedure for Collecting Taxes on Personal Property.
   Section 12.23   State, County and School Taxes.
   Section 12.24   Lien for Taxes, Assessments, and Charges.
   Section 12.25   Proportioning of Tax on Portion of Taxed Items.
   Section 12.26   Protection of City Lien.
CHAPTER 13   BORROWING POWER
   Section 13.1   General Borrowing.
   Section 13.2   Special Assessment Bonds.
   Section 13.3   Mortgage Bonds.
   Section 13.4   Other Bonds.
   Section 13.5   Preparation and Record.
   Section 13.6   Unissued Bonds.
CHAPTER 14   SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
   Section 14.1   General Powers Relative to Special Assessments.
   Section 14.2   Petitions for Public Improvements.
   Section 14.3   Preliminary Resolution for Public Improvement.
   Section 14.4   Assessments on Single Lots.
   Section 14.5   Special Assessment Procedure by Ordinance.
   Section 14.6   Poverty Provisions.
   Section 14.7   Special Assessment Accounts.
   Section 14.8   Contested Assessments.
   Section 14.9   Reassessment for Benefits.
CHAPTER 15   CONTRACTS; FRANCHISES; PERMITS
   Section 15.1   City May Perform Public Work.
   Section 15.2   Plans and Specifications.
   Section 15.3   Contracts.
   Section 15.4   Modifications in Contracts.
   Section 15.5   Franchises.
   Section 15.6   Licenses and Franchises Remain in Effect.
   Section 15.7   Right of Regulation.
   Section 15.8   Regulation of Rates.
   Section 15.9   Revocable Permits.
   Section 15.10   Use of Streets by Utility.
CHAPTER 16   MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
   Section 16.1   General Powers Respecting Utilities.
   Section 16.2   Rates.
   Section 16.3   Utility Charges; Collection.
   Section 16.4   Accounts.
   Section 16.5   Disposal of Plants.
CHAPTER 17   CITY LIBRARY
CHAPTER 18   MISCELLANEOUS
   Section 18.1   Vested Rights and Liabilities Continued.
   Section 18.2   City Records to be Public.
   Section 18.3   Trusts.
   Section 18.4   Quorum.
   Section 18.5   Sundays and Holidays.
   Section 18.6   Penalties for Violations of Charter.
   Section 18.7   Chapter and Section Headings.
   Section 18.8   Amendments.
   Section 18.9   Severability of Charter Provisions.
   Section 1   Election to Adopt Charter.
   Section 2   Form of Ballot.
   Section 3   Officers of City Under Previous Charter.
   Section 4   Administrative and Other Officers.
   Section 5   Board of Review.
   Section 6   Status of Schedule Chapter.
   Section 7   Council Action.