CHARTER

Editor's note: This charter was approved by the electorate on 11-5-96.

PREAMBLE

Section

ARTICLE I. POWERS

   1.01   Incorporation

   1.02   General powers

ARTICLE II. THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Board of Aldermen

   2.01   Governing body

   2.02   Composition, eligibility and term

   2.03   Powers and duties

   2.04   Power to delegate authority

   2.05   Vacancies

   2.06   Meetings

The Mayor

   2.07   Eligibility and term

   2.08   Powers and duties

   2.09   Veto power

   2.10   Appointments

   2.11   Removals

ARTICLE III. DEPARTMENTS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

Departments

   3.01   Departments

   3.02   Departments existing at adoption

Department Heads

   3.03   Nominations

   3.04   Authority

   3.05   Tenure of office

   3.06   Removal of department heads

Appointed Officers

   3.07   Appointed city officers

   3.08   Nominations of appointed officers

   3.09   Tenure of office

   3.10   Removal of appointed officers

Boards, Commissions, and Authorities

   3.11   Departmental boards and commissions

   3.12   Existing departmental boards and commissions

   3.13   Additional boards and commissions

   3.14   Membership limitation, appointment, organization, terms, and removal

ARTICLE IV. SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE

   4.01   School district

   4.02   School committee

   4.03   Superintendent of Schools

   4.04   Vacancies

ARTICLE V. ELECTIONS

Terms and Definitions

   5.01   Non-partisan ballot system

   5.02   Municipal general election

   5.03   Municipal primary elections

   5.04   Filing fee

   5.05   Filing period

   5.06   Nominating petitions

   5.07   Primary system

Political Calendar

   5.08   Authority

Elected Officers

   5.09   City and ward officers

   5.10   Terms of office and vacancies

Checklist and Voter Registration

   5.11   Board of Registrars

   5.12   Actions by a single registrar

   5.13   Deputy Registrars

   5.14   Prohibition against holding other public offices

   5.15   Sessions

Qualification for Office

   5.16   Citizenship

   5.17   Domicile

   5.18   Registered voter

   5.19   Mayor and Commissioner of Welfare

Nominations

   5.20   Candidates

Primary

   5.21   Posting notice of primary

Post-Election Procedure

   5.22   Preservation of ballots and checklists

   5.23   Declaration of election results

Recounts

   5.24   Application and filing fee

   5.25   Board of Recount

   5.26   Time and notice

   5.27   Conduct of recount

   5.28   Declaration of results

Political Campaign Reporting

   5.29   Definitions

Applicability of Statutes-Election Materials

   5.30   State election laws

   5.31   Forms

   5.32   Ballots

   5.33   Wards

ARTICLE VI. BUDGETS AND APPROPRIATIONS

   6.01   Fiscal year

   6.02   Budget review and recommendations

   6.03   Budget formulation, submission and message

   6.04   Budget adoption

   6.05   Amendments after adoption

   6.06   School district budget

   6.07   School committee budget hearings

   6.08   Administration of the budget

   6.09   Overspending of appropriations prohibited

   6.10   Debt limit

   6.11   Finance Officer

   6.12   Independent audit

   6.13   Biennial budgeting

   6.14   Fund depositories

   6.15   Limitation on budget increase

ARTICLE VII. PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES

   7.01   Procurement code

   7.02   Procurement methods

   7.03   Procurement manager

ARTICLE VIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Administrative Rules and Policies

   8.01   Establishment of rules

   8.02   Statement of policy

Charter Review Committee

   8.03   Periodic review

Compensation

   8.04   Compensation of officials

Incompatibility

   8.05   Incompatibility of office

Library

   8.06   Contract with the Athenaeum

Local Initiative

   8.07   Initiative

Oaths

   8.08   Oaths

Retirement

   8.09   Employee retirement system

   8.10   Pension act repeal

Separability

   8.11   Provisions and application

Special Acts

   8.12   Applicability

Veterans

   8.13   Veterans recognition

Public Participation

   8.14   Public comment boards and commissions

Charter Enforcement

   8.15   Charter enforcement provision

ARTICLE IX. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

   9.01   Declaration of policy

   9.02   Definitions

   9.03   Standards of conduct

   9.04   Conduct board

ARTICLE X. TRANSITION PROVISIONS

Effective Date

   10.01   Effective date of this charter

State and Municipal Laws

   10.02   Continuation of existing laws

Departments, Offices and Agencies

   10.03   Transfer of powers

   10.04   Temporary regulations

Officers and Employees

   10.05   Existing officials and employees

   10.06   Department heads and appointed city officers employment transition

   10.07   Sick leave transition

Miscellaneous

   10.08   Initial salary of the mayor

   10.09   Election of at-large aldermen and school committee members

   10.10   Voting procedures prior to election of aldermen at-large

   10.11   Debt limit

   10.12   Continuance of Chapter 551