CHARTER

Editor’s note:

   The Mason Charter was approved by the voters at the regular Municipal election on November 4, 1969.

    Dates appearing in parentheses following section headings indicate that those provisions were subsequently amended, added or repealed on the date given.

Preamble

Article I: Name, Boundaries, and Form of Government

Section 1.01   Name and Boundaries

Section 1.02   Form of Government

Article II: Corporate Powers

Section 2.01   Powers Granted

Section 2.02   Manner of Exercise of Powers

Section 2.03   Construction

Article III: Council

Section 3.01   Number and Term

Section 3.02   Qualifications (11-4-1975; Amended 11-3-2020)

Section 3.02A   Term Limits (11-2-1993; Amended 8-7-2009 (approved 11-3-2009); Amended 11-8-2011)

Section 3.03   Organization of Council

Section 3.04   Mayor - Election, Term, Qualifications and Powers

Section 3.05   Vice Mayor

Section 3.06   Clerk of Council

Section 3.07   Powers of Council (Amended 11-2-2021)

Section 3.08   Council Meetings (3-19-1996)

Section 3.09   Special Council Meetings

Section 3.10   Salary of Elected Officials - Change During Term

Section 3.11   Vacancies in Council (11-6-1984)

Article IV: Legislative Procedure

Section 4.01   Action to be Taken by Ordinance or Resolution

Section 4.02   Introduction of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.03   Style of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.04   Subject of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.05   Reading of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.06   Vote Required for Passage of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.07   Content of Emergency Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.08   Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.09   Authentication of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.10   Recording of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.11   Amendment of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 4.12   Referral of Zoning Ordinances to Planning Commission (11-3-1987)

Section 4.13   Public Hearing on Zoning Ordinance or Resolution (11-3-1987; Amended 2- 8-2021 (approved 11-3-2020))

Section 4.14   Adoption of Technical Codes by Reference

Section 4.15   Codification of Ordinances and Resolutions (Amended 2-8-2021 (approved 11-3- 2020))

Section 4.16   Publication of Ordinances and Resolutions

Article V: Manager

Section 5.01   Appointment and Removal

Section 5.02   Qualifications

Section 5.03   Acting Manager

Section 5.04   Powers and Duties of the Manager (11-3-1987)

Article VI: Administrative Departments

Section 6.01   Creation of Departments

Section 6.02   Department of Law - Law Director (5-8-1973)

Section 6.03   Powers and Duties of the Law Director

Section 6.04   Department of Finance - Finance Director (11-5-1996)

Section 6.05   Powers and Duties of the Finance Director (11-5-1996)

Section 6.06   Department of Planning

Section 6.07   Department of Service

Section 6.08   Department of Safety (11-3-1987)

Section 6.09   Department of Inspection and Engineering

Section 6.10   Department of Parks and Recreation

Section 6.11   Department of Personnel (11-7-1978)

Section 6.12   Removal or Demotion of Department and Division Heads (Repealed 11-7-1978)

Section 6.13   Heads of Other Departments and Divisions

Article VII: Boards and Commissions

Section 7.01   Planning Commission - Membership

Section 7.02   Planning Commission - Powers and Duties

Section 7.03   Zoning, Housing and Building Appeals Board - Membership

Section 7.04   Zoning, Housing and Building Appeals Board - Powers and Duties

Section 7.05   Park and Recreation Board - Membership

Section 7.06   Park and Recreation Board - Powers and Duties

Section 7.07   Personnel Review Board

Section 7.08   Civil Service - Classified and Unclassified (11-5-1996)

Section 7.08A   Removal of Unclassified Personnel (11-5-1996)

Section 7.09   Personnel Review Board - Powers and Duties

Section 7.10   Other Boards and Commissions

Section 7.11   Boards and Commissions - Organization (11-3-1987)

Section 7.12   Vacancy in Board or Commission

Section 7.13   Boards and Commissions - Eligibility Requirement (11-4-1975)

Article VIII: Nominations and Elections

Section 8.01   Nominations (11-6-1984; 11-6-2012)

Section 8.02   Regular Municipal Elections

Section 8.03   Special Elections

Section 8.04   Conduct of Elections

Article IX: Initiative and Referendum

Section 9.01   Initiative

Section 9.02   Referendum

Section 9.03   Referral of Ordinance or Resolution to the Electors by Council (Amended 2-8-2021 (approved 11-3-2020))

Article X: Finances, Taxation, and Debt

Section 10.01   General

Section 10.02   Limitation on Tax Rate

Section 10.03   Limitation of Debt

Section 10.04   Limitations on Income Tax (5-6-1986; Amended 8-13-2007)

Section 10.05   Funding of safety, fire and EMS services (11-6-2012)

Article XI: General Provisions

Section 11.01   Succession

Section 11.02   Effect of Charter on Existing Laws and Rights

Section 11.03   Amendments to Charter

Section 11.04   Removal of Elected Officials and Members of Boards and Commissions (5-8-1973)

Section 11.05   Effect of Partial Invalidity

Section 11.06   Conflict of Interest

Section 11.07   Percentage of Dwellings Permitted as Apartments (5-8-1973)

Section 11.08   Density of Dwelling Units (11-6-1984; Amended 11-6-2018)

Article XII: Transitional Provisions

Section 12.01   Effective Date of Charter

Section 12.02   Continuance of Present Officials - Abolishment of Offices

Section 12.03   Continuance of Present Employees

Section 12.04   Continuation of Village Clerk