SECTION 1. The annual election of ward and city officers shall be held on the first Tuesday of April of each year at such place in each ward as the common council shall designate. Ten days' notice shall be given by the city clerk of the time and place of holding such elections and of the officers to be elected, by publication in some newspaper published in the city or by posting up two written or printed notices in each ward. The inspectors and clerks of election in each ward shall be the same as is by law provided for holding general elections for state and county officers. Excepting that at the first election of said city, which is to be held on the first Tuesday in April, A.D. 1889, the electors present at the opening of the polls, shall elect three inspectors and two clerks of election whose duty shall be the same as those of inspectors and clerks at general elections for state and county officers. The place of holding elections in each ward at such first elections shall be designated by the board of supervisors of the Town of Medford, and five days' notice thereof shall be given by the town clerk of said town. In the above provided elections held under this act, the polls shall be opened and closed at the same time of day as is required by law for general elections for state and county officers. The qualifications of voters at all elections under this act shall be the same as at such general elections except that no person shall be allowed to vote unless he has resided within the city at least six months prior to such election and within the ward in which he offers to vote, at least ten days prior to such election. Each ward officer shall be a qualified elector in the ward in which he is elected, and each city officer shall be a qualified elector of the city.
Editor's note:
This section was amended by Charter Ordinance 811, passed 1-16-01, and by Charter Ordinance 908, passed 9-19-06, the text of which is set out in full following this Charter.
SECTION 2. The officers to be elected by the people shall be a mayor, a city treasurer and a city assessor, from the city at large, one supervisor to represent the ward on the county board of supervisors of Taylor County, two aldermen at the first election, one for one year and one for two years, one constable and one justice of the peace from each ward. A city clerk, a city marshal, and one street commissioner, and all other necessary officers shall be appointed by the common council at their first meeting after election. All elective officers shall, unless elected to fill a vacancy, hold their respective offices for one year, except aldermen, who shall be elected for two years and until their successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, the common council shall have power, for due cause satisfactory to them, to expel any of their own number, and to remove from office by two-thirds majority of all the members of the council any officer or agent of the city, except the mayor, justices of the peace and supervisors, due notice and an opportunity for a hearing having first been given to the officers so proposed to be removed. The term of every officer elect shall commence on the second Tuesday in April in the year in which such officer is elected, and the term of office of all appointed officers shall be for one year unless sooner removed, as hereinbefore provided.
Editor's note:
This section was amended by the following Charter Ordinances, the text of which are set out in full following this Charter: Am. Ord. — , passed 7-5-50; Am. Ord. 228, passed 9-6-55; Am. Ord. — , passed 12-16-75; Am. Ord. 619, passed 2-20-91; Am. Ord. 677, passed 4-21-93.
SECTION 3. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any office it shall be filled by the common council by appointment in writing, and such appointments shall be filed with the city clerk. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold his office and discharge the duties thereof for the unexpired term with the same rights and subject to the same liabilities as the person whose office he has been appointed to fill.
Editor's note:
This section was amended by Charter Ordinance 821, passed 9-18-01, the text of which is set out in full following this Charter.
SECTION 5. Whenever any officer shall cease to possess the qualifications necessary for his election or appointment, his office shall be deemed vacant, and any officer who shall neglect or refuse to qualify within ten days from the time he shall be notified of his election or appointment, shall be deemed to have vacated his office.
SECTION 6. Whenever an election shall be held under this charter, the inspectors of election shall forthwith make their returns, stating the number of votes cast for each person, for each and every office, to the city clerk. Within four days after an election, the common council shall meet and canvass said returns and declare the result as it shall appear therefrom. The clerk shall thereupon immediately give notice to the persons elected of their election. After the first election under this act the said inspectors shall forthwith make like returns to the town clerk of the Town of Medford, and within four days after such first election, the town board and clerk of said town shall meet and canvass the returns of said election and declare the result as it shall appear from the same, and said town clerk shall immediately thereafter give notice to the persons elected of their election.