SEC. 13 . CREATION, MODIFICATION AND ABOLITION OF DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES.

   The Council by ordinance may create, change, and abolish offices, departments or agencies, other than the offices, departments and agencies established by this Charter. The Council by ordinance may assign additional functions or duties to offices, departments or agencies established by this Charter, but may discontinue or assign to any other office, department or agency any function or duty assigned by this Charter to a particular office, department or agency.

SEC. 14 . CITY CLERK.

   The Council shall appoint a qualified voter of the City, who shall have the title of City Clerk. The Clerk shall give notice of meetings of the Council, shall keep the journal of its proceedings, shall authenticate by his signature and record in full in a book for the purpose all ordinances and resolutions and shall perform such duties as shall be required by this Charter or by ordinance.

SEC. 15 . CITY ATTORNEY.

   The Council shall appoint a City Attorney. He shall be a duly licensed attorney at law, whose further qualifications shall be prescribed by the Council. 

SEC. 16 . MEETINGS OF COUNCIL.

   The term of office of newly elected councilmen shall commence on the first day of July next following their election. The Council shall meet  regularly at such times as may be prescribed by its rules, but not less  frequently than once each month. All meetings of the Council shall be open to  the public.

SEC. 17 . COUNCIL TO BE JUDGE OF QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS.

   The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and for such purposes shall have power to subpoena witnesses and  require the production of records. 

SEC. 18 . RULES OF PROCEDURE; JOURNAL.

   The Council shall determine its own rules and order of business. It  shall keep a journal of its proceedings and the journal shall be open to public inspection.

SEC. 19 . ANNUAL AUDIT.

   In addition to the annual audit conducted by the State Tax Commissioner, the Council may employ qualified public accountants to make an independent  audit of accounts and other evidences of financial transactions of the City government.

SEC. 20 . MERIT SYSTEM.

   The Council by ordinance may provide for a merit system for all or any class of City employees in addition to those classes for which a merit system  is made mandatory by general law.