CHARTER

Section

PREAMBLE

CHAPTER I.  CONTINUATION OF EXISTING CORPORATION: BOUNDARIES

   Section 1.1   Continuation of Existing Corporation

   Section 1.2   Alteration of Boundaries

CHAPTER II.  GENERAL MUNICIPAL POWERS

   Section 2.1   General Municipal Powers

   Section 2.2   Additional Powers of the City

   Section 2.3   Exercise of Power

   Section 2.4   Succession to Properties of Present City

   Section 2.5   Liability and Obligations of Present City

CHAPTER III.  PLAN OF GOVERNMENT

   Section 3.1   Council-Manager Government

   Section 3.2   The City Council

   Section 3.3   Establishing City Boards

   Section 3.4   Collection of City Charges

   Section 3.5   Compensation of Councilors and Mayor

   Section 3.6   Responsibilities and Duties of the Mayor

   Section 3.7   Mayor Pro-Tempore

   Section 3.8   City Officers

   Section 3.9   City Manager: Appointment

   Section 3.10   Responsibilities and Duties of the City Manager

   Section 3.11   Acting City Manager

   Section 3.12   Relationship of Council to Administrative Service

   Section 3.13   City Clerk - Treasurer: Appointment

   Section 3.14   City Clerk - Treasurer: Responsibilities and Duties as Clerk

   Section 3.15   City Clerk - Treasurer: Responsibilities and Duties as Treasurer

   Section 3.16   City Attorney: Appointment

   Section 3.17   Responsibilities and Duties of the City Attorney

   Section 3.18   City Assessor: Appointment

   Section 3.19   City Assessor: Responsibilities and Duties

   Section 3.20   Official Performance; Deputies and Subordinates

   Section 3.21   Other Administrative Officers: Appointment

   Section 3.22   Responsibilities and Duties of Other Administrative Officers

CHAPTER IV.  ELECTIONS

   Section 4.1   Qualifications of Electors

   Section 4.2   Election Procedure

   Section 4.3   Terms of Office of Elective Officials

   Section 4.4   At Large Election

   Section 4.5   Election Date

   Section 4.6   Special Elections

   Section 4.7   Notice of Election

   Section 4.8   Voting Hours

   Section 4.9   Election Commission

   Section 4.10   Nominating Petitions

   Section 4.11   Approval of Petitions

   Section 4.12   Withdrawal of Nominating Petitions

   Section 4.13   Form of Ballots

   Section 4.14   Canvass of Votes

   Section 4.15   Recount

   Section 4.16   Recall

CHAPTER V.  GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL OF THE CITY

   Section 5.1   Qualifications of Mayor and Councilors

   Section 5.2   Vacancies in Office

   Section 5.3   Resignation of Elected Officers

   Section 5.4   Filling Vacancies in Elective Offices

   Section 5.5   Change in Term of Office or Compensation

   Section 5.6   Oath of Office and Bonds

   Section 5.7   Surety Bonds

   Section 5.8   Personal Financial Interests.

   Section 5.9   Appointments, Removals, and Promotions

CHAPTER VI.  PROCEDURES OF THE CITY COUNCIL

   Section 6.1   Council Meetings

   Section 6.2   Special Meetings

   Section 6.3   Business at Special Meetings

   Section 6.4   Meetings to be Public

   Section 6.5   Quorum

   Section 6.6   Voting and Publication of Minutes

   Section 6.7   Compulsory Attendance at Meetings

   Section 6.8   Committees

   Section 6.9   Investigations

CHAPTER VII.  CITY LEGISLATION

   Section 7.1   Public Health and Safety

   Section 7.2   Validity of Ordinances

   Section 7.3   Compilations, Codification, and Publication of Charter and Ordinances

   Section 7.4   Form of Ordinances

   Section 7.5   Enactment, Amendment, and Repeal of Ordinances

   Section 7.6   Effective Date of Ordinances

   Section 7.7   Publication of Ordinances

   Section 7.8   Penalties and Bureau of Civil Violations

   Section 7.9   Licenses

   Section 7.10   Streets and Alleys

   Section 7.11   Initiative and Referendum

   Section 7.12   Council Procedure on Petitions

   Section 7.13   Submission to Electors

   Section 7.14   Ordinance Suspended

   Section 7.15   Conflicting Ordinances

   Section 7.16   Continuation of Existing Ordinances

CHAPTER VIII.  GENERAL FINANCE, BUDGET AUDIT, PURCHASING

   Section 8.1   Fiscal Year

   Section 8.2   Budget Procedure

   Section 8.3   Budget Document

   Section 8.4   Budget Hearings

   Section 8.5   Adoption of Budget and Tax Levy

   Section 8.6   Transfer of Appropriations

   Section 8.7   Budget Control

   Section 8.8   Receiving, Depositing, and Investing City Funds

   Section 8.9   Independent Audit and Manager’s Report

   Section 8.10   Purchasing Procedure: Bids, Contracts, Regulations

   Section 8.11   Expenditure of Funds for Dispute Resolution

CHAPTER IX.  TAXATION

   Section 9.1   Power to Provide Funds

   Section 9.2   Subject of Taxation

   Section 9.3   Board of Review

   Section 9.4   Meeting of the Board of Review

   Section 9.5   Notice of Meetings

   Section 9.6   Duties of Board of Review

   Section 9.7   Clerk-Treasurer to Certify Tax Levy

   Section 9.8   City Tax Roll

   Section 9.9   Tax Roll Certified for Collection

   Section 9.10   Taxes Lien on Property

   Section 9.11   Collection Fees and Interest

   Section 9.12   County and School Taxes

   Section 9.13   Failure or Refusal to Pay Taxes

   Section 9.14   Tax Roll to County Treasurer

CHAPTER X.  BORROWING POWER

   Section 10.1   General Borrowing Power

   Section 10.2   Special Assessment Bonds

   Section 10.3   Other Bonds

   Section 10.4   Preparation and Record of Bonds

   Section 10.5   Unissued Bonds

   Section 10.6   Limitation on Indebtedness

CHAPTER XI.  SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

   Section 11.1   Council Resolution

   Section 11.2   Procedure Set by Ordinance

CHAPTER XII.  MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

   Section 12.1   General Powers

   Section 12.2   Rates

   Section 12.3   Utility Charges: Collection

   Section 12.4   Accounts

   Section 12.5   Disposal of Utility Plants and Property

CHAPTER XIII.  CONTRACTS, FRANCHISES, PERMITS 

   Section 13.1   City May Perform Public Works 

   Section 13.2   Plans and Specifications

   Section 13.3   Contracts

   Section 13.4   Limitation on Leasing of City Property

   Section 13.5   Franchises

   Section 13.6   Leases, Licenses and Franchises Remain in Effect

   Section 13.7   Control and Revocation of Franchise

   Section 13.8   Conditions of Public Utility Franchise

   Section 13.9   Regulations of Rates

   Section 13.10   Use of Street by Utility

CHAPTER XIV.  CITY PLANNING BOARD

   Section 14.1   Planning Board Organization

   Section 14.2   Term of Office

   Section 14.3   Organization and Officers

   Section 14.4   Responsibilities and Duties

   Section 14.5   Meetings

   Section 14.6   Removal from Office

CHAPTER XV.  CEMETERY BOARD

   Section 15.1   City Cemetery

   Section 15.2   Cemetery Lands

   Section 15.3   Board of Cemetery Trustees

   Section 15.4   Appropriation for Cemetery

   Section 15.5   Term of Office

   Section 15.6   Removal from Office

   Section 15.7   Organization and Officers

   Section 15.8   Cemetery Management

   Section 15.9   Perpetual Care Funds

   Section 15.10   Cemetery Ordinance Enforcement

   Section 15.11   Cemetery Moneys to be Paid to City Treasurer

   Section 15.12   Financial Self-sustainability

   Section 15.13   Meetings

CHAPTER XVI.  MISCELLANEOUS

   Section 16.1   No Estoppel by Presentation

   Section 16.2   Records to be Public

   Section 16.3   Compliance with the Open Meetings Act

   Section 16.4   Tense

   Section 16.5   Headings

   Section 16.6   Effect of Illegality of Any Part of Charter

   Section 16.7   Weekends and Holidays

CHAPTER XVII.  SCHEDULE

   Section 17.1   Election to Adopt this Charter

   Section 17.2   Form of Ballot

   Section 17.3   Effective Date of this Charter

   Section 17.4   Continuation in Office

   Section 17.5   First Election Under this Charter

   Section 17.6   Statute of Schedule Chapter

   Resolution of Adoption by the Charter Commission of the City of Reading, Michigan