CHARTER
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Charter of the City of Southgate, Michigan, was approved by Governor G. Mennen Williams on September 5, 1958, and adopted by the electors on September 30, 1958, in accordance with the provisions of the Home Rule City Act; Public Act 279 of 1909; C.L., 1948, Secs. 117.1 et seq.; M.S.A. Secs. 5.2071 et seq. Dates appearing in parentheses following a section heading in the Table of Contents, and following the section in the text, indicate that the section was adopted or amended on the date given.
PREAMBLE
Article 1 Incorporation, Boundaries, Powers
Sec. 1 Definitions.
Sec. 2 Boundaries.
Sec. 3 Corporate seal; general powers.
Sec. 4 Specific powers.
Sec. 5 City records; public inspection.
Sec. 6 Use of City property by employees.
Sec. 7 Official time.
Sec. 8 Computation of time.
Sec. 9 Surrender of employees' records to successor.
Sec. 10 Evidence of publication; affidavit required.
Sec. 11 Uniform system of accounts.
Sec. 12 Headings inserted solely for convenience.
Sec. 13 Township rights and liabilities continued.
Sec. 14 Continuation of Township ordinances and resolutions; exceptions.
Article 2 Elections
Sec. 15 Qualifications of electors.
Sec. 16 Procedures; nonpartisan basis; State law.
Sec. 17 Notice required.
Sec. 18 Primary elections; time; procedure.
Sec. 19 Regular City elections; time; State law.
Sec. 20 Special elections; resolution required; number.
Sec. 21 Wards and precincts.
Sec. 22 Poll hours.
Sec. 23 Nomination of candidates.
Sec. 24 Same; statement of candidacy; form.
Sec. 25 Nominating petitions; duties of City Clerk.
Sec. 26 Ballots.
Sec. 27 Election Commission; composition; compensation; powers and duties.
Sec. 28 Simultaneous City, State or County elections; election officials.
Sec. 29 Election inspectors; appointment; compensation.
Sec. 30 Canvass of votes; determination of; nomination or election.
Sec. 31 Tie votes.
Sec. 32 Informalities in conduct of election.
Sec. 33 Propositions submitted at primary election.
Sec. 34 Recount; petitions.
Sec. 35 Recall of officers.
Sec. 36 State election laws; conflicts.
Article 3 City Council
Sec. 37 City Council; composition; term of office; compensation. (Nov. 7, 1995; Aug. 2, 2016)
Sec. 38 President of the Council; President Pro Tem. (Nov. 3, 1987)
Sec. 39 Regular meetings; time; place.
Sec. 40 Special meetings; notice.
Sec. 41 Transaction of business at special meetings.
Sec. 42 Public participation.
Sec. 43 Quorum required; adjournment.
Sec. 44 Rules of order; journal of proceedings; votes.
Sec. 45 Compelling attendance.
Sec. 46 Designation of official newspaper.
Sec. 47 Publication of Council proceedings.
Sec. 48 Investigations; subpoenas; witnesses.
Sec. 49 Same; public hearings; ordinance authorized; violations; penalty.
Sec. 50 Claims and accounts; Council action required.
Sec. 51 Adoption of seal required.
Sec. 52 Licenses; terms and conditions.
Sec. 53 Liquor, amusement park, dance hall, bowling alley and pool room licenses; Council approval required.
Sec. 54 Group life, hospital, health or accident insurance.
Sec. 55 Designation of depository.
Article 4 Officers and Employees
Sec. 56 Administrative officers enumerated. (Nov. 7, 1995; Aug. 2, 2016)
Sec. 57 Compensation.
Sec. 58 Powers and duties of Mayor.
Sec. 59 Powers and duties of Mayor Pro Tem.
Sec. 60 Powers and duties of City Clerk.
Sec. 61 Powers and duties of City Treasurer.
Sec. 62 Veto power of Mayor.
Sec. 63 Administrative Department; composition.
Sec. 64 Appointment of officers; terms. (Nov. 5, 1974)
Sec. 65 Interference with personnel by Council.
Sec. 66 Classified employees holding elective office; restriction.
Sec. 67 Change of compensation during term prohibited.
Sec. 68 Department heads; commissions or boards; responsibilities.
Sec. 69 Powers and duties of City Attorney.
Sec. 70 Powers and duties of City Assessor.
Sec. 71 Board of Health.
Sec. 72 Public Safety Commission.
Sec. 73 Water Department; Water Board.
Sec. 74 Parks and Recreation Commission; Department of Parks and Recreation.
Sec. 75 Department of Engineering.
Sec. 76 Department of Public Works.
Sec. 77 City Plan Commission; Board of Zoning Appeals. (Nov. 7, 2006)
Sec. 78 Independent boards and commissions.
Sec. 79 Elective officers enumerated. (Nov. 6, 1973; Aug. 2, 2016)
Sec. 80 Qualifications of officers. (Nov. 3, 1987)
Sec. 81 Declaring vacancies in elective offices. (Nov. 3, 1987)
Sec. 82 Declaring vacancies in boards and commissions.
Sec. 83 Filling vacancies in elective offices. (Nov. 3, 1987)
Sec. 84 Filling vacancies in appointive offices.
Sec. 85 Resignation of officers.
Sec. 86 Terms of office of elective officers and board and commission members; compensation.
Sec. 87 Compensation of officers and employees; expenses.
Sec. 88 Oaths of office; bonds.
Sec. 89 Financial interest in contracts.
Sec. 90 Political solicitations by elective officers.
Sec. 91 Elective officers holding additional office.
Sec. 92 Civil service status required.
Sec. 93 Appointment to two or more offices; restriction.
Article 5 General Finance
Sec. 94 Fiscal year. (Nov. 6, 1979)
Sec. 95 Preparation of budget by Mayor; contents.
Sec. 96 Public hearing required prior to adoption of budget.
Sec. 97 Adoption of budget.
Sec. 98 Expenditures; amendment of budget.
Sec. 99 Monthly reports by Mayor; reduction of appropriations.
Sec. 100 Duties of Clerk.
Sec. 101 Disbursement of funds by Treasurer; reports.
Sec. 102 Warrants; audits.
Sec. 103 Collection and deposit of moneys by Treasurer.
Sec. 104 Division of tax revenues.
Sec. 105 Annual audit required.
Sec. 106 Investment of City funds; State law.
Sec. 107 Contracts for public work; work exceeding $5,000; sealed proposals required.
Sec. 108 Contracts or purchases in excess of $1,000; sealed proposals required. (Nov. 4, 1986; Nov. 2, 1999)
Sec. 109 Improvements in excess of $5,000; estimates, profiles, etc. required.
Sec. 110 Approval of contracts by Council.
Article 6 Bonds
Sec. 111 Issuance and limitations of bonds.
Sec. 112 Issuance and limitations of special assessment bonds.
Sec. 113 Payment of special assessment bonds.
Sec. 114 Authority to issue obligations.
Sec. 115 Mortgage bonds for public utilities.
Sec. 116 Approval by electors required; exceptions.
Sec. 117 Signatures required; contents.
Sec. 118 Term bonds; sinking fund required.
Sec. 119 Compliance with State law.
Article 7 Taxation
Sec. 120 Power to tax; limitation.
Sec. 121 Subjects of taxation; levy and collection.
Sec. 122 Exemptions prohibited; exception.
Sec. 123 Tax day.
Sec. 124 Evasion.
Sec. 125 Preparation of assessment roll by City Assessor.
Sec. 126 Board of Review; composition; appointment; term; compensation.
Sec. 127 Board of Review; powers and duties.
Sec. 128 Board of Review; meetings; quorum; testimony under oath.
Sec. 129 Notice of meetings; publication required.
Sec. 130 Certification of assessment roll.
Sec. 131 Validity of assessment roll.
Sec. 132 Certification of appropriations by City Clerk.
Sec. 133 Preparation of City tax roll by City Assessor.
Sec. 134 Certification of City tax roll; delivery to Treasurer for collection. (Apr. 7, 1969)
Sec. 135 Due date; lien.
Sec. 136 Notice of due date.
Sec. 137 Collection fees for late payment. (Apr. 7, 1969)
Sec. 138 Failure to pay; remedies.
Sec. 139 State, County and school taxes.
Sec. 140 Acquisition of property for tax purposes.
Sec. 141 Procedures for collection of delinquent taxes.
Sec. 142 Sale of City property for tax purposes.
Sec. 143 Reports by City Treasurer.
Article 8 Special Assessments
Sec. 144 Authority; computation of cost.
Sec. 145 Procedure for levy of assessments; hearings.
Sec. 146 Preparation of assessment roll.
Sec. 147 Review of roll; hearing prior to confirmation.
Sec. 148 Installment payments. (Nov. 5, 1968)
Sec. 149 Assessments as liens.
Sec. 150 Collection of assessments by City Treasurer.
Sec. 151 Nonpayment; seizure and sale of property.
Sec. 152 Penalties; reassessments.
Sec. 153 Action in assumpsit.
Sec. 154 Subsequent division of land; apportionment of assessment.
Sec. 155 Insufficiency or excess.
Sec. 156 Invalid or irregular assessments.
Sec. 157 Assessments on single premises; collection procedure.
Sec. 158 Additional steps and procedures.
Sec. 159 Exempt land; portions payable by City.
Article 9 Public Utilities
Sec. 160 Powers of City.
Sec. 161 Administration by Mayor.
Sec. 162 Recommendation and establishment of rates; discrimination prohibited.
Sec. 163 Collection of rates and charges.
Sec. 164 Restrictions on disposition of property.
Sec. 165 Determination of rates and charges; records of transactions; annual reports.
Sec. 166 Township franchises continued.
Sec. 167 Franchise ordinances.
Sec. 168 Rights of City.
Sec. 169 Basis for rates and charges.
Sec. 170 Use of public ways.
Sec. 171 Rights of grantee.
Article 10 Ordinances
Sec. 172 Enacting clause; introduction.
Sec. 173 Enactment; amendment; repeal.
Sec. 174 Record and authentication; publication.
Sec. 175 Effective date.
Sec. 176 Penalty.
Sec. 177 Limitation on prosecutions.
Sec. 178 Pleadings; reference by ordinance title and number.
Sec. 179 Judicial notice.
Sec. 180 Township ordinances continued.
Sec. 181 Adoption of State law and technical codes by reference.
Sec. 182 Codification of ordinances.
Article 11 Initiative and Referendum
Sec. 183 Filing of petitions.
Sec. 184 Examination of petitions; action by Council.
Sec. 185 Petitions of protest and referendum.
Sec. 186 Submission of referendum by Council.
Sec. 187 Referendum ordinances; elections.
Sec. 188 Failure to adopt; restrictions on resubmission.
Article 12 Streets, Alleys, Public Ways
Sec. 189 Street defined; authority of Council.
Sec. 190 Vacation.
Sec. 191 Establishment and alteration of grades.
Sec. 192 Sidewalk construction and repair; special assessments.
Sec. 193 Changing street names.
Sec. 194 Trees and shrubs.
Sec. 195 Removal of snow, ice, filth and obstructions from sidewalks.
Article 13 Sewers and Drains
Sec. 196 Acquisition, maintenance, etc.; City authority.
Sec. 197 Connections; rules and regulations.
Sec. 198 Construction of private drains.
Sec. 199 Establishment and collection of charges.
Article 14 Board of Supervisors (Repealed)
Article 15 Municipal Court
Sec. 205 Establishment.
Sec. 206 Election of Municipal Judges; term of office.
Sec. 207 Qualifications of Judges.
Sec. 208 Jurisdiction.
Sec. 209 Adoption of State law.
Sec. 210 Transfer of causes.
Sec. 211 Recovery of fines, penalties and forfeitures.
Sec. 212 Right of appeal.
Sec. 213 Dockets.
Sec. 214 Compensation of Municipal Judges; duties.
Sec. 215 Establishment of fees and costs.
Sec. 216 Disposition of fees and costs.
Sec. 217 Bond required from Judges.
Sec. 218 Court Clerk; Deputy Clerks.
Sec. 219 Jury trials; fee.
Sec. 220 Time and place of sessions; annual report to Council.
Sec. 221 Justice of the Peace defined.
Sec. 222 Pending causes; saving clause.
Sec. 223 Violations Bureau.
Article 16 Civil Service
Sec. 224 Establishment of civil service system.
Sec. 225 Purpose.
Sec. 226 Continuation of State law.
Sec. 227 Establishment of Civil Service Commission; composition; appointments; terms; qualifications.
Sec. 228 Compensation; vacancies.
Sec. 229 Powers and duties of City Clerk.
Sec. 230 Powers and duties of Civil Service Commission.
Sec. 231 Application to Township employees.
Sec. 232 Administration of civil service program; rules and regulations.
Sec. 233 Exempt personnel.
Sec. 234 Position classification plan.
Sec. 235 Recruitment program.
Sec. 236 Residency requirement.
Sec. 237 In-service merit system program.
Sec. 238 Demotions, suspensions, dismissals and layoffs.
Sec. 239 Right of appeal; procedure.
Article 17 Retirement System
Sec. 240 Provisions, applicability.
Sec. 241 Policemen and firemen retirement system.
Sec. 242 Ecorse Township employees; service credit.
Sec. 243 Social security.
Sec. 244 Retirement ordinance required.
Sec. 245 Contents of retirement ordinance. (Aug. 7, 1973)
Article 18 Miscellaneous
Sec. 246 Charter amendments.
Sec. 247 Separability.
Sec. 248 Penalty.