FILLING VACANCIES IN ELECTIVE OFFICES:

Section 5.6.

   (a)    Any vacancy which occurs in the Council more than ninety days before the next regular City election shall be filled within thirty days by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Council, said appointee to hold office until the Monday following such election. At such election such vacancy shall be filled for any balance of the unexpired original term.

   (b)   Any vacancy which occurs in the Council ninety days or less before the next regular City election shall not be filled until on or after the Monday next following such election and shall be then filled by the Council with like effect as though it had occurred more than ninety days before a regular City election.

   (c)   If any vacancy in the office of Councilman is not filled by the Council as required by subsections (a) and (b) hereof, or if the number of vacancies existing on the Council is such as to reduce the membership below a quorum, the Clerk shall, forthwith, call a special City election for the purpose of filling such vacancy or vacancies for the balance of the term or terms thereof. Such election shall be held not less than forty-five days nor more than sixty days after the date of the call thereof by the Clerk. Each such election shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 4 of this Charter, except that no primary election shall be held in connection therewith and the last day and time for filing nominating petitions in connection therewith shall be at 5:00 P.M on the 30th day before the date of such election. The qualified person or persons receiving the highest number of votes cast at such election shall be deemed to have been elected to fill the vacancy or vacancies, as the case may be, to be filled at such election and, upon canvass of the votes cast at such election, shall be certified as such, subject to the provisions of law. In the event that a special election cannot be held, as herein set forth and required, because of the previous exhaustion of the number of special City elections permitted by law, the Governor of the State of Michigan is hereby authorized to and shall fill such vacancy or vacancies, as the case may be, for a term of office expiring on the Monday following the next regular City election. At such election, each such vacancy shall be filled for any balance of the unexpired original term.

   (d)   Any vacancy which occurs in the office of Municipal Judge shall be filled by the Council within thirty days after the vacancy occurs for a term

expiring on the fourth day of July following the next regular City election. At such election such vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the then unexpired term of the person holding such office at the time the vacancy occurred.

   (e)   The provisions of this section shall not apply to the filling of vacancies resulting from recall.

CHANGE IN TERM OF OFFICE OR COMPENSATION:

Section 5.7.

Except by procedures provided in this Charter, the terms of office of the elective officers and of members of boards and commissions appointed for definite terms shall not be shortened. The terms of elective officers of the City shall not be extended beyond the period for which any such officer was elected, except that an elective officer shall, after his term has expired, continue to hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. The Council shall not grant or authorize extra compensation to any officer or employee after the service has been rendered. The salary of any elective officer shall not be increased or decreased from the time of his election or appointment until the end of his term of office for which he was elected or appointed.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The last sentence of this section was repealed by implication by Act 8 of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended. See Chapter 284 of the Administration Code of these Codified Ordinances.)

OATH OF OFFICE AND BOND:

Section 5.8.

Every officer, elected or appointed, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take the constitutional oath of office and shall file the same with the Clerk, together with any bond required by law or by the Council. In case of failure to comply with the provisions of this section within ten days from the date of his election or appointment, such officer shall be deemed to have declined the office and such office shall thereupon be vacant, unless the Council shall, by resolution, extend the time in which such officer may qualify as above set forth.

SURETY BONDS:

Section 5.9.

   (a) The Council may require any officer or employee to give a bond, to be approved by the City Attorney, in such sum as the Council determines. The bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful and proper performance of the duties of the office or employment concerned. All officers and employees who receive, distribute, or are responsible for City funds or investments shall be bonded. The resignation, removal, or discharge of any officer or employee, or the appointment of another person to the office or employment, shall not exonerate the officer or employee or his sureties from any liability incurred by them.

   (b)   All official bonds shall be corporate surety bonds and the premiums thereof shall be paid by the City. No official bonds shall be issued for a term exceeding three years, except bonds which are required of officers serving terms of office which are longer than three years. No bond shall be renewed upon its expiration but a new bond shall be furnished in each case.

   (c)   The bonds of all officers and employees shall be filed with the Clerk, except that the Clerk's bond, unless he is covered within the scope of a blanket surety bond, shall be filed with the Treasurer.

   (d)   The requirements of this section may be met by the purchase by the City of one or more blanket corporate surety bonds covering all or any group or groups of the officers and employees of the City. Any officer or employee who is covered by a blanket surety bond need not be bonded individually for the purpose of qualifying for office.