(a) There is hereby established in and for the City a City Historical Commission whose duties and powers shall be as provided in this chapter.
(b) The Commission shall consist of seven members who shall be electors of the City. They shall be appointed by Council.
Members of the Commission shall serve as such without compensation.
Council shall, within thirty days after the effective date of this chapter (Ordinance 8, passed July 16, 1963), appoint the members of the Commission. Each of the members shall be appointed for a term of three years ending on the first Tuesday in July of the third year after appointment, or until his or her successor takes office, except that in the original instance two of the members shall be appointed for terms expiring on the first Tuesday in July, 1964, two of the members shall be appointed for terms expiring on the first Tuesday in July, 1965, and one member shall be appointed for a term expiring on the first Tuesday in July, 1966.
Any member of the Commission may be removed by Council after a public hearing for any reason set forth in the City Charter or by general law.
Vacancies occurring otherwise than through the expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by Council.
(Ord. 8. Passed 7-16-63; Ord. 2007-12. Passed 8-7-07.)
(a) The Historical Commission shall elect a Chairperson from its membership annually at its first meeting after the first Tuesday in July, such Chairperson being eligible for re-election.
The Commission shall elect a Secretary from its membership annually at its first meeting after the first Tuesday in July, such Secretary being eligible for re-election.
The Commission may create and fill such other offices as it may, by resolution, determine.
(b) The Commission shall hold at least one regular public meeting in each quarter on such date and at such time and place as may be established by resolution of the Commission.
Special meetings may be called by the Secretary on the written request of the Chairperson or any three members of the Commission on at least two days notice to each member of the Commission, but any such meeting at which all members are present, or have waived notice in writing, shall be a regular meeting for all purposes without such notice.
The Commission shall adopt such rules for conduct of its business as it may, by resolution, determine.
The Commission shall keep a written or printed record of its resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations, which record shall be a public record.
All expenditures of the Commission shall be within the amount appropriated for Commission purposes by Council. Council shall provide the funds, equipment and accommodations necessary for the Commission's work.
(Ord. 8. Passed 7-16-63.)
(a) In general, it shall be the duty of the Historical Commission to collect, arrange and preserve historical material, including books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscripts, papers, copies of domestic and foreign archives, paintings, statuary and other objects and materials relating to the history of the Northwest Territory and the City of Wayne; to procure and preserve narratives of the early settlers of such area; to collect material of every description relative to the history, longevity, literature, progress or decay of our Indian tribes; to collect, prepare and display in the museum objects indicative of the life, customs, dress and resources of the early residents of this area; and to publish from time to time source materials and historical studies relative to and illustrative of the history of the area.
(b) The Commission shall have the power, and it is hereby made the duty of all public officials to assist in the performance of this power, to collect from the public offices in the City copies of such records, files, documents, books and papers as are not in current use and are of historical value, in the opinion of the Commission, and the Commission is hereby made the legal custodian of the copies of such records, files, documents, books and papers when collected and transferred to its possession. The Commission shall provide for their classification, arrangement and indexing, so that they may be made available for the use of the public. However, until such time as an historical museum is erected, any Municipal public building, if fireproof and having suitable arrangements for keeping such publications, records, files, documents, etc., so that in the opinion of the Commission they can be safely stored, may be used for the storage of such materials. A list thereof shall be furnished the Commission and shall be kept on record in its office. A copy of the findings of the Commission that such depository is safe shall be made a part of the official records of the Commission.
(c) The Secretary of the Commission and of the museum shall contribute and/or exchange such publications with domestic and foreign states, governments and institutions under such rules and regulations as are established by the Commission.
(d) The Commission shall have the power, with the consent of Council, to accept donations of money, personal property or real state for historical purposes, such donations to vest in the City, subject to the control of the Commission, in accordance with the deed, devise, bequest or grant of such property. Gifts of money shall be deposited in special accounts by the City Treasurer from which disbursements shall be made by resolution of the Commission, subject to the concurrence of Council, only in accordance with the terms of the instruments making such gifts.
(e) The Commission shall make and submit to Council, semiannually, a report of the general activities, operation and condition of the Historical Museum for the preceding six months.
(f) The Commission shall, from time to time, as occasion requires, either in the semiannual report, or at any time deemed necessary by the Commission, advise Council, in writing, on all matters necessary and proper for and pertaining to the proper operation of the Historical Museum and any Historical Museum building which may be erected according to law for handling the historical materials.
(g) The Commission shall present to the City Manager, at least two weeks before the time set by the City Charter (February 15) for the City Manager to submit to Council the complete itemized budget for the ensuing fiscal year, a written budget showing the following:
(1) Estimates of all proposed expenditures for the Historical Commission, showing the expenditures for corresponding items for the last preceding fiscal year; and
(2) The amount necessary to be raised the next fiscal year for the following:
A. Any Historical Museum bond sinking fund; and
B. Any Historical Museum bond interest to be paid.
(Ord. 8. Passed 7-16-63.)
(EDITOR'S NOTE: See Section 202.99 for general Code penalty if no specific penalty is provided.)