The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-04
NEW CITY CHARTER.
STATE OF MAINE.

In the year of our Lord thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three.
AN ACT to confer certain powers on the City of
Portland.
Be itsnaefed BY the Senate aud House Of Representa-
tirss IN Lsgisl1fh. dssipsbied, rs foHocS,
SECTION l. The inhabitants Of Portland shall con-
tnue to be body polite aud corporate by the name
of the City of Portland aud such shall have
else. and enjoy all the rights, immunies. powers,
privileges and franchises, and shall be subject to ali
the duties and obligations apper aiming to- or
incumbent upon said city, the inhabitants mu-
nicipal authorities thereof aud may ordan reasona-
bic by laws and regulations tor municipal purposes
and impose penalties for the breach thereof not ex
ceeding one hundred dollars to be recovered for
such uses a. the municipal authorities may appoint
SECTION 2. The administration of all the fiscal,
prudential and municipal affairs said city, with the
government thereof shall be vested ia principal
magistrate TO be styled the mayor and council of
seven to be denomnated the board of aldermen and
board of commoa council, all of whom shall be in-
habitants OF said city; which board shall constitute
and be called the city council; and shall be sworn or
affirmed in the form prescribed By the constitution
OF the state Tor state officers.
SECTION g. The mayor of said city shall be the
chief executive officer thereof 1t shall be his duty to
ee ygant and active in causing the laws of the state
and ordinances aud regulations of the city, to be ex-
ecated aud eniorced. to exercise general supervis-
ion over the conduct of all subordinate officers and
TO cause violations glect OF duty their part to
be punished. lie shall from time to time communi-
cate TO the city counc or either board such nfor-
nation and recommend such measures as the inter-
ests OF the city may require liz shall preside all
meetings of the mayor and aldermen and in joint
meetings OF the two boards, but shall have only
casting vote. lie shall be compensated for his SER
vices by salary TO be fixed by the city council
payable at stated periods and shall receive therefor
no other compensation, which salary. however, shall
not be increased or diminished during his year of
office.
SECTION 4. Every law act, ordinance. resolve or
order, requiring the consent of both branches of the
city council, excepting rules and orders a parlia-
@nsasary @ ehaaeter snali oe presented to the mayor
IL, With his objections at the slated session of
the city council TO that branch in whch it ginaed
which shall enter the objections at large its Jour
nal and proceed TO reconsider the same. Ii upon
such reconsideration il shall be passed bv vote of
two thirds of all the members of that branch II shall
be sent. together with the objection to the other
branch, by which shall be reconsidered and pass
ed by two thirds of that branch. IL shall have the
same effect rs IL signed by the mayor. In case Of
vacancy in the office of mayor when said law act or.
dinance resolve order be finally passed. the same
shall be .alid without approval.
SECTION 8. The executive powers of said city gen.
orally. aud the administration of police and health
departments, with all the powers of seectmen, ex.
cept as modified by this act shall be vested in the
mayor and aldermen. All the powers of establishing
watch and ward vested by the laws of the State
in the justices of the peace and municipal officers or
Inhabitants of towns, vested in the and al
dermen, so far as relates TO said city aud they are
authorized to unite the watch and police departments
into one department and establish suitable regua.
uons for the government of the same. The officers
of police shah be chief to be STYLED the city
marshal many depaty marshals the city council
may by ordinance prescribe, and many watchmen
aud policemen as the mayor and aldermen may from
time to time appoint All other powers or here
amer vested IN the Inhabitants of said city. and all
powers granted by this act well all powers rea-
ting TO the fre department, shalt be vested in the
mayor and aldermen and common council of said
city. to be exercised by vote each board
TO have negative upon the other. Each board shall
keep record of its proceedings, and judge of the
election of its own members; aud in of vacan-
cies new elections shall be ordered by the mayor and
aldermen.
SECTION 6. The compensation of all subordinate
city officers whatsoever. shall be fixed bv the city
council All officers of the police and health depart
ments shall be appointed by the mayor and alder
men, and may be removed by them for good cause
All other subordinate officers, now elected BY the
mayor aad aldermen or the city council shall hereaf
ter be elected by Joint convention of the city council
and such officers may be removed for good cause by
concurrent vote passed in each branch by the assent
oftwo thirds of all the members thereof Except as
otherwise specially provided in this act. all subordi-
nate officers shall be elected annually the second
Monday of March, or as soon thereafter as may be,
and their term of office shall be for until
Others are qualified in their places. All vacancies
may be filled by the board having authority elect
SECTloNI No money shall be paia out of the
city treasury except on order drawn and signed by
the mayor, designating the fund appropriation
from which said orders to be paid unless the
same shall be first granted or appropriated therefor
by the city council: aud the city council shall secure
prompt and just liability, by requiring bonds
with sufficient penalty and surety or sureties from
all persons intrused with the receipt. custody dis
bursement of money; they shall have the and
supernendence of the city buildings aud the custody
and management OF all city property, wit" power TO
let or sell what may be legally let or sold and to
purchase and take in the of the city real and
personal properly Tor municipal purposes TO an
amount not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars
In addition TO that now held by the city. And shall
often year, to be published for the
information of the inhabitants particular account
of receipts and expenditures and schedule of city
property.
SECTION g. The assessors shall continue 10 he
elected on the second Monday in March At the first
election thereof under this act three persons shall be
elected assessors one of whom shall be elected for
one year one Tor two years and one for three
and at each subsequent election shall be
elected for three years each of whom shall continue
in Office until some other person shall have been
ed aud qualified in his place. The city council shall
elect an assistant assessor In each ward whose duty
II shall be 10 furnish the with all the
sary Information relative TO persons and property
taxable IL his ward he shall be sworn affirmed to
the faithful performance of his duty All taxes shall
be assessed apportioned and collected in the manner
prescribed by the laws of this state relative TO town
taxes except as herein modified; and the city coun-
ci may establish further additional provisions for
the collection thereof and of interest thereon There
shall be elected at the first election of subordinate Of
hcers under this act, in March, twelve persons for
oyerseers of the poor and workhouse four of whom
shall be elected for one year, four for years and
four for three years. and all subsequent annual eee
tions, shall be for the term of three years
SEcrIoN9 0. The city council shall have exclusive
authority TO lay out, widen otherwise alter dis
continue any and all streets public ways in the
city of Portland without petition therefor. and as
far as extreme low water mark, and TO estimate all
damages sustained by the owners of land taken for
that purpose but all locations below high mark
shall be subject 10 the provisions of the laws relating
TO the commissioners of PORTLAND harbor A joint
stauding committee of the two boards shall be ap
pointed. whose duty it shall be 10 lay out alter, WI
first giving notice of the time aud place of their pro-
ceeding to all parties interested by advertisement
in two daily papers printed In Portland for week
at least previous to the time appointed. The commit