The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-01
NEW ADVERTISE MENTS.
NEW CITY CHARTER.
STATE OF MAINE.


ana siNty-three.
| AN ACT to confer certain powers on the CITY of
| Portland.
BE itenaeed by the Senate and House Of Representa-
| tires in Legislature assisablsd as foIlotcs
SECTION |. The Inhabitants of Portland shall con.
nue TO be body polite and corporate bv the name
ofthe City of Portland, and such shall have exer-
else, and enjoy all the rights. immuntios powers
privileges and franchises and shall be subject 10 MI
| the duties and obligations now apper aiming to- or
incumbent upon said city, the inhabitants or mu-
nlcipal authorities thereof; and ordan asona-
bic by laws and regulations for municipal purposes
and impose penalties for the breach thereof not ex.
ceeding one hundred dollars, to be recovered for
such uses as the municipal authorities may appoint
| SECTION 2 The administration of ali the fiscal
prudential and municipal affairs said city with the
government thereof shall be vested in principal
magistrate to be styled the mayor and one council of
seven to be denominated the board of aldermen and
one council of twenty-one TO be denominated the
board of common 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 for state officers
SECTION 3. The mayor of said city shall be the
chief executive officer thereof II shall be his duty 10
lie vgiant and active in causing the laws of the state
and ordinances and regulations OF the city be ex
ecuted and enforced to exercise general superyis-
ion over the conduct of all subordinate Officers and
TO cause violations neglect duty on their mart 10
be punished He shall from time to time communi.
cafe TO the city council or either board such infor
nation and recommend such measures a. the inter
ests of the city may require He shall preside at all
meetings OF the mayor and aldermen and in Joint
meetings of the two boards, but shall have only
casting vote. He shall be compensated for his SER
vices BY salary TO be fixed by the city conpciI
payable at stated periods and shall receive thereto,
no other compensation, which salary, however shall
not be increased or diminished during his year of
| office.
SECTIONS 4. Every law act ordinance resolve or
order recurring the consent Of both branches OF the
city council, excepting rules and orders of paria-
mentary character. shall be presented to the mavor
for approval not approved by him he shall return
it, with his objections at the stated session of
the city council that branch in which il
which shall enter the objections at large It's Jour
| nal and proceed TO reconsider the same. IL upon
such reconsideration IL shall be passed by vote of
two thirds of all the members of that branch il shall
be sent. together with the objections to the other
branch, by which shall be reconsdered and IL nass
ed by two thirds of that branch II shall have the
same effect as il signed by the mayor In case of
dinance resolve order be finally passed the same
shall be .alid without approval.
SECTION g.. The executive powers of said city gen.
orally. and the administration of police and health
departments, with all the powers of selectmen ex-
cepi as modified by this act, shall be vested in the
mayor and aldermen. All the powers of tabshinp
watch and ward vested by the laws of the state
IN the justices of the peace and municipal officers or
inhabitants Of towns are vested in the mayor and
dermen, so far as relates to said city and they are
authorized TO unite the watch and police departments
into one department and establish suitable regua.
tons for the government of the same The officers
of police shah be GHETTO be STYLED the civ
marshal so many deputy marshas the city council
may by ordinance prescribe and so many wafcbmen
aud policemen as the mayor and aldermen may from
time 20 time appoint All other powers or here
after vested in the inhabitants of said city and an
ting to the fire department, shall be vest in the
mayor and aldermen, and common council Of said
city TO be exercised by concurrent vote each board
TO have negative upon the other Each board sbail
Keep record of its proceedings and Judge of the
eiecuon OF It's own members; and in case of
ee new elections shall be ordered by the may and
aldermen
SECTION The compensation of all subordinate
city officers whatsoever, shah be fixed by the city
council All officers of the police and health deparf-
ments shall be appointed by the mayor and alder
men, and may be removed BY them for good cause
All other subordinate officers. csad lxt
mav or aad aldermen the city council shall hereac
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 on the second
Monday of March. ; soon thereafter a. may he
and their term Of oiee shall be for year until
Others are qualified in their places All vacancies
may be filled by the board having authority TO elect
sEcTIoN7 No money shall be paio out of the
city treasury except on order drawn and signed by
the mayor designating the fund or approximation
from which said orders TO be paid nor unless the
same shall be first granted or appropriated there for
by the city councils and the city council shall secure
prompt and just accountability, by requiring bonds
with sufficient penalty and surety sureies from
all persons intrusted with the receipt custody or dis
bursement of money; they shall have the care and
superintendent ofthe city buildings aud the Gust DIV
lot or sell what nav be e or I'D asg =, 70
purchase and take in the OF the city real and
personal property for municipal purposes to
amount not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars
In addition 10 that now held by the city And shall
as often az once year, cause TO be published for the
Information OF the Inhabitants particular account
OF recepts and expenditures and schedule of city
property.
SECTION g. The assessors shall coufinue 10 be
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, for two years and for three wears
and at each subsequent election assessor shall be
elected for three each of whom shall continue
IN Office until some other person shall have been ect-
ed aud qualified in his place. The city council shall
elect an assistant in each ward duty
II shall be TO furnish the assessors with all the
sary information relative TO persons and property
taxable / his ward, he shall be affirmed 10
the faithful performance of his duty All taxes shall
be assessed apporiioned and collected in the manner
prescribed by the laws of this state relative TO town
taxes except rs herein modified and the city
Gil establish further additional provisions for
the collection thereof and of interest thereon There
shall be elected the frs election of subordinate or
icers, 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 two years and
four for three years aud all subsequent annual cleo
tions, shall be for the term of three years.
SEcrIoS9 The city council shall have exclusive
authority 10 lay out, widen otherwise alter or dis
continue any and all streets or public ways in the
city of Portland. without petition therefor. and
far as ext enc low water mark. and estimate all
damages sustained BY the owners Of land taken for
that purpose; but all locations below high water mark
shall be subject to the provisions of the laws relating
to the commissioners of Portland harbor. A Joint
standing committee of the two boards shall be an.
pointed whose duty shall be 10 Law out alter wi.
den or discontinue any street way In said city.
first giving notice OF the time aud place OF their pro-
ceedings TO all parties interested by
in two daily papers printed In Portland for week
at least previous TO the time appointed The commit
tee shall first hear all parties interested and then
determine and adjudge whether the public couyen-
ienee require such street be laid out altered
discontinued; and shall make a written return Of
their proceedings, signed by majority of them con-
tanning the bounds aud descriptions of the street or
way, il laid out altered and the of the own
ers of the land taken. when known. and the damages
allowed therefor; the return shall be fled in the city
clerks Office at least DAYS previous its accep
lance by the city council. The street or way shall
not be altered established until the report Is ae-
cepted by the city council and the report shall not
be altered amended before its acceptance street
way shall not be discontinued by the city council
except upon the report OF said committee The COM
mittee shall estimate and report the dana susnp-
ed by the owners of the lands adjoining hat portion
OF the street or which Is discontinued; their
report shall be filed with the city clerk seven DAYS at
least before its acceptance. Any person aggrieved
by the decision judgment OF the city council
tablishing, altering disseminating streets may so
FAR as relates to damages, appeal the erom 10 the
next court having Jurisdiction thereof in the county
ofCumberland which court shall determine the same
the parties agree. by a verdict of its jury, and
shall render judgment and issue execution for the
damages recovered with costs to the party prevailing
in the appeal Such appeal shall be made the term
of the Supreme Judicial Court which shall first be
holden in the county of Cumberland more than thirty
days from and amer the Is finally established
altered or discontinued, excluding the day of COM
mencement of the session of said court. The appel
ants shall serve written notice of such appeal upon
the mayor city clerk fourteen DAYS least before
the session of the court and shall at the first term
file complaint setting forth substantially the facts of
the case. On the trial, exceptions NAV be taken to
the ruling of the court in other cases. Co-ten-
ants who are appellants shall join in their appeal or
shall not recover their costs If a street way is
discontinued before the damages are paid or recoy-
cred for the land taken the land owner shall not be