The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-03
NEW CITY CHARTER
STATE OF MAINE.

In the year OF our Lord thous Ind eight hundred
and sixty-three
An ACT to confer certain power. ON the CITY Of
Portland.
~ sHsnaefsd BY fl< Ssnafs aud House Of Repyeseuta
fiues IN Legislature assiuasisd, as foilocs
SECTION l. The inhabi ants of Portland shall con-
time TO be body polite and corporate by the name
OF the City of Portland aud such shall have exer
else. and enjoy All the rights. immunities, powers
privileges and franchises. and shall be subject 10 ali
the duties and obligations now appcr aiming To- or
incumbent upon said city, the inhabitants or mn.
nicpai authorities thereof; and may ordain rcasona-
Die Dy laws aud regulations for municipal purposes
aud impose penalties for the breach thereof not OK.
cecding one hundred dollars. TO be recovered for
such uses as the municipal authorities NAV appoint
SECTION 2. The administration OF ali the dscaI.
prudential and municipal affairs + said cty with The
government thereof shall be vested in principal
magistrate 10 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
habiiants of said city, which board shall constitute
aud be called the city council; and shall be sworn or
sirmsd IN the form prescribed BY the constitution
SECTION 8. The mayor Of said city shall be tbc
chief executive officer thereof II shall be his duty 10
oe ygant aud active in causing the of the state
aud ordinances and regulations of the city 10 be or
ecuted aud enforced TO exercise general superyis-
ion the conduct of all subordin.t ate offeers and
TO cause violations or neglect ofdutg on their part 10
be punished. He shall from time to time cotnmnni
cate TO the city counc or either board such nfor-
mation and recommend such measures as the inter-
ests OF the city may require He shall preside at ali
meetings of the mayor and aldermen and in joint
mi Iv
casting vote. lie shall bo compensated far his sar
vices by a salary TO b. fixed BY the city council
payable at stated periods. and shall receive therefor
no other compensation, which salary however shaI
Office. 'eA' Va
SECTION 1. Every law. act ordinance re.o,v. -.
order requiring the of both branches Of tha
city council, excepting rules aud orders of pariia
mentary character. shall be presented to the mayor
ior approval IL not approved by him he shall return
it. with his objections at the next stated session. Of
the city council to that branch in which or rnated
which shall enter the objections large on rs ou,
nal and proceed to reconsider the same II gnn
such reconsideration 1t 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 whchit shall be reeonsdered aud if pass-
ed by two thirds of that branch IL shall have the
same effect as IL signed by the mayor In case Of
vacancy in the once OF mayor when sad law Act oy ~
dnancc, resolve or order be tiuay passed the same
shall be 'alid without approval.
SECTION 8. rhe executive powers OF said CITY gan
orally, and the administration of police aud health
departments, with all the powers of selectmen ex-
mayor and aldermen. All the powers of establishing
watch and ward vested by the laws of the STATE
In the justices OF the peace aud municipal officers or
inhabitants OF towns vested ia the mayor and al
dermen, SO far as relates to said city and they ire
authorized to unite the watch and police deparments
into one department aud establish suitable regua.
tions for the government of tho same. rhe officers
OF police shall be chief TO be styled the city
marshal, so many deputy .marshas the citysouncil
may Dy ordinaisse prescribe, and SO many wafchmen
aud policemen as the mayor and aldermen NAV from
time TO time appoint. All other powers now or here
huer vested IN the inhabitants of said and all
powers granted by this act as well a. All powers rea
ting TO the hre department, shall be vest d in the
may or ana aldermen, and common council OF said
city TO be exercised by vote each board
to have negative upon the other Each boa shall
keep record OF its proceedings and Judge of the
election of its own members; aud in case az yacan
ces, new elections shall be ordered by the ay and
aldermen. " an"
SECTION 9. The compensation of all subordinate
city oihcers whatsoever. shall be fixed BY 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 causa
All other subordinate officers, now elected bv The
NAV or 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
OF two thirds of all the members thereof Except as
otherwise specially provided in this act ali suberdi
nate officers shall be elected annually on the second
Monday of March. or thereafter as may be
aud their term of Office shall be for year ana until
others are qnalihed IN their places. All vacancies
may be filled by the board having authority 10 elect
SECTION I. 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 nor unless the
same shali be nrst granted or appropriated therefor
Dy the city council; aud the city council shall secure
aprompt and just accountability by requiring bonds
with sufhcient penalty and surety or sureties from
all persons intrusted with the receipt custody or dis
bursement of money; they shall have the care and
superintendent of the city buildings and the
hsd IN On oi all city property, with power to
purchase and take in the name of the city real and
personal persona 3 property for municipal purposes to an
in addition to that now held by the CITY, And shall
as often as once year. cause to be published for the
information of the inhabitants, particular aeeount
of receipts and expenditures and schedule of eity
property
SECTION 8. The assessors shall continue to he
elected on the second Monday in March. Atthe first
election thereof under this act three persons shall be
elected assessors, one of whom shall be elected for
one year, one for two years. and for three wears
and AT each subsequent election assessor shall be
elected for three years each of whom shall continue
IN once until some other person shall have been
ed anc qualified in his place. The city council shall
eject an assistant assessor in each ward whose duty
shall be To furnish the with all the
sary information relative TO persons and property
the faithful performance of his duty All taxes shall
be assessed apportioned aud collected in the manner
prescribed by the laws of this state relative TO town
taxes. except herein modified and the city coun-
cl may establish further additional provisions for
the collection thereof and of interest thereon There
snail be elected at the rs election of subordinate Of
ncers, under this act in March, twelve persons for
overseers OF the poor and workhouse. four of whom
snai pe elected for year. four for two years and
,our ior tnree years; and all subsequent annual elec-
uons, shaH De Tor the term of three years
SECTIONS The city council shall have exclusive
hhtnofy TO lay out, widen or otherwise alter or dis
commune any ana all streets or public WAYS in the
cny OF Portland, without petition therefor and as
lar as ext eme low water mark and TO estimate All
damages sustained by the owners of land taken for
tnat purpose; but all locations below high water mark
snail be subject to the provisions of the laws relating
10 the commissioners Of Portland harbor join1