The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-11
AMENDED CHARTER.
TO Be VOTED FOR OR AGAINST BY HELENA VOTERS
ELECTION MONDAY. MARCH 2s, 1881.

Y
city Of Helena, approved February %, 1881
and all acts amendatory thereto.
Be it enacted by the Legislative assembl,
OF the state OF Montana:
ARTICLE ~I.-BouNDAR1Es.
Section l. That the inhabitants OF til,
city of Helena,i in Lewis and Clarke county
state of Montana, having been 80 hereto.
fore, be and they are hereby constituted /,
body polite and corporate, by the nam,
and stile of ''The City Of Helena" and BY
that name shall have perpetual succession
may sue and be sued, plead and be impicAd.
ed in all courts of law and equity, and MAJ
have and use a common seal. and alter the
same at pleasure.
Sec. 2. That the following lands shall fol
the present be included within the limits Of
said ~corporated city, to-wit: Sections "a,
Is and 86, in township No. 10 n, RI west;
and sections 49, &c ,29, 30, 81 and 80, in town.
ship No. 10 n. r. west, from the principal
base and meridian, Montana.
Sec. j. Whenever any tract of land ad-
joining the city of Helena shall be laid off
into town lots and duly recorded, as may be
required by law, the same may by the city
council be annexed to and become a part Of
GAo Guy OF Helena.
Sec. 4. The inhabitants of said CITY, by
the name and style aforesaid, shall have
power to purchase, receive and hold prop
erty, real and personal, within said city,
and may sell, lease or dispose of the same
for the benefit of the city, and may pur-
chase. receive and hold property, real and
personal. beyond the limits of the citv, to
be used for the burial of the dead, for the
AraNtInn nj rJnAor v,,Nw1a o.. -
ment of the poor house, pest house, work
mousse, or house of correction, or for a pub
lie park or promenade, or for any other pur-
pose that the mayor n city council may
deem necessary or proper; and may sell.
lease or dispose OF such property for the
benefh. OF the city to the same extent as
natural persons.
ARTICLE u.-CoapoRArE PownRs.
Section l.. The corporate authorities of
the city of Helena shall be vested in a
mayor n city council and a board of pub
lie works and affairs, and in such officers as
may be appointed or elected in pursuance
OF law or any ordinance.
SEC. q. The legislative powers of said
corporation shall be exercised bv a citv
council. The city council shall be com.
posed of fourteen aldermen, who shall be
elected for a term of two years. One-half
OF said number, or seven of said aldermen,
shall be elected at the first general election,
after the adoption of this charter, by the
electors of the city at large, and annually
thereafter seven aldermen shall be elected
by the electors Of the city at large. but not
more b one residing in any one ward
shall be eligible at any one election. II
there Is more than n candidate residing
IN the same ward at any n election, that
one of them receiving the highest number
OF votes of the electors at large shall be de-
olared elected.
Sec. 8. The Office of any alderman re-
moving from his ward shall t%hereupon be-
come vacated. In case of q tie between two
candidates for alderman from the same
ward. who having received a plurality of
the votes cast at the general election, the
tie shall! be determined by lot in such man |
ner as shall be prescribed by ordinance. 7
Nc person shall be eligible to the Office of
mayor or alderman, or any elective or ap- 4
pointlye ONCE OF the city of Helena, who is
not a citizen of the state of Montana and
who has not been a resident of said city for |
at least two years Immediately preceding |
his election or appointment, and should
either cease to be a resident his Office shall |
thereby be vacated.
the qualifications, elections and returns of
its own members, and shall determine all |
contested elections of any city officer, un- |
der this act, in such manner as NAV be |
prescribed by ordinance.
SEQ. 3. A majority of the city council
nAAesAA u 4AO4uln W uO DUSlleS8. 1
but a smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and compel the attendance of
absent members, nnder such penalties as
be prescribed by ordinance.
Sec. =. The city council shall have power
20 determine the rules of its own proceed
ings, punish its members for improper con-
duct, and with the concurrence of two
thirds of the members elected, expel any
member for malfeasance in office.
Sec. Z. No alderman shall be appointed
to any office under the authority of the
CITY: nor for II year after the termination
ing an office under the laws Of the United
States hold any office under this act or tha
ordinances of said city.
Sec. 8. All vacancies occurring in the
oity council shall be filled by a vote of the
the vacant office shall be filed from the
ward IN which the vacancy exists.
Sec; y. The mayor and aldermen, and
all other officers of the city of Helena. be-
fore entering upon the duties of their re-
offices, shall! each take and sub
scribe an oath, or make an affirmation that
he will support the constitution of the
United States, the constitution and laws of
the state OF Montana, and that HI will we'll
and truly perform the duties of his Office
to the best of his skill and ability.
Sec, ID. There shall be twenty-four
stated meetings, and no more, of the CITY
council in each year, at such times and
places as may be prescribed by the city
council; and each councilman shall be emit
tied to receive five dollars for each stated
meeting, If he be present.
ARTICLE LI.-Dur1Es OF THE MAYOR.
Section l. The chief executive officer
shall be a mayor, who shall be elected by
Inc qualified voters of the city, and shall
hold his office for two years, and until his
shall be elected and qualified,
Sec. 2. No person shall be eligible TO the
office OF mayor who shall not have been a
of the city for two years next pre-
ceding his election, or who shall be under
twenty-five wears of age, or who shall not.
the time of his election. be an elector.
Sec. 3. If any mayor, during the term
for which he shall have been elected, re-
move from the city. or DO absent from the
,lty for the space of three months, his Of
Ace shall be declared vacated,
SEQ. 4. When two or more persons shall
have an equal number of votes for mayor.
The judges of the election shall certify the
anne to the city council, who shall proceed
10 determine the same by lot in such man
ner as may be provided by ordinance.
SEQ. B. Whenever an election for MAYOR .
hall be contested the city council shall de-
the same az may be prescribed by
ordinance.
Sec. U: Whenever any vacancy shall hap
zen in the office of mayor, the duties OF said !
moe snail be discharged by the president
ion. f;
Bee. 2. 1t shall be the duty of The mayor 1