The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-09-18
Sketch Of Proposed City Charter.

i.
G S1n p@I1. ~ entitled NAME. POWERS.
common 10 all city charters in the state, Civ
in general terms its vested powers. The
I1S aries les OF the city are identical with
those Of the present village. The city is di-
Vided INTO Tour wards, as follows:
Il First Ward; All of section and that ma ri of
section lying north of the center line Of
h e street and East of the center line Of
5Beltraml avenue. =
Second Ward: All that part Of section 9 "
ing north Of the center line,of Fourth Street
ana west or the center line Of Beltrami ave-
half Of 49, : = any noroh
Fourth h, Ward Y Section 1, 2 10, II. 12 the
north nalf OF 10 and 16 and that part Of SEQ
ton lying south Of the centerl line of Fourth
Street. Z y :. : - VI W
Gha HR b. sntitled ELECTIONS AND
officers: defines the terms of all officers. nI.c.
vides for elections - general and snecia1.
makes provision for filing vacancies in case
OF removals la1is abandonment or resignation:
names quallfc ationns: provides penalties for
malfeasance. etc. The 'eective'' officers = re
mayor. clerk. treasurer. assessors and until
a. m 1 court is established. two Justices
OF the peace; two aide rmeE from each ward
ana one alderman at large. The term Of
once OF mayor. clerk. treasurer. and assessor
Is Is one f6 sea AL afSer TIE first term which
hrst election under the charter one alderman
IN each ward will be elected for a term expir-
ing on the first Monday in March, 1907. and
piring on the first Monday in March. le0S-tIa
member receiving the highest number Of
votes holds the longer term. Thereafter the
term or alderman Will be two yearS-fOur new
members being chosen each year. The alder
man at large is at the first election, elected
f9r term 1no1 expiring I9lg on the first Monday in
March, 1907, thereafter he is elected for a
term of two years. The first election under
the charter takes place on Nov Eth. 1905. No
further election will then take pl ace until the
Tuesday. is general election day. and ali
terms of office begin on the first Monday in
March OF the appropriate year. The general
election laws Of the state are made applic-
able to elections under the charter.
All officers, other than those above enum-
Grated. are termed appointive'. officers
they are appointed by the council, in the
first INSTANCE for terms expiring on first
Monday in March, 1907. and thereafter for
terms OF one year. They are appointed at
the first Monday in March of each year
The terms of Office of members Of the yari-
Gus boards are three years.
Chapter III. entitled "OFFICERs.POW-
Frs AND DUTIES, defines the powers and
duties of all city officers, elective and an
pointiye. with the exception OF the council.
The appointive officers are street commission
er. city attorney and city engineer. The
charter adopts the language employed in city
charters generally throughout the state in
defining the duties and powers of these Off
ers. The only departure m ade from the ordi-
nary language used in such instruments,
generally. is in defining the duties of the
mayor. The mayor is clothed with all the
powers OF chief magistrate in other cities He
is required to sign all ordin ances and resolu-
lions passed by the council before they are
effective as such. and is vested with the veto
power but he is not a member of the council
and is net required to attend council meet
ingS-the alderman a large being the presid-
ing officer of the council.
The alderman at large succeeds to the
ONCE or mayor when the latter from any
cause is unable to act. and fills out the uneX-
PRED term OF the mayor in case Of a vacancy
in that office. The matter of appointment of
city engineer is optional with the council
".
Chapter w, entitled, THE COUNCIL',
defines the duties of that body The powers
of the council are similar in scope to the
powers OF other city councils. 1t is composed
of the nine alderman. and a majority Of all
the members constitutes a quorum. The
The first meeting takes place on the 18th day
of November, 1905. The first annual meeting
takes place on the first Monday in March in
each year. at which time the council elects a
president pro tempore. whose duty it is to
preside in case the alderman at large is for
any reason unable to act. The council also,
the ensuing year. After their first meeting,
the council is required to hold stated meet
ings, and the mayor may call special meet
ings.
The council is authorized to expend during
the fiscal year from the general fund for con-
tingent expenses not to exceed $500, and no
part Of this sum can be expended except upon
resolutions adopted by at least q vote of all
the MEMBERS 1t is also required to appro-
pirate further sum. not less than 500 nor
more than $500, as a contingent fund for the
use Of the mayor. At the first meeting in
March OF each year, the council is required
to call for bids for the public printing, which
is required to be let to the lowest bidder
V.
Chapter "V''. is emitted, DEPARTMENTS
AND BOARDS. and deals with the subject
implied from the title. The first sub-heading
is the Police Department. The mayor has