Evening journal., 1912-12-11

ana generally 10 nave, tOr the purpose
Of securing to said corporation the
greatest amount of local self-govern-
ment, power to do all things whatso-
ever necessary TO a complete and
efficient management of municipal
property and for the proper admins
tration OF the municipal government
and for or concerning the interest
and welfare Of the inhabitants thereof,
whether such powers be expressly
enumerated herein or not not incon-
sistent with the Constitution or laws
of this State,
ORGANIZATION
p At the first election held in such
city next after the adoption OF the
provisions of this act as herein pro-
vided, there shall be elected in such
city. by the duly authorized voters
therein, the number Of persons as
hereinafter provided to be commits
sioners OF such city. each of whom
shall have been a citizen and resident
of such city for at least two years inn
mediately preceding his election as
such commissioner. who shall serve
as such commissioners until the
first day of July in the second
year following such election and
until their successors shall have
been elected and duly quali-
fed; and biennially thereafter, at
the regular municipal election in sucn
city there shall be elected the num-
Der of persons as herinafter provided
as commissioners with like Qualifica-
tions TO serve for the term OF two
years, or until their successors have
been elected and duly qualified. Should
any vacancy occur among such com
missioners, the remaining commits
sioners shall, within thirty days
thereafter, elect a properly qualified
person TO fill such vacancy TO serve for
the unexpired term. The term of office
of such commissioners first elected
under the provisions OF this act, shall
commence on the first day of July fol-
lowing such election. and the term of
Office OF all succeeding commissioners
shall commence on the first day Of
July next, ensuing after their election,
and, upon the organizing of the COM
missioners in such city, elected under
this act, the City Council or other
governing body or bodies heretofore
acting as governing body or bodies in
such city, or having any other func-
tion, shall be ipso facto abolished, and
the terms Of all councilmen, and all
other officers, whether elective or ap-
pointive, shall Immediately cease and
determine, provided none of the pro-
visions Of this Act shall in any way af-
feet or apply to the status or iurisdic-
tion Of the Municipal Court of the City
of Wilmington.
DUTIES OF BOARD.
3. Every city having by the last pre-
ceding state or national census. iive
thousand population or more, shall be
governed by a board of commissions
ers, consisting of FIVE commissioners,
and every city having by the last
census less than 5000 population shall
be governed by a board Of commits
sioners consisting OF three commits
sioners. chosen as provided In this
act, each OF whom shall have the right
to vote on all questions coming before
the board of commissioners; provided
however, that the number of commits
sioners I'm any city may be increased
from three 20 Ave- or decreased from
five TO three by an ordinance adopted
by the board Of commissioners, in ac'
cordance with all the provisions o
this act A majority of the members
of the board of commissioners shall
constitute quorum and the
Affirmative vote of a majority of all
the members shall be necessary 70
adopt any motion, resolution or or
dinance. or pass any measure unless
otherwise provided for in this act
Every resolution or ordinance shall
be reduced to writing and read be
fore the vote is taken thereon, and
the vote upon every such motion, re
solution or ordinance shall be by yea
and nays and shall be recorded. Al
the first meeting after their election
the said commissioners shall choose
one of their number TO preside at al
meetings of the board of commits
sioners and he shall be designated
Mayor" but he shall have no power
to veto any measure. Every resolu
ton or ordinance passed by the boarI
of commissioners must be in writing
and signed by a majority of all th'
commissioners,
POWERS OF BOARD.
4. The board Of commissioner
shall have and possess all municipal
, administrative. judicial and legisla
tive powers and duties now had ant
possessed and exercised by the Mayo
, and City Council and all other eXecu
. tive or legislative bodies in said city
, together with all municipal Legislative
! judicial and executive powers appeI
! tanning to city government and at
! fairs not in conflict with the laws o
q constitution of the State. and hav
! complete control over the affairs O
. the city. The said board shall hav
. power TO amend this charter In an
= way not conflicting with the Constl
: tuition and laws Of the State. but sue
amendments must be obtained by tn
referendum process at the time of
regular election. The executive, ad
ministrative and legislative powers
authority and duties in such cit
shall be distributed into and anon
9 five departments. except that In an
: city having but three commissioner
y three departments shall be designai
y ed and provided by the consolidate
y of the first and third departments an
, the fourth and fifth departments a
i follows:
= I. Department of Public Affairs.
>. Department of Revenue and f
n nance
e g. Department of Public Safety.
s. 4. Department of Streets and Pul
e lie improvements
n 8. Department of Parks and Pul
lie Property
'f The board Of commissioners sha
d determine the powers and duties to
N performed by each department an
l. assign such powers and duties to u
" apnrOpriate departments and the