Opinion ID: 2353245
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Compliance with the City Charter

Text: [¶ 20] The City Charter outlines the powers and duties of the City Council: The administration of all the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of the city, except as otherwise provided by this Charter, shall be and are vested in one (1) body called the city council. All members of the council shall be qualified voters of the city, and shall be sworn in the manner hereinafter prescribed. The city council shall exercise its powers in the manner hereinafter provided. Augusta, Me., City Charter, art. II, § 4 (2006). Mason and Johnson contend that this provision was violated because, without an appraisal or a full and accurate legal description of the property, the City Council could not make accurate determinations of the value and extent of the land being sold. [¶ 21] It is unclear how the lack of an appraisal or a legal description offends section 4 of article II, which provides a general grant of authority to the City Council. Here, the City Council acted within the scope of its duties to administer the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the City pursuant to the City Charter when it approved the execution of a conditional contract that included a general description of the property to be sold and a process for potentially adjusting the purchase price or terminating the contract based on a future appraisal.