The inhabitants of the City of Waltham shall continue to be
a municipal corporation under the name existing at the time of the
adoption of this charter, and as such shall have, exercise and enjoy
all the rights, immunities, powers and privileges, and shall be subject
to all the duties, liabilities and obligations provided for in this
charter, or otherwise pertaining to or incumbent upon said city as
a municipal corporation.
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the City
of Waltham Charter.
The administration of the fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs
of the city, with the government thereof, shall be vested in the executive
branch, to consist of the mayor, and the legislative powers shall
be vested in the legislative branch, to consist of the city council.
Subject only to express limitations in the exercise of any power
or function by a city in the constitution or statutes of the commonwealth,
it is the intent and the purpose of the charter to confer upon the
city all powers it is possible to confer under the constitution and
statutes of the commonwealth, as fully and as completely as though
each such power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
The powers of the city under this charter shall be construed liberally, in favor of the city, and the specific mention of particular powers is not intended to limit in any way the general powers of the city, as stated in section 1-4.
Subject to express requirements of the constitution and statutes
of the commonwealth, the city may exercise any of its powers and perform
any of its functions, and may participate in the financing thereof,
jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the commonwealth
or any civil division or agency thereof or the United States government
or any agency thereof.
The following words as used in this charter shall, unless the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
A vote or order of the city council entitled "ordinance"
and designed for permanent regulation of any matter within the jurisdiction
of the city council as laid down in this charter.
Elected by and from all the voters of the city.
The biennial election of municipal officers for which provision
is made in this matter.
