The municipality shall continue to own, possess, exercise and/or
control all rights and property of every kind and nature owned, possessed,
exercised and/or controlled by it when this Charter takes effect,
and shall be subject to all debts, obligations, liabilities, rights
and duties.
The elected municipal officers holding office at the time this
Charter becomes effective shall remain in office for the full terms
for which they were elected. However, after the first Monday in January
1978, they shall have the powers and duties only as set forth in and
in pursuance of this Charter. Should the office of any incumbent elected
municipal officer whose term expires January 1, 1980, become vacant
for any reason prior to January 1980, that office shall be abolished.
A.
A municipal administrative officer or employee holding any office
or position at the time this Charter takes full effect shall continue
in that office or position until the taking effect of some specific
provision under this Charter directing that the office or position
be abolished.
B.
An employee holding a municipal position at the time this Charter
takes full effect, who was serving in that same or comparable position
at the time of its adoption, shall not be subject to competitive tests
as a condition of continuance in the same position, but in all other
respects shall be subject to the personnel system provided for in
§ C-19E of this Charter.
Nothing in this Charter shall affect or impair any right or
privilege possessed by or vested in any person who shall be a municipal
employee at the time of adoption of this Charter, and the adoption
of this Charter shall in no way diminish or remove any such rights
and privileges.
Members of authorities, boards and commissions in office at
the time when this Charter takes effect shall remain in office for
as long as their respective terms of appointment shall continue, unless
and until an authority, board or commission shall be abolished, combined
with another agency, or reconstituted, in which case, the members
thereof shall vacate their respective offices upon notice from Council
to do so.
A.
All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations of the municipality
of legislative nature, or portions thereof, in force when this Charter
takes effect, and not in conflict herewith, shall remain and continue
in force until they either expire by their own terms or are amended
or specifically repealed, either in whole or in part, pursuant to
this Charter.
B.
Council shall have the power to amend, repeal or replace such enactments
pursuant to this Charter or, when they deal with a matter outside
the purview of this Charter, pursuant to the applicable enabling legislation.
C.
All ordinances and resolutions or amendments thereof in continued
effect as of the effective date of this Charter shall be construed
as if enacted under this Charter, but as of the date of their original
enactment or amendment, as the case may be.
A.
First election. At the time of its adoption, this Charter shall be
in effect to the extent necessary in order that the first election
of Mayor and members of the municipal Council may be conducted in
accordance with the provisions of this Charter. The first election
shall be the primary of 1977.
B.
Transition committee. Council shall appoint a Transition Committee
to prepare the necessary ordinances to enable the new Council to effect
the Home Rule Charter within four months from the date of the organization
meeting in January 1978. The ordinances shall include, but not be
limited to, the Administrative Code, Personnel Code, Purchasing Code,
Procedures for Contracts, and Procedural Rules of the Council.
C.
Initial salary of elected officers. During the transition period
January 1976 to January 1980, when the number of Council members shall
be greater than the number specified in this Charter, the salary of
the Council shall be prorated among the full Council equally, from
an amount equal to the total annual salary cost of Council after January
1980. The Mayor shall receive the initial specified salary of $150
per month.
