City of Cortland, NY Charter

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City of Cortland, NY

Cortland County

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The Charter
Ch C Charter
Ch C Art I General Provisions
§ C1-1 Short title.
§ C1-2 Purpose.
§ C1-3 Continued status, powers and duties.
§ C1-4 Effect on state law.
§ C1-5 Existing local legislation continued.
§ C1-6 Boundaries.
§ C1-7 Seal.
§ C1-8 Definitions; word usage.
Ch C Art II Officers and Elections
§ C2-1 Elected officials; terms.
§ C2-2 Appointed officials; terms.
§ C2-3 City elections.
§ C2-4 Certificate of appointment.
§ C2-5 Official oath; bonds.
§ C2-6 Resignations.
§ C2-7 Suspension and removal.
§ C2-8 Vacancies; forfeiture of office; filling of vacancies.
§ C2-9 Holding multiple offices prohibited.
§ C2-10 Residency requirements.
Ch C Art III Common Council
§ C3-1 Governing body; membership; presiding officer.
§ C3-2 Qualifications of Councilpersons.
§ C3-3 Terms of Councilpersons.
§ C3-4 Ward boundaries.
§ C3-5 Reapportionment.
§ C3-6 Compensation.
§ C3-7 Meetings.
§ C3-8 Rules and procedures.
§ C3-9 Powers and duties.
§ C3-10 Legislative acts; procedures.
§ C3-11 Mayoral approval or veto.
§ C3-12 Journal of proceedings.
§ C3-13 Official newspaper.
Ch C Art IV Mayor
§ C4-1 Term; qualifications.
§ C4-2 Compensation.
§ C4-3 Powers and duties.
§ C4-4 Acting Mayor.
Ch C Art V City Judge
§ C5-1 Term; qualifications.
§ C5-2 Powers and duties.
§ C5-3 Acting Judge.
Ch C Art VI Department of Administration and Finance
§ C6-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.
§ C6-2 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art VII City Assessor; Code Enforcement
§ C7-1 Appointment of Assessor; qualifications.
§ C7-2 Powers and duties of Assessor.
§ C7-3 Board of Assessment Review.
§ C7-4 Code enforcement.
Ch C Art VIII City Clerk
§ C8-1 Appointment.
§ C8-2 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art IX Department of Law
§ C9-1 Establishment; Corporation Counsel; qualifications.
§ C9-2 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art X Planning Commission
§ C10-1 Establishment; membership; election of Chair.
§ C10-2 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XI Department of Public Works
§ C11-1 Establishment; Superintendent; qualifications.
§ C11-2 Powers and duties of Superintendent.
§ C11-3 Board of Public Works; membership; terms; Chair.
§ C11-4 Powers and duties of Board of Public Works.
Ch C Art XII Police Department
§ C12-1 Establishment; Chief; qualifications.
§ C12-2 Powers and duties of Chief.
§ C12-3 Police Commission; membership; appointment; term; compensation.
§ C12-4 Powers and duties of Police Commission.
§ C12-5 Department qualifications.
Ch C Art XIII Fire Department
§ C13-1 Establishment; Chief; qualifications.
§ C13-2 Powers and duties of Chief.
§ C13-3 Fire Commission; membership; appointment; term.
§ C13-4 Powers and duties of Fire Commission.
Ch C Art XIV Youth Bureau
§ C14-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.
§ C14-2 Powers and duties of Director.
§ C14-3 Youth Bureau Commission; membership; appointment; term; compensation; Chair.
§ C14-4 Powers and duties of Youth Bureau Commission.
Ch C Art XV (Reserved)
§ C15-1 through § C15-4. (Reserved)
Ch C Art XVI Cable Television Commission
§ C16-1 Establishment; membership; appointment; term; Chair.
§ C16-2 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XVII Department of Wastewater Treatment
§ C17-1 Establishment; Superintendent of Wastewater; qualifications.
§ C17-2 Powers and duties of Superintendent of Wastewater.
§ C17-3 Wastewater Treatment Board; membership; appointment; term.
§ C17-4 Ex officio members of Wastewater Treatment Board.
§ C17-5 Powers and duties of Wastewater Treatment Board.
Ch C Art XVIII Department of Code Enforcement
§ C18-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.
§ C18-2 Powers and duties of Director.
Ch C Art XIX (Reserved)
§ C19-1 through § C19-3. (Reserved)
Ch C Art XX Other Municipal Functions
§ C20-1 Landscape Planning and Design Commission.
§ C20-2 Constables.
§ C20-3 Contracts for services.
Ch C Art XXI Financial Procedures
§ C21-1 Fiscal year.
§ C21-2 Preparation of tentative City budget.
§ C21-3 Capital Program Committee; program; projects; budget; procedure.
§ C21-4 Estimates of revenues and proposed expenditures.
§ C21-5 City budget contents and data.
§ C21-6 Submission to Common Council.
§ C21-7 Budget as public record.
§ C21-8 Review by Common Council.
§ C21-9 Public hearing.
§ C21-10 Adoption of City budget.
§ C21-11 Failure to adopt final City budget.
§ C21-12 Certification of budget.
§ C21-13 Assessment roll; tax levy.
§ C21-14 Supplemental and emergency appropriations.
§ C21-15 Reduction of appropriations.
§ C21-16 Transfer of appropriations.
§ C21-17 Budget controls.
§ C21-18 Contingent funds.
§ C21-19 Purchasing.
§ C21-20 Limitation of expenditures.
§ C21-21 Independent audit.
§ C21-22 Local improvements assessments.
§ C21-23 (Reserved)
Ch C Art XXII Municipal Cooperation
§ C22-1 Power to contract.
Ch C Art XXIII Code of Ethics
§ C23-1 General provisions.
§ C23-2 Definitions.
§ C23-3 Standards of conduct.
§ C23-4 Claims against City.
§ C23-5 Ethics Board.
§ C23-6 Distribution of Code of Ethics.
§ C23-7 Penalties for offenses.
Ch C Art XXIV Miscellaneous Provisions
§ C24-1 Limits of liability.
§ C24-2 Designation of deputy officers.
§ C24-3 Power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas.
§ C24-4 Terms to be staggered.
Ch C Art XXV Application of Charter
§ C25-1 Amendments.
§ C25-2 Severability.
§ C25-3 Construal of provisions.
Ch C Art XXVI Transitional Provisions
§ C26-1 Civil service status continued.
§ C26-2 Office of Chamberlain abolished.
§ C26-3 Boards and commissions continued.
§ C26-4 Adoption of Charter; effective date; adoption of Administrative Code.
Ch C Art XXVII Department of Zoning
§ C27-1 Establishment; Zoning Officer.
§ C27-2 Powers and duties.
The Code
Part I: Administrative Legislation
Ch 1 General Provisions
Ch 5 Administration of Government
Ch 7 Administrative Appeals Panel
Ch 10 Boards and Commissions
Ch 11 Vehicles and Traffic
Ch 17 Defense and Indemnification
Ch 18 Best-Value Purchasing
Ch 20 Energize NY Benefit Financing Program
Ch 29 Officers and Employees
Ch 31 Ordinances, Adoption of
Ch 44 Seal, Municipal
Part II: General Legislation
Ch 60 Adult Entertainment Businesses
Ch 63 Advertising Materials
Ch 68 Alcoholic Beverages
Ch 69 Amusement Devices
Ch 74 Animals
Ch 81 (Reserved)
Ch 87 Bicycles
Ch 91 (Reserved)
Ch 95 Bingo
Ch 100 Building Construction and Fire Prevention
Ch 102 Rental Housing
Ch 104 Buildings, Dangerous
Ch 107 Buildings, Vacant
Ch 109 (Reserved)
Ch 113 Curfew
Ch 118 Dumpsters
Ch 122 Electrical Standards
Ch 127 Excavations
Ch 131 Fair Housing
Ch 134 Fees
Ch 135 Housing Code
Ch 136 Firearms
Ch 138 Flood Damage Prevention
Ch 142 Food, Display of
Ch 146 Games of Chance
Ch 150 Graffiti
Ch 164 Junkyards and Scrapyards
Ch 176 Licenses and Licensing
Ch 181 Littering
Ch 193 Noise
Ch 194 Nuisances
Ch 196 Oil and Gas Drilling
Ch 199 Parades, Processions and Assemblies
Ch 202 Parks and Recreation Areas
Ch 208 Peace and Good Order
Ch 213 Peddling and Soliciting
Ch 214 Plumbing
Ch 220 Property Maintenance
Ch 226 Radioactive Materials
Ch 233 Sales, Special
Ch 234 Sidewalk Cafes
Ch 238 Smoking and Tobacco Products
Ch 241 Solid Waste
Ch 245 Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places
Ch 250 Subdivision of Land
Ch 254 Taxation
Ch 258 (Reserved)
Ch 263 (Reserved)
Ch 269 (Reserved)
Ch 273 Trees
Ch 285 Violations
Ch 289 Wastewater Discharge
Ch 291 Water
Ch 293 Watercourses
Ch 300 Zoning
Derivation Table
Ch DT Derivation Table
Disposition List
Ch DL Disposition List

Chapter C Charter

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New Laws

Title	Adopted	Subject	Affects
L.L. No. 10-2021	2021-12-21	Charter Amendment	Ch C

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Cortland 11-2-1976 by referendum.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

Editor's Note: Local Law No. 1-2006, adopted 12-19-2006, amended the Charter to repeal provisions relative to the collection of property taxes and enforcement, except for taxes which were liens prior to 1-1-2007, which shall be collected pursuant to provisions of the City Charter for one year subsequent to 1-1-2007.

Article I General Provisions

§ C1-1 Short title.

§ C1-2 Purpose.

§ C1-3 Continued status, powers and duties.

§ C1-4 Effect on state law.

§ C1-5 Existing local legislation continued.

§ C1-6 Boundaries.

§ C1-8 Definitions; word usage.

Article II Officers and Elections

§ C2-1 Elected officials; terms.

§ C2-2 Appointed officials; terms.

§ C2-3 City elections.

§ C2-4 Certificate of appointment.

§ C2-5 Official oath; bonds.

§ C2-6 Resignations.

§ C2-7 Suspension and removal.

§ C2-8 Vacancies; forfeiture of office; filling of vacancies.

§ C2-9 Holding multiple offices prohibited.

§ C2-10 Residency requirements.

Article III Common Council

§ C3-1 Governing body; membership; presiding officer.

§ C3-2 Qualifications of Councilpersons.

§ C3-3 Terms of Councilpersons.

§ C3-4 Ward boundaries.

§ C3-5 Reapportionment.

§ C3-6 Compensation.

§ C3-7 Meetings.

§ C3-8 Rules and procedures.

§ C3-9 Powers and duties.

§ C3-10 Legislative acts; procedures.

§ C3-11 Mayoral approval or veto.

§ C3-12 Journal of proceedings.

§ C3-13 Official newspaper.

Article IV Mayor

§ C4-1 Term; qualifications.

§ C4-2 Compensation.

§ C4-3 Powers and duties.

§ C4-4 Acting Mayor.

Article V City Judge

§ C5-1 Term; qualifications.

§ C5-2 Powers and duties.

§ C5-3 Acting Judge.

Article VI Department of Administration and Finance

§ C6-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.

§ C6-2 Powers and duties.

Article VII City Assessor; Code Enforcement

§ C7-1 Appointment of Assessor; qualifications.

§ C7-2 Powers and duties of Assessor.

§ C7-3 Board of Assessment Review.

§ C7-4 Code enforcement.

Article VIII City Clerk

§ C8-1 Appointment.

§ C8-2 Powers and duties.

Article IX Department of Law

§ C9-1 Establishment; Corporation Counsel; qualifications.

§ C9-2 Powers and duties.

Article X Planning Commission

§ C10-1 Establishment; membership; election of Chair.

§ C10-2 Powers and duties.

Article XI Department of Public Works

§ C11-1 Establishment; Superintendent; qualifications.

§ C11-2 Powers and duties of Superintendent.

§ C11-3 Board of Public Works; membership; terms; Chair.

§ C11-4 Powers and duties of Board of Public Works.

Article XII Police Department

§ C12-1 Establishment; Chief; qualifications.

§ C12-2 Powers and duties of Chief.

§ C12-3 Police Commission; membership; appointment; term; compensation.

§ C12-4 Powers and duties of Police Commission.

§ C12-5 Department qualifications.

Article XIII Fire Department

§ C13-1 Establishment; Chief; qualifications.

§ C13-2 Powers and duties of Chief.

§ C13-3 Fire Commission; membership; appointment; term.

§ C13-4 Powers and duties of Fire Commission.

Article XIV Youth Bureau

§ C14-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.

§ C14-2 Powers and duties of Director.

§ C14-3 Youth Bureau Commission; membership; appointment; term; compensation; Chair.

§ C14-4 Powers and duties of Youth Bureau Commission.

Article XV (Reserved)

§ C15-1 through § C15-4. (Reserved)

Article XVI Cable Television Commission

§ C16-1 Establishment; membership; appointment; term; Chair.

§ C16-2 Powers and duties.

Article XVII Department of Wastewater Treatment

§ C17-1 Establishment; Superintendent of Wastewater; qualifications.

§ C17-2 Powers and duties of Superintendent of Wastewater.

§ C17-3 Wastewater Treatment Board; membership; appointment; term.

§ C17-4 Ex officio members of Wastewater Treatment Board.

§ C17-5 Powers and duties of Wastewater Treatment Board.

Article XVIII Department of Code Enforcement

§ C18-1 Establishment; Director; qualifications.

§ C18-2 Powers and duties of Director.

Article XIX (Reserved)

§ C19-1 through § C19-3. (Reserved)

Article XX Other Municipal Functions

§ C20-1 Landscape Planning and Design Commission.

§ C20-2 Constables.

§ C20-3 Contracts for services.

Article XXI Financial Procedures

§ C21-1 Fiscal year.

§ C21-2 Preparation of tentative City budget.

§ C21-3 Capital Program Committee; program; projects; budget; procedure.

§ C21-4 Estimates of revenues and proposed expenditures.

§ C21-5 City budget contents and data.

§ C21-6 Submission to Common Council.

§ C21-7 Budget as public record.

§ C21-8 Review by Common Council.

§ C21-9 Public hearing.

§ C21-10 Adoption of City budget.

§ C21-11 Failure to adopt final City budget.

§ C21-12 Certification of budget.

§ C21-13 Assessment roll; tax levy.

§ C21-14 Supplemental and emergency appropriations.

§ C21-15 Reduction of appropriations.

§ C21-16 Transfer of appropriations.

§ C21-17 Budget controls.

§ C21-18 Contingent funds.

§ C21-19 Purchasing.

§ C21-20 Limitation of expenditures.

§ C21-21 Independent audit.

§ C21-22 Local improvements assessments.

§ C21-23 (Reserved)

Article XXII Municipal Cooperation

§ C22-1 Power to contract.

Article XXIII Code of Ethics

§ C23-1 General provisions.

§ C23-2 Definitions.

§ C23-3 Standards of conduct.

§ C23-4 Claims against City.

§ C23-5 Ethics Board.

§ C23-6 Distribution of Code of Ethics.

§ C23-7 Penalties for offenses.

Article XXIV Miscellaneous Provisions

§ C24-1 Limits of liability.

§ C24-2 Designation of deputy officers.

§ C24-3 Power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas.

§ C24-4 Terms to be staggered.

Article XXV Application of Charter

§ C25-1 Amendments.

§ C25-2 Severability.

§ C25-3 Construal of provisions.

Article XXVI Transitional Provisions

§ C26-1 Civil service status continued.

§ C26-2 Office of Chamberlain abolished.

§ C26-3 Boards and commissions continued.

§ C26-4 Adoption of Charter; effective date; adoption of Administrative Code.

Article XXVII Department of Zoning

§ C27-1 Establishment; Zoning Officer.

§ C27-2 Powers and duties.