The Township shall continue to own, possess, and control all
rights and property, of every kind and nature, owned, possessed or
controlled by it when this Charter takes effect, and shall be subject
to all its debts, obligations, liabilities, and duties.
All contracts entered into by the Township, or for its benefit,
prior to the taking effect of this Charter, shall continue in full
force and effect. Public improvements for which legislative steps
have been taken under laws existing at the time this Charter takes
effect may be carried to completion as nearly as practicable in accordance
with the provisions of such existing laws. All taxes and assessments
levied or assessed, all fines and penalties imposed, and all other
obligations owing to the Township which are uncollected at the time
this Charter becomes effective, shall continue in full force and effect
and shall be collected as if no change had been made.
No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, pending at the time
this Charter shall take effect, brought by or against the Township
or any office, department, agency or officer thereof, shall be affected
or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything herein contained.
All ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations, or portions
thereof, in force when this Charter takes effect and not in conflict
herewith, are hereby continued in force and effect until amended,
repealed, superseded, or expired by their own terms. All ordinances
and resolutions 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.
The Board may adopt, within 60 days after the date upon which this Charter takes effect, temporary ordinances to deal with cases in which there is an urgent need for prompt action in connection with the transition of government. Every temporary ordinance shall be plainly labeled as such but shall be introduced in the form and manner prescribed for ordinances generally. All temporary ordinances and subsequent amendments made following adoption shall be automatically repealed as of the ninety-first day following the date of adoption. It shall not be re-adopted, renewed or otherwise continued unless adopted in the manner prescribed in Article II of this Charter for ordinances of the type concerned.
The supervisors in office at the time this Charter becomes effective
shall remain in office for the full terms for which they were originally
elected. However, they shall have the responsibilities, duties, and
compensation, and authority only as set forth in and pursuance of
this Charter. All other elected officials of the Township in office
at the time this Charter becomes effective shall remain in office
for the full term for which they were elected and they shall continue
to perform the duties and receive the same compensation which they
received prior to the adoption of this Charter. However, should any
of such other offices become vacant for any reason, the vacancies
shall not be filled, but the duties of the offices shall instead pass
to the persons designated in this Charter.
1.
Transfer of Powers. If a Township department, office or agency is
abolished by this Charter, the powers and duties given it by law shall
be transferred to the Township department, office or agency designated
in this Charter or, if the Charter makes no provision, designated
by the Board.
2.
Property and Records. All property, records and equipment of any
department, office or agency existing when this Charter is adopted
shall be transferred to the department, office or agency assuming
its powers and duties. In the event that the powers or duties are
to be discontinued or divided between units or in the event that any
conflict arises regarding a transfer, such property, records or equipment
shall be transferred to one or more departments, offices or agencies
designated by the Board in accordance with this Charter.
An employee holding a Township position at the time this Charter
takes effect who was serving in that same or a 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 established pursuant
to this Charter.
At the time of its adoption, this Charter shall be in effect
to the extent necessary in order that the first election of members
of the Board may be conducted in accordance with the provisions of
this Charter. The first election shall be held at the first municipal
election following the adoption of this Charter.
A.
Supervisor. The office of the Supervisor which was filled in the
1973 election shall be declared a ward supervisor office. The supervisor
filling this position at the time the Charter takes effect shall be
considered a ward supervisor. The ward shall be that district in which
the supervisor resides. Two ward supervisors, one from each of the
other two wards will be elected in the 1975 municipal election to
four terms. One supervisor will be elected in the 1975 municipal election
for a special 2 year term to complete the five person Board. The incumbent
supervisors elected in 1971 will remain in office until the expiration
of this term in 1977. Two supervisors shall be elected at large in
the 1977 municipal election for a term of 4 years. Three supervisors,
one from each ward, shall be elected in the 1979 municipal election
for a term of 4 years. This will end the transition period. The normal
manner of election shall continue in that three supervisors shall
be elected, one from each ward at one municipal election followed
by two supervisors at large in the following municipal election all
for 4 year terms.
B.
Auditor. One auditor shall be elected from the first ward in the
1975 municipal election for a 4 year term. In the 1977 municipal election
one auditor shall be elected from the second ward and two auditors
shall be elected in the 1979 municipal election from the first and
third wards, all for 4 year terms. The incumbent auditors shall remain
in office for the duration of their term. This will complete the transition
cycle. A normal schedule of alternately electing one auditor from
the second ward and two auditors from the first and third wards for
4 year terms shall continue.
C.
Assessor. The assessor shall be elected for a 4 year term in the
municipal election of 1977. This will complete the transition cycle.
A normal schedule of electing the assessor every 4 years thereafter
shall be continued.
D.
Tax Review Board - Citizen Representatives. In 1975 the Board shall
appoint three citizens, one from the first ward for a term of 1 year,
and one from the second ward for a period of three years and/or from
the third ward for a period of 5 years. In 1976 the Board shall appoint
a citizen representative from the first ward for a 4 year term, in
1978 from the second ward for a 4 year term and in 1980 from the third
ward for a 4 year term. This will complete the transition cycle. A
normal schedule of appointing a citizen from each of the three wards
at 2 year intervals for a term of 4 years shall be continued.
