This Charter, together with all subsequent amendments hereto,
provides for the government of the City of Cortland and shall be known
and may be cited as the "Charter of the City of Cortland."
The purpose of this Charter is to provide the legal framework
for the operation of the City of Cortland.
The City of Cortland shall continue to be a municipal corporation
and shall have all the powers and perform all the duties now or hereafter
conferred or imposed upon it by this Charter, the Administrative Code[1] or applicable laws, together with all rights, privileges,
functions and powers necessarily implied or incidental thereto.
Any state law which is inconsistent with this Charter shall
be superseded by this Charter to the extent inconsistent, except where
supersession is restricted by law.
Except to the extent to which they may be inconsistent with
the provisions of this Charter, all existing local laws, ordinances,
resolutions, rules and regulations heretofore adopted shall continue
in force and effect until amended, superseded or repealed.
The boundaries of the City shall continue as now established
or as hereafter established in a manner provided by law. They shall
be described in the Administrative Code.[1]
The Common Council shall approve for use on all occasions requiring
the same a Seal of the City of Cortland.
A.
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
BOARD
CHARTER
CITY
COUNCIL or COMMON COUNCIL
EMPLOYEE
FISCAL YEAR
LAW
LOCAL LAW
OFFICER
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
ORDINANCE
PERSON
QUORUM
RESOLUTION
Terms defined. Whenever used in this Charter, unless otherwise expressly
stated or unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
The term "Administrative Code" shall mean the City's Administrative
Code as prescribed in this Charter.[1]
Except as otherwise provided herein, shall mean a body of
persons appointed or elected in the manner herein provided for the
purpose of administering designated City functions or advising on
matters of continuing City interest, or in assisting in the making
of City governmental policy.
The term "charter" shall mean the Charter of the City of
Cortland.
The term "City" shall mean the City of Cortland.
The term "Council or Common Council" shall mean the elected
legislative body of the City of Cortland.
The term "employee" shall mean any person, except an officer,
employed by the City or an agency thereof, but shall not include an
independent contractor.
The term "fiscal year" shall mean the period beginning with
the first day of January and ending with the last day of December
each year.
The term "law" shall mean a state statute, charter, local
law or ordinance.
The term "local law" shall mean a legislative act of the
Council adopted pursuant to the New York State Municipal Home Rule
Law, but shall not mean or include an ordinance, resolution or other
similar act of the Council or of any other board or body of this City.
The term "officer" shall include the following:
Members of the Council, and the Mayor.
Any person appointed as administrative head of any agency of
the City or as a member of any board or commission.
The first deputy or a bureau director appointed by the administrative
head of any agency of the City.
Any other person in the City government who has authority to
exercise some portion of the sovereign power, either in making, executing
or administering the laws.
The term "ordinance" shall mean a legislative act which is
permanent in nature unless specifically self-limiting, general in
its application, adopted pursuant to this Charter and code and relating
to property or any other subject of City concern not required to be
enacted by local law.
The term "person" shall be held to include and be coextensive
with the words "persons," "company" and "corporation."
The term "quorum" shall mean a majority of the total number.
The term "resolution" shall mean a legislative act other
than a local law or ordinance pursuant to this Charter, which is limited
in its application or of a temporary nature, or both.
B.
Word usage. The masculine gender singular may be construed to mean
the feminine or plural, as appropriate.
