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Any state law which is inconsistent with this Charter shall be superseded by this Charter to the extent inconsistent, except where supersession is restricted by law.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ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations heretofore adopted shall continue in force and effect until amended, superseded or repealed.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 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.