This law shall be known as the Charter of the City of Glens Falls.
1.4.1 The City of Glens Falls, as incorporated by the previous charter, shall continue to be a municipal corporation in perpetuity, or as hereinafter established in the manner provided by law, under the name of the "City of Glens Falls."
1.4.2 The city shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities by the constitution and general laws of the State of New York, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The city may acquire property within or without its corporate limits for any city purpose, in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage and control such property as its interests may require, and, except as prohibited by the constitution of this state or restricted by this charter, the city shall and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. The enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall not be deemed to be exclusive, but, in addition to the powers enumerated therein or implied thereby, or appropriate to the exercise thereof, it is intended that the City of Glens Falls shall have and may exercise all powers which, under the constitution or laws of the State of New York, it would be competent for this charter specifically to enumerate. All powers of the city, whether expressed or implied, shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this charter, or if the manner be not prescribed herein, then in such manner as may be prescribed by the general laws of the state, or by local law or by ordinance of the Common Council.
1.4.3 Subject to the provisions of the charter, all property, real and personal, the rights, powers, privileges and contracts, at the time of the adoption of this charter, possessed, owned, occupied, exercised or enjoyed by, as well as all the duties, contracts, obligations and liabilities imposed upon the City of Glens Falls, as constituted under its preceding charter, are continued to be vested in and imposed upon the said city, and all the local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of said city and its Common Council, in force at the time of the adoption of this charter, shall be and remain valid and effectual as the local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city and its Common Council, until repealed, modified or changed. Said Common Council is hereby authorized and empowered in the name of and in behalf of said city to enforce all such contracts, local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, including collection of debts, demands and collection of fines and penalties, prosecution and defense of all suits; and to do, take and perform all other acts and proceedings that may become necessary and proper to carry out and enforce such contracts, local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; and all rights and liabilities of said city, existing at the time of the adoption of this charter shall be in no wise affected or changed by its adoption. All actions and proceedings pending, for or against said city at the time that this charter takes effect, may be continued for or against it in the name of said city, or at the option of the parties thereto.
All that tract of land, including the former Village of Glens Falls and the present City of Glens Falls, within the following boundaries is hereby constituted a city which shall be known and designated as the "City of Glens Falls" to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of a farm of land heretofore and in or about the year 1874 owned by Michael Singleton, at a stone set in the ground and running from thence south 87° and 30 minutes, east 143 chains and 52 links to a stone set in the ground, thence south 3°, west 32 chains and nine links to a stone set in the ground: thence south 87°, east 32 chains and five links to a stone set in the ground: thence south 3°, west 91 chains and 14 links to the southerly line of Warren County in the Hudson River, and thence up said river as it winds and turns along the southerly line of Warren County, to a point which is south 2° and 30 minutes west from the place of beginning, thence north 2° and 30 minutes east about 179 chains and 50 links to the place of beginning.
1.6.1 Annexed Territory.
The boundaries of the city, as defined within Section 1.6, shall also include the following territory, formerly located within the Town of Queensbury: Beginning at a point being the intersection formed by the southerly line of Sherman Avenue with the municipal boundary between the Town of Queensbury the west and the City of Glens Falls on the east; thence in a westerly direction and along the said southerly line of Sherman Avenue, the following 6 courses and distances: 1) North 73°49' West, 172 feet more or less to a point; 2) North 72°55'00" West, 363.54 feet to a point; 3) North 71°52'00" West, 323.66 feet to a point; 4) North 69°52'40" West, 457.58 feet to a point: 5) North 69°00'50" West, 171.49 feet to a point and 6) North 72°27'50" West, 86.04 feet to a point located at the intersection formed by the southerly line of Sherman Avenue and the westerly line of Veterans Road; thence in a southerly direction and along the aforesaid westerly line of Veterans Road, the following five courses and distances: 1) South 12°37'18" West, 431.05 feet to a point; 2) South 08°34'19" West, 490.61 feet to a point; 3) South 07°42'13" West, 419.85 feet to a point; 4) South 08°47'00" West, 75.00 feet to a point and 5) South 08°11'30" West, 723.47 feet to a point located at the intersection formed by said westerly line of Veterans Road with the northerly line of Luzerne Road; thence in a westerly direction and along said north line of Luzerne Road, North 78°52'40" West, 636.73 feet to a point; thence in a northerly direction and along the Lands of New York State (DEC, Book 683 of Deeds, Page 1095), and continuing through the Lands of the City of Glens Falls, (Book 1331 of Deeds, Page 10), North 08°47'00" East, 772.45 feet to a point; thence in a westerly direction and along the north line of said lands of the City of Glens Falls, North 81°13'00" West, 500.00 feet to a point; thence in a northerly direction the following two courses and distances to a point: 1) North 08°47'00" East, 12.50 feet to a point and 2) North 14°27'17" East, 649.85 feet to a point; thence continuing in a northerly direction and along the Lands now or formerly of Travers (Book 778 of Deeds, Page 139), North 08°59'47" East, 863.15 feet to a point located in the aforesaid southerly line of Sherman Avenue; thence in an easterly direction and along said southerly line of Sherman Road, the following four courses and distances: 1) South 80°46'39" East, 94.52 feet to a point; 2) South 78°43'29" East, 245.37 feet to a point; 3) South 67°55'50" East, 513.24 feet to a point and 4) South 68°56'25" East, 146.92 feet to a point; thence in a northerly direction and crossing Sherman Avenue, North 21°21'40" East, 53.65 feet to a point located in the northerly line of Sherman Avenue; thence in an easterly direction and along the aforesaid northerly line of Sherman Avenue the following six courses and distances: 1) South 69°26'20" East, 121.29 feet to a point; 2) South 69°00'50" East, 235.36 feet to a point; 3) South 69°52'40" East, 456.35 feet to a point; 4) South 71°52'00" East, 322.34 feet to a point; 5) South 72°55'00" East, 362.70 and 6) South 73°49' East, 165 feet more or less to a point being the intersection of the northerly line of Sherman Avenue with the municipal boundary between the Town of Queensbury on the west and the City of Glens Falls on the east; thence in a southerly direction and along said municipal boundary line and crossing said Sherman Avenue. South 08°53' West, 49.90 feet to the place of beginning. [Added 10-23-2003 by L.L. No. 6-2003]
[Amended 10-23-2003 by L.L. No. 6-2003; 7-26-2022 by L.L. No. 5-2022[1]
The city is hereby divided into five wards as follows:
1.8.1 First ward. The first ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning on the east line of the city, where the same strikes the southerly line of Warren County; thence westerly up and along the southerly line of Warren County to the center of Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Ridge Street to Dix Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Dix Avenue to the city line; thence easterly along the center of Dix Avenue to the easterly line of the city; thence southerly along the east line to the river, the place of the beginning.
1.8.2 Second Ward. The second ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Ridge Street and Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Glen and Bay Streets; thence northerly along the center line of Bay Street to Sanford Street; thence easterly along the center of Sanford Street to Stoddard Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Stoddard Avenue to the intersection of Mason Street; thence easterly along the center of Mason Street to the intersection of Cameron Avenue; thence southerly along the center of Cameron Avenue to the intersection of Sanford Street; thence easterly along the center of Sanford Street to the Warren County Bikeway; thence northerly along the center of the Warren County Bikeway to the northern boundary of the city; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the city to the intersection of the eastern border of the city; thence southerly along the eastern border of the city; thence westerly along the center of Dix Avenue to the intersection of Ridge Street; thence southerly along the center of Ridge Street, the place of beginning.
1.8.3 Third Ward. The third ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Glen Street, South Street and Bay Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to the intersection of Bacon Street; thence southwesterly along the center of Bacon Street; thence northerly along the center of Elm Street to the intersection of Sherman Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Sherman Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Liberty Avenue; thence easterly along the center of West Notre Dame Street; thence northerly along the center of Charlotte Street to Marion Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Marion Avenue to Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street to Harrison Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Harrison Avenue to Davis Street; thence northerly along the center of Davis Street; thence westerly along the center of Lincoln Avenue; thence northwesterly along the center of Kensington Road to the city line; thence northerly along the western boundary of the city; thence easterly along the northern border of the City to the Warren County Bikeway; thence southerly along the Warren County Bikeway to Sanford Street; thence westerly along the center of Sanford Street to Cameron Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Cameron Avenue to Mason Street; thence westerly along the center of Mason Street to Stoddard Avenue; thence southerly along the center of Stoddard Avenue to Sanford Street; thence westerly along the center of Sanford Street to Bay Street; thence southerly along the center of Bay Street, the place of beginning.
1.8.4 Fourth Ward. The fourth ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the intersection of Hudson Avenue and Glen Street; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street; thence southwesterly along the center of Bacon Street; thence northerly along the center of Elm Street; thence westerly along the center of Sherman Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Liberty Avenue; thence easterly along the center of West Notre Dame Street to Charlotte Street; thence northerly along the center of Charlotte Street to Marion Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Marion Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street; thence westerly along the center of Harrison Avenue; thence northerly along the center of Davis Street to Lincoln Avenue; thence westerly along the center of Lincoln Avenue; thence northwesterly along the center of Kensington Road to the western boundary of the city; thence southerly along the western boundary to Fifth Street; thence easterly along the center of Fifth Street to Staple Street; thence northerly along the center of Staple Street to Broad Street; thence easterly along the center of Broad Street to South Street; thence southerly along the center of School Street to Hudson Avenue; thence easterly along the center of Hudson Avenue, the place of the beginning. The fourth ward shall also include the territory set forth within Section 1.6.1 of this Charter, as amended 10-23-2003 by L.L. No. 62003.
1.8.5 Fifth Ward. The fifth ward shall include all that part of the city lying within the following boundaries, namely: Beginning at the center of Glen Street where said street intersects the southerly line of Warren County; thence northerly along the center of Glen Street; thence westerly along the center of Hudson Avenue; thence northerly along the center of South Street; thence westerly along the center of Broad Street to the intersection of Staple Street; thence southerly along the center of Staple Street to Fifth Street; thence westerly along the center of Fifth Street to the city line; thence southerly along the west line to the southerly line of Warren County; thence easterly along the said southerly line of Warren County, the place of beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was subject to a mandatory referendum and was approved by the electors at the general election held 11-8-2022.
[Added 7-26-2022 by L.L. No. 5-2022[1]]
Within 12 months of the United States census final report for years ending in zero, the Common Council shall review the population for each of the Five City of Glens Falls Wards. If there is a population difference exceeding 5% between the least populous and most populous Ward, the Common Council shall convene a City Independent Redistricting Task Force to review, recommend and submit a plan to Amend Section 1.8, Ward Divisions, of the Charter of the City of Glens Falls. The Common Council shall submit a Redistricting plan at the next November general election, in accordance with Section 23-1 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York.
The resolution shall cover specific criteria for task force to consider such as the resolution approved on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 covering such topics as eligibility to the task force, how the task force is nominated, whether incumbency will be honored (that is, not moving incumbent representatives into different wards), ward composition (whether the downtown business district will remain represented in each ward, whether Communities of Interest will be preserved), whether compactness of the new district is to be desired, whether contiguity is to be desired.
(NOTE: Compactness refers to the shape of the district. It describes boundaries that are drawn closely and neatly packed together unless there are good reasons such as VRA compliance or following oddly shaped boundaries, like city boundaries or rivers. Contiguity means that the boundaries of a district are a single, uninterrupted shape.)
[1]
This local law was subject to a mandatory referendum and was approved by the electors at the general election held 11-8-2022.
1.10.1 The term "resolution" as used in this charter includes all motions, orders, rules, regulations and bylaws, other than ordinances.
1.10.2 The word "person" as used in this charter includes all natural persons, firms, companies, corporations, associations, joint-stock associations, estates and copartnerships,
1.10.3 The word "officer" includes all persons elected to office by the electors of the city or any subdivision thereof; the City Clerk, the heads of departments, the members of all boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor.
1.10.4 The word "employee" includes all persons, other than an officer, as herein defined, whose salary or compensation is paid out of the city treasury.
1.10.5 The word "street" includes avenue, road, alley, highway, lane, boulevard, concourse, driveway, bridge, tunnel, subway, parkway and every kind of road, square or place accepted and maintained by the city for public use.
1.10.6 The words "the board", "the department", "the court", "the Commissioner", mean the board, department, court or Commissioner whose duties are prescribed in this charter or in the bylaws.