The members of the city council shall receive compensation for their services as set by ordinance. No ordinance increasing or reducing the compensation of the members of the city council shall be effective unless it is adopted by a two-thirds vote of the full city council. No ordinance increasing or reducing the compensation of councilors shall be effective unless it is adopted during the first 18 months of the term for which the city council is elected and it provides that the compensation increase or reduction is to take effect upon the organization of the city government following the next regular city election.
Except as otherwise provided by the General Laws or by this charter, all powers of the city shall be vested in the city council which shall provide for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the city by law.
Subject to appropriation, the city council may employ staff as it deems necessary.
The mayor shall refer to the city council, and simultaneously file with the city clerk, the name of each person the mayor desires to appoint as a department head or as a member of a multiple-member body. Appointments made by the mayor shall become effective on the 45th day after the date on which notice of the proposed appointment was filed with the city clerk unless approved or rejected by the city council within the 45 days.
Whenever a vacancy occurs on city council, the president of the city council shall, within 30 days following the date of the vacancy, call a special meeting of the city council to fill the vacancy. The city council shall choose a person to fill the vacancy from among the voters entitled to vote for the office. Persons elected to fill a vacancy by the city council shall serve only until the next regular city election, when the office shall be filled by the voters. The candidate elected to an office filled by appointment prior to the election shall be sworn to the office immediately to complete the then unexpired term in addition to the term for which elected. No vacancy shall be filled under this section if a regular city election is to be held within 120 days following the date the vacancy is declared to exist. Persons serving as city councilors under this section shall not be entitled to have the words "candidate for reelection" printed with that person's name on the election ballot.