[CC 1984 §§20.010, 21.010]
A.
On
the twenty-fourth (24th) day of February, 1869, the City of Seneca
was incorporated as, and is now, a City of the Fourth Class under
the laws of the State of Missouri.
B.
Incorporation And Classification. The City of Seneca, Missouri,
is incorporated, and classified as a Fourth Class City. In accordance
with State law, providing for optional forms of government, the City
of Seneca has adopted the Mayor — Council form of government,
and known as the "weak Mayor — Council form". This means most administrative offices are elected, and appointments
are made with consent of the Board of Aldermen, and consequently the
Mayor has little administrative power. This form of structure approximates
the Federal Government in that it includes the concept of separation
of powers (executive, legislative, and judicial) and checks and balances.
The Board is the basic governing unit because it levies taxes, appropriates
monies, make decisions on policy matters, and in some instances supervises
the administration. The Board is the legislative body of Seneca. It
adopts local resolutions and ordinances within the framework of latitude
given it by State law. The laws of Seneca are the ordinances, and
these may be divided into three (3) categories:
1.
Administrative. Dealing with the organization of
government (i.e. the division of powers between administration departments,
the salary scale for employees),
2.
Contractual. Such as the granting of franchises
to private utility firms, and
3.
Penal ordinances. Penal ordinances that regulate
the conduct of persons and are based on the general police powers
of the municipality to protect the health, welfare, and safety of
the citizens of Seneca. Many ordinances cover fields where State laws
already operate. State laws may also be adopted by reference and incorporated
into local ordinances. The City shall have power to enact all ordinances
not repugnant to the Constitution and laws of this State.
[CC 1984 §20.020]
