Any city officer, board member, council member, commission member
or employee who has a substantial financial interest, direct or indirect
or by reason of ownership of stock in any corporation, in any contract
with the city or in the sale of any land, material, supplies or services
to the city or to a contractor supplying the city shall make known
that interest and shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating
as a city officer, board member, council member, commission member
or employee in the making of such contract. Any person who is a city
officer, board member, council member, commission member or employee
and who willfully conceals such a substantial financial interest or
willfully violates the requirements of this section shall be guilty
of malfeasance in office or position and shall forfeit such person's
office or position. Violation of this section with the knowledge expressed
or implied of the person or corporation contracting with or making
a sale to the city shall render the contract or sale voidable by the
Chief Administrative Officer or the city council.
No city employee shall solicit any contribution for the campaign
fund of any candidate for Kirkwood city office or take part in the
political campaign of any candidate for Kirkwood city office. All
employees may exercise their rights as a private citizen to express
opinions and, if a registered voter in Kirkwood, sign a nominating
petition for any city candidate and vote in any city election. Political
affiliation, participation or contribution shall not be considered
in making any city employment decision. No city officer, employee
or member of a board or commission shall use official authority or
official influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting
the result of an election to or nomination for Kirkwood city office.
No city officer, employee or member of a board or commission shall
directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, advise,
or solicit a city employee to pay, lend, or contribute anything of
value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for political
or electoral purposes.
All officers and employees of the city who receive, disburse,
or are responsible for city funds, and such other officers and employees
as the council by ordinance may designate, shall, within such time
after election or appointment as may be fixed by ordinance, and before
entering upon the discharge of their duties, give bond to the city
in such sums and with such sureties as shall be prescribed by ordinance,
and subject to approval by the council, conditioned upon the faithful
and proper performance of their duties and for the prompt accounting
for and paying over to the city of all moneys belonging to the city
that may come into their hands. The city shall pay the premiums on
all such bonds.
Amendments to this charter may be framed and submitted to the
electors by a commission in the manner provided by law and the Constitution
of Missouri for framing and submitting a complete charter. Amendments
may also be proposed by ordinance of the council or by petition of
not less than ten percent of the registered qualified electors of
the city, filed with the City Clerk, setting forth the proposed amendment.
The council shall at once provide by ordinance that any amendment
so proposed shall be submitted to the electors at the next election
held in the city not less than sixty days after its passage, or at
a special election held as provided by law and the Constitution of
Missouri for a charter. Any amendment approved by a majority of the
qualified electors voting thereon shall become a part of the charter
at the time and under the conditions fixed in the amendment; sections
or articles may be submitted separately or in the alternative and
determined as provided by law and the Constitution of Missouri for
a complete charter.
Any ordinance may be proved by a copy thereof certified by the
City Clerk under the seal of the city; or, when printed and published
by authority of the city. It shall be received in evidence in all
courts, or other places, without further proof of authenticity.
If any provision of this charter is held invalid, the other
provisions of the charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application
of the charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstances
is held invalid, the application of the charter and its provisions
to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.