The municipal corporation created by vote of the electors March 8, 1965, and known as the City of New Buffalo, Berrien County, Michigan, shall continue as a body corporate under the same name.
The City shall embrace the territory constituting the City of New Buffalo on the effective date of this Charter, together with such annexations thereto and less any detachments therefrom that may be made from time to time. Upon annexation or detachment of territory, the boundaries shall be deemed to be changed without amendment of this Section. The Clerk shall maintain and keep available in his office an official description and map of the current boundaries of the City for public inspection and distribution.
Unless otherwise provided or limited in this Charter, the City and its officers shall be vested with all of the powers, privileges and immunities, expressed or implied, which cities and their officers are permitted to exercise or provide for in their Charters under the Constitution and laws of the State of Michigan and of the United States of America. This shall include all powers, privileges and immunities which cities have or may have under and by virtue of Act No. 279, Public Acts of 1909, as amended,[1] and also all powers, privileges and immunities conferred upon cities by Act No. 215, Public Acts of 1895, as amended, commonly known as the Fourth Class City Act.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Home Rule City Act; see now MCLA § 117.1 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 81.1 et seq.
The City shall have the power to create and establish a Retirement System for the officers and employees of the City; to provide pensions, annuities and other benefits for the officers and employees of the City and their beneficiaries; to create a Board of Trustees to administer the Retirement System and to prescribe the powers and duties of such Board; to provide for contributions to the Retirement System by the City and by the officers and employees of the City; to provide for the investment and reinvestment of monies and other assets for the Retirement System; and to do and accomplish all other acts necessary in the creation and operation of such system.
The City may maintain, amend and improve the merit or civil service system presently in effect. The purpose of the system is to afford all interested persons a fair and equal opportunity for public service, to establish conditions of service which will attract employees of character and capacity, and to increase the efficiency of City Departments by the improvement of methods of personnel administration.
The Council may establish by ordinance independent boards or commissions, such as Planning, Zoning, Civil Service, Harbor Development and Improvement, Recreation and Public Housing, whenever the same are authorized and permitted by law. As far as possible, the terms of all members of independent boards or commissions shall expire at the same time. New appointments shall also be made at the same time as far as possible.
The City shall have power to join with any governmental unit or agency, or with any number or combination thereof by contract or otherwise as may be permitted by law, to perform jointly, or by one or more of them, for or on behalf of the other or others, any power or duty which is permitted to be so performed by law or which is possessed or imposed on each governmental unit or agency.