[Amended 11-2-2021 by election]
Every person elected or appointed to any city office, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe to such oath of office or affirmation as provided by law, which shall be filed and kept in the office of the City Clerk.
[Amended 11-2-2021 by election]
Written notice of the election or appointment to any city office or board shall be mailed (hard copy or electronic) to the individual involved at their last known physical or electronic address, by the City Clerk, within 48 hours after the appointment is made or the results of any vote are certified by the Board of Supervisors of Elections to the City Council. Said notice shall state that within 10 days, the individual involved shall file with the City Clerk an acceptance of his/her election or appointment and failure to do so shall be deemed a refusal to serve, and the position shall thereupon be vacant.
[Added 11-5-2005 by election; amended 11-2-2021 by election]
The City Council shall establish by ordinance a five member Ethics Commission.[1] The Commission will investigate complaints filed against members of the City Council, School Board, and members of standing city boards and commissions. If the Commission believes a complaint warrants further action or censure it will forward its recommendation to the City Council for adjudication or the school board for complaints made against school board members. The Commission may also provide advice to the Council, City Manager, and Superintendent on matters of ethics and shall coordinate where appropriate with the Personnel Advisory Board described in § C7-6.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 21, Ethics, Code of, Art. II.
[Added 11-5-2005 by election]
In addition to the provisions of § C11-3 City Councilors and members of standing city commissions and boards may be removed from office by a vote of the City Council upon such a recommendation having been forwarded to the Council by the Ethics Commission.
All records of the city and all meetings of the Council, boards, committees, commissions, authorities or other municipal bodies shall be open to the public, and their minutes and other records shall be available to the public in accordance with the provisions of RSA 91-A and amendments thereto.
The City Council is authorized, as provided by RSA 53-A, to enter into agreements and regional compacts with neighboring cities and towns for the purpose of resolving their common problems for the mutual advantage and benefit of the city and its neighboring cities and towns.
To the extent that any specific provision contained in this Charter conflicts with any provision expressed in general terms, the specific provision shall prevail.
The sections of this Charter and the parts thereof are separable. If any portion of this Charter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder thereof shall not be affected thereby.
[Amended 9-5-1990; approved 11-6-1990 by election; 11-2-2021 by election]
Upon adoption, the Official Charter, duly authenticated by affixing the signatures of all members of the City Council, and the City Clerk and the City Seal, shall be filed with the City Clerk and remain in the Clerk's office as the Official Charter of the City of Dover. All amendments to this Charter shall be authenticated in a like manner and filed with and remain a part of the Official Charter. The City Clerk shall be responsible for the proper maintenance of the Charter, under the direction of the City Manager, with advice of legal counsel. Copies of the Charter shall be available to the public, and the City Clerk may charge a nominal cost to help defray the printing costs. Bids for the printing and binding of the Charter shall be in accordance with the provisions of § C6-16 of the Charter.
[Amended 9-25-1985, approved 11-5-1985 by election]
Any amendments or revisions of this Charter shall be accomplished in accordance with the provisions of RSA 49-B and any subsequent amendments thereto.
A. 
Periodic Review. Not less than once every 10 years, commencing in the year 2011, the City Council shall vote at its first regular meeting of the year on the following question "Shall a Charter Commission be created to review and make recommendations concerning the provisions of the Charter of the City of Dover?" If a majority of the Council shall vote in the affirmative, then the Council shall take whatever action is required under state law to bring about the formation of a Charter Commission prior to the next municipal election.
[Added 11-5-2005 by election; amended 11-2-2021 by election]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C11-12, Amendments to change form of government, was repealed 9-25-1985, approved 11-5-1985 by election.
[Amended 9-5-1990, approved 11-6-1990 by election; 11-2-2021 by election]
All willful violations of provisions of this Charter, unless otherwise provided, are hereby declared to be violations, and all such violations and all violations of city ordinances for which no other punishment is provided shall be punishable by a fine of up to $500, or imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.
This Charter and any amendments thereto shall take effect immediately upon the filing by the Board of Supervisors of Elections with the City Council of its certificate of the results of the election, indicating voter approval thereof, unless otherwise provided in the amendment(s). The provisions regarding the city budget shall not take effect, however, until January 1, next following said time. All elective or appointive officers and employees of the city at said time shall continue in the service of the city for the remainder of their terms, except as otherwise provided in this Charter.