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ELECTED OFFICIALS:
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No person shall be elected to any office unless he or she shall
be an elector of the City of Bridgman. No person shall be elected
to any office in the City of Bridgman who is a defaulter to the City.
Elected officials of the City of Bridgman shall take and subscribe
the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution of the State, and
file the same with the City Clerk, and in cases of failure to do so
within 10 days after receiving notice of their election, they shall
be deemed to have declined the office.
Any City elective office shall become vacant upon the occurrence
of one or more of the following events before the expiration of the
term of such office:
(1)
Any reason specified by the laws of the State of Michigan;
(2)
Absence from four consecutive regular meetings of the Council, or
25% of such meetings in any fiscal year of the City shall automatically
operate to vacate the seat of a member of the Council, unless the
absence is excused by the Council by resolution setting forth such
excuse.
If a vacancy occurs in any elective office, the Council shall,
within 60 days after such vacancy occurs, appoint a person to fill
such vacancy for the unexpired term of the officer who vacated the
office; provided, however, in the event the vacancy occurs by reason
of recall, a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy at
the next regular election date. If a vacancy in the position of a
Council member is not filled by appointment within the said 60 days
of the acceptance of the resignation of a Council member, or if four
or more vacancies in the position of Council member exist simultaneously,
the City Clerk shall forthwith call a special election to be held
within 60 days thereafter, or as soon thereafter as permitted by state
law, to fill such vacancy or vacancies for the unexpired terms of
the individuals whose office have become vacant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, no vacancy in an elective office shall be filled
either by appointment or by special election as above provided if
the term of office of the person whose office has become vacant expires
within 90 days after the vacancy occurs.
No elected official of the City shall be eligible for employment
with the City for a period of 18 months after the end of his or her
elected term or resignation from an elected office.
Members of the Council shall be bound by and shall adhere to
the standards of Act 196 of P.A. 1973, as amended, of the State of
Michigan, "Standards of Conduct by Public Officers and Employees,"[1] and the standards of Act 317 of P.A. 1968, as amended,
of the State of Michigan, "Contracts of Public Servants with Public
Entities,"[2] or other laws or regulations affecting the conduct of
public officials.
Relatives by blood or marriage of any Council member, within
the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, as defined by civil
law, are hereby disqualified from holding any appointive office or
any employment during the term for which said Council member was elected,
unless such relatives are bona fide appointive officers or employees
of the City at the time of the election of the Council member.
Whenever any elected official, officer or employee shall cease
to hold such office or employment for any reason whatsoever, he or
she shall within five days, and sooner on demand, deliver to his or
her successor in office or to his or her superior all the books, papers,
money and effects in his or her custody as such officer or employee.
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COUNCIL OFFICES:
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The electors of the City shall elect a Council of seven members,
one of whom shall serve as Mayor. The Council shall constitute the
legislative and governing body of the City and which shall have power
and authority to exercise all powers conferred upon or possessed by
the City, and shall have the power and authority to adopt such laws,
ordinances and resolutions as it shall deem proper in the exercise
thereof.
Members of the Council shall meet the eligibility requirements
contained in § C-4.1 of this Charter. The Council shall
be the sole judge of the election and qualifications of its own members.
Members of the Council, including the Mayor, shall be compensated
pursuant to the recommendations and procedures of the Local Officers
Compensation Commission as established by ordinance in the City. In
addition, Council members may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary
expenses actually incurred in their service to the City upon order
of the Council.
The Council shall, at its first meeting following each regular
City election, elect one of its members to serve as Mayor for a term
expiring at the first Council meeting following the next succeeding
regular City election.
The Mayor shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the City and
the presiding officer at all meetings of the Council. He or she shall
have an equal voice and vote in the proceedings of the Council, but
shall have no veto power. The Mayor shall authenticate by his or her
signature such instruments as the Council, this Charter, the laws
of the State of Michigan, or the United States of America shall require.
The Mayor shall exercise only such powers as this Charter, the Council,
the laws of the State of Michigan, or the United States of America
confer upon the office.
The Council shall designate a Mayor Pro Tem to perform the duties
of the Mayor when, because of absence from the City, disability, or
otherwise, the Mayor is temporarily unable to perform the duties of
his or her office.
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COUNCIL MEETINGS:
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The Council shall hold at least one regular meeting each month.
It shall provide by resolution for the exact time, place and day of
its meetings.
Special meetings may be called by the City Clerk on the written
request of the Mayor or any two members of the Council on at least
24 hours' written notice, stating the purpose to each member
of the Council, and should be served personally or left at such address
or place as is designated by the Council member. Any special meeting
at which all members of the Council are present or have waived notice
thereof, in writing, shall be a legal meeting for all purposes.
All meetings of the Council shall be conducted pursuant to the
Open Meetings Act of the State of Michigan (see MCLA § 15.261
et seq.), as amended. The minutes and records of the City shall be
available as provided in the Freedom of Information Act of the State
of Michigan (see MCLA § 15.231 et seq.), as amended. The
Council shall determine its own rules and order of business. A journal
of the proceedings shall be kept in English and shall be signed and
retained by the Clerk.
A majority of the members of the Council in office shall be
a quorum for the transaction of business at Council meetings, but
in the absence of a quorum, two members may adjourn the meeting to
a later date.
If a term is to expire or a vacancy occurs in an appointive
position, the Council shall, 60 days prior to the expiration of any
regular term or 30 days after a vacancy occurs, publish notice of
the open position in a paper of general circulation within the City
and post said notice in three public places in the City. Persons interested
in consideration for appointment shall submit a written statement
of interest to the City Clerk, who shall deliver copies to the City
Manager and the Mayor. The Mayor shall submit a recommendation to
the City Council for consideration; however, no vacancy in any board,
commission or authority shall be filled by appointment as above provided
if the term of office of the person whose office has become vacant
expires within 90 days after the vacancy occurs.
Except for the purpose of investigation or as provided by state
law, the Council, or any of its members, shall deal with administrative
matters and services solely through the City Manager. Neither the
Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate
administrator or employee of the City. The City Manager shall discuss
any alleged violations of procedure with the Council members involved
and may report the incident to the Mayor. The Mayor may bring the
matter before the full Council.
