The Charter Commission created hereby shall
also be subject to the following provisions:
A. The Commission shall conduct public hearings. It shall
conduct such public hearings at such times and at such places within
the City as it shall deem necessary. The Commission shall also have
power to conduct private hearings, take testimony, subpoena witnesses
and require the production of books, papers and records. The Commission
shall prepare a preliminary draft of a proposed new or revised Charter
for public comment and discussion on or before January 3, 1998.
B. Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation
for their services but shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
C. The Commission shall by majority vote appoint and
may at its pleasure remove such employees and consultants as it shall
require and fix their compensation and may accept any services, facilities
or funds and use or expend the same for its purposes. On request of
the Commission, the Mayor may direct any board, body, officer or employee
of the City to cooperate with, assist, advise, provide facilities,
materials or date and render services to the Commission. The Commission
shall not use or expend any City funds not duly appropriated.
D. In addition to action under any other power to make
appropriations for the support of a Charter Commission, the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment of the City shall have power, on request
of the Commission, to appropriate to such Commission such sum or sums
as shall be necessary to defray its expenses and, in the event that
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment does not take affirmative
action to provide such sum or sums within 45 days of the Commission's
request, the Mayor of the City shall have power to authorize, by certificate
filed with the Comptroller, the Commission to incur liabilities and
expenses as specified by the Mayor, but within the sum or sums so
requested, which shall be a charge against the City and which shall
be audited and paid by the Comptroller. In the alternative to mayoral
certification, the Common Council may authorize by ordinance the Commission
to incur liability and expenses.
E. The provisions of the Election Law or any other law
relating to the submission of questions at general elections, so far
as the same are applicable and not inconsistent herewith, shall apply
to a question submitted pursuant to the provisions of this section.
F. The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Part to govern its operations
and procedures.