Each Councilperson, before entering upon the duties of his or her office,
shall be required to give a bond to the municipality with two or more good
and sufficient sureties of some responsible surety company. If the bond is
given by two sureties, they shall each justify that he or she is worth at
least $2,000 over and above all debts and exemptions. Such bond amounts shall
be on file in the office of the City Clerk and shall be conditioned on the
faithful discharge of the duties of the Councilperson. The bond will be further
conditioned that if the Councilperson shall vote for any expenditure or appropriation
of money or create any liability in excess of the amount allowed by law, the
Councilperson and the sureties signing the bond shall be liable thereon. The
bond shall be filed with the Clerk and approved by the Mayor. Upon approval
by a majority of the Council, the city may pay the premium for such bond.
Any liability sought to be incurred, or debt created in excess of the amount
limited or authorized by law, shall be taken and held by any court of the
state as the joint and several liability of the Councilperson voting for and
the Mayor approving the same. Any such liability or debt shall not be an obligation
upon the municipality. Voting for or approving of such liability or debt shall
be conclusive evidence of malfeasance in office. Any Councilperson voting
for such an appropriation or any Mayor approving of the same shall be removed
from office.
Any person who violates any of the prohibitions or provisions of any
article or section of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
Unless otherwise specified in the particular article or section for which
the person stands convicted of violating, the penalty for such violation shall
be in an amount not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment for any length of time
not to exceed one year, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion
of the court.