FOREWORD

	The initial charter of the City of Ferrysburg was completed and adopted by a charter
	commission on July 2, 1963, and was approved by the voters at a special election
	on September 10, 1963. Since that date, a number of charter amendments have
	been adopted, and many changes have been brought about by state legislation.

	This printing of the charter represents an attempt to provide a useful reference
	version of the document for the public, the city council, and the many persons
	involved in municipal affairs including members of boards and commissions
	and city administrative employees. It results from the joint labors of Mayor
	David H. Walborn and City Attorney James Bussard.

	In order to be more readily useful, a table of contents has been developed.
	Amendments and deletions have been noted. Material included as Editor's Notes
	represents explanatory annotations and is not a part of the charter itself.

CHARTER TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section

	Preamble

	Chapter I.  Name and Boundaries

	1.1	Name
	1.2	Boundaries

	Chapter II.  Municipal Powers

	2.1	General powers
	2.2	Exercise of powers
	2.3	Utility powers

	Chapter III.  Elections

	3.1	Electors
	3.2	Election of officers
	3.3	Wards and precincts
	3.4	Primary elections
	3.5	Regular city elections
	3.6	Election Commission
	3.7	Nomination petitions
	3.8	Petition form
	3.9	Nominating petitions - procedure
	3.10	Public inspection
	3.11	Ballot form
	3.12	Board of Canvassers
	3.13	Tie votes
	3.14	Recount
	3.15	Recall

	Chapter IV.  Organization of Government

	4.1	City Council
	4.2	Election of Council Members and Mayor
	4.2A	Election of Council Members and Mayor; term limits
	4.3	Filling vacancy in office of Council Member
	4.4	Eligibility for office
	4.5	Organizational meeting
	4.6	Mayor - mandatory duties
	4.7	City Manager - Mayor - duties
	4.8	City Manager - permissive powers
	4.9	Administrative officers
	4.10	Administrative officers - residence
	4.11	Administrative officers - deputies
	4.12	Administrative officers - duties
	4.13	City Clerk - duties
	4.14	City Treasurer - duties
	4.15	City Assessor - duties
	4.16	Council Members - Mayor - compensation
	4.17	Appointment, employment of relatives - restriction
	4.18-4.20	Board of Supervisors
	4.21	Officers - employees compensation
	4.22	Planning Commission
	4.23	Zoning Ordinance
	4.24	Constables
	4.25	Other boards and commissions
	4.26	Elective office vacancy
	4.27	Board or commission vacancy
	4.28	Removal from office
	4.29	Resignations
	4.30	Filling vacancies in appointive offices
	4.31	Oath of office
	4.32	Officers' bonds
	4.33	Duties on leaving office or employment

	Chapter V.  The Council, Legislation and Restrictions

	5.1	Regular meetings
	5.2	Special meetings
	5.3	Special meetings - business
	5.4	Public meetings
	5.5	Council procedure
	5.6	Quorum
	5.7	Compelling attendance
	5.8	Power to investigate
	5.9	Public health and safety
	5.10	Restriction - default
	5.11	Restriction - sale of property - business enterprises
	5.12	Ordinance form
	5.13	Ordinance - publication
	5.14	Ordinance - penalty
	5.15	Ordinance - adoption by reference
	5.16	Initiative and referendum
	5.17	Initiative and referendum - procedure
	5.18	Initiative and referendum - duties of Council
	5.19	Initiative and referendum - submission to voters
	5.20	Initiative and referendum - amendments and repeal
	5.21	Conflicting ordinances
	5.22	Ordinances - severability
	5.23	Public utility franchise - restrictions
	5.24	Public utility franchise - revocation
	5.25	Public utility franchise - rates
	5.26	Public utility - public ways
	5.27	Council - contracting power
	5.28	Contracts - execution
	5.29	Contracts - purchasing and sale procedures
	5.30	Contracts - deferred payment - restriction
	5.31	Contracts - real estate
	5.32	Contracts - competitive bidding
	5.33	Contracts - default
	5.34	Contracts - extra compensation
	5.35	Contracts - officer or employee restriction

	Chapter VI.  Budget, Finance and Taxation

	6.1	Fiscal year
	6.2	Departmental budget
	6.3	Budget requirements
	6.4	Budget - public hearing
	6.5	Budget - adoption
	6.6	Expenditures - restrictions
	6.7	Depositories
	6.8	Independent audit and annual report
	6.9	Tax rate limitation
	6.10	Property subject to tax
	6.11	Exemptions
	6.12	Tax status
	6.13	Assessment roll
	6.14	Board of Review
	6.15	Board of Review - powers
	6.16	Board of Review - meetings
	6.17	Board of Review - notice of meetings
	6.18	Board of Review - endorsement of roll
	6.19	Certification of tax levy
	6.20	City tax roll
	6.21	Tax lien
	6.22	Tax warrant
	6.23	City taxes - collection and penalties
	6.24	Tax collection - personal property
	6.25	Tax roll - return to County Treasurer
	6.26	Taxes - county and school - collection
	6.27	City taxes - protection of

	Chapter VII.  Special Assessments

	7.1	Powers
	7.2	Powers - limitations
	7.3	Requirements
	7.4	Excess and deficiency
	7.5	Invalidity
	7.6	Court judgments
	7.7	Court action - limitation
	7.8	Lien for payment
	7.9	Restrictions on use of money
	7.10	Removal of nuisance or hazard
	7.11	Mortgage in lieu of payment
	7.12	Notice - failure

	Chapter VIII.  Borrowing Powers

	8.1	General powers and restrictions
	8.2	Bond - requirements
	8.3	Bonds - time of issue

	Chapter IX.  Justice of the Peace

	9.1-9.4	[Void]

	Chapter X.  Miscellaneous

	10.1	City records
	10.2	Effect of illegality of any part of Charter
	10.3	Amendments
	10.4	City records
	10.5	City liability
	10.6	No estoppel
	10.7	Trusts
	10.8	Definition of publication - mailing of notices
	10.9	Sundays and holidays
	10.10	Chapter and section headings
	10.11	Interpretations
	10.12	Penalties for violations of Charter