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City Charter

Table of Contents

ARTICLE I – Government of City of Dunkirk

Included in the above Section

  • § 1.00. Title. C5
  • § 1.01. Corporate Continuity. C5
  • § 1.02. Purpose. C5
  • § 1.03. Powers of the City. C5
  • § 1.04. Implied Powers. C5
  • § 1.05. Boundaries. C6
  • § 1.06. Ward Boundaries. C6

ARTICLE II – Elective and Appointive Offices

Included in the above Section

  • § 2.00. Elective Officers. C8
  • § 2.01. Terms of Elective Officers. C8
  • § 2.02. Residence Requirements of Elective Officers. C8
  • § 2.03. Appointive Officers. C8
  • § 2.04. Terms of Appointive Officers. C9
  • § 2.05. Vacancies. C9

ARTICLE III – Mayor

Included in the above Section

  • § 3.00. Mayor. C10
  • § 3.01. Election and Qualifications. C10
  • § 3.02. Powers and Duties. C10
  • § 3.03. Executive Approval and Disapproval. C11

ARTICLE IV – The Common Council

Included in the above Section

  • § 4.00. Common Council. C12
  • § 4.01. Elections. C12
  • § 4.02. Powers and Duties. C12
  • § 4.03. Common Council Reconsideration. C13
  • § 4.04. Presiding Officer – Organization. C14
  • § 4.05. Special Meetings. C14

ARTICLE V – Budget

Included in the above Section

  • § 5.00. Budget. C15
  • § 5.01. Fiscal Year. C15
  • § 5.02. Submission of Budget – Message. C15
  • § 5.03. Budget Message. C15
  • § 5.04. Form of Budget. C15
  • § 5.05. Filing of Budget and Public Notice.C16
  • § 5.06. Public Hearing – Changes by Common Council. C16
  • § 5.07. Adoption of Budget, Appropriation and Tax Levy Resolutions. C16
  • § 5.08. Failure to Adopt Budget. C17
  • § 5.09. Lien Date. C17
  • § 5.10. Return of City Taxes to the County. C17

ARTICLE VI – Department of Law

Included in the above Section

  • § 6.00. Department of Law. C18
  • § 6.01. Qualifications. C18
  • § 6.02. Powers and Duties. C18
  • § 6.03. Employment of Special Counsel. C19

ARTICLE VII – Department of Public Works

Included in the above Section

  • § 7.00. Department of Public Works. C20
  • § 7.01. Departmental Functions. C20
  • § 7.02. Director of Public Works. C21
  • § 7.03. Powers and Duties. C21

ARTICLE VIII – Police Department

Included in the above Section

  • § 8.00. Police Department. C22
  • § 8.01. Chief of Police – Qualifications. C22
  • § 8.02. Chief of Police – Powers and Duties. C22

ARTICLE IX – Fire Department

Included in the above Section

  • § 9.00. Fire Department. C24
  • § 9.01. Fire Chief and Assistants. C24
  • § 9.02. Fire Chief – Powers and Duties. C24

ARTICLE X – City Clerk

Included in the above Section

  • § 10.00. City Clerk. C26
  • § 10.01. Additional Powers and Duties. C26

ARTICLE XI – City Treasurer

Included in the above Section

  • § 11.00. Election. C27
  • § 11.01. Powers and Duties. C27

ARTICLE XII – Fiscal Affairs Officer

Included in the above Section

  • § 12.00. Appointment and Qualifications. C29
  • § 12.01. Powers and Duties. C29

ARTICLE XIII – Department of Assessment

Included in the above Section

  • § 13.00. Department of Assessment. C31[Amended 04-05-11 as L.L. #5-2011, and passed on 11-08-11 as a Referendum on City of Dunkirk General Election ballot.]
  • § 13.01. Assessor. C31[Amended 04-05-11 as L.L. #5-2011, and passed on 11-08-11 as a Referendum on the City of Dunkirk General Election ballot.]
  • § 13.02. Powers and Duties. C31
  • § 13.03. Annual Board of Assessment Review Meeting. C32

ARTICLE XIV – Department of Planning and Development

Included in the above Section

  • § 14.00. Department of Planning and Development. C33
  • § 14.01. Departmental Functions. C33
  • § 14.02. Director and Qualifications. C33
  • § 14.03. Powers and Duties of Director of Development. C33
  • § 14.04. Planning Board. C34
  • § 14.05. Powers and Duties. C34

ARTICLE XV – Human Resources Office

Included in the above Section

  • § 15.00. Human Resources Office. C35
  • § 15.01. Powers and Duties. C35

ARTICLE XVI – Department of Housing, Building and Zoning Enforcement

Included in the above Section

  • § 16.00. Department of Housing, Building and Zoning Enforcement. C36
  • § 16.01. Powers and Duties. C36
  • § 16.02. Zoning Board of Appeals and Housing Commission. C37

ARTICLE XVII – Sealer of Weights and Measures

[Abolished 02-01-11 as L.L. #3-2011]
 
ARTICLE XVIII – City Court

Included in the above Section

  • § 18.00. City Court. C39
  • § 18.01. City Court – Power and Jurisdiction. C39
  • § 18.02. (2.02) City Judge – Election and Term. C39
  • § 18.03. (2.03) City Judge – Qualifications. C39
  • § 18.04. (2.04) Oath of Office. C39
  • § 18.05. (2.05) Vacancy. C39
  • § 18.06. (2.06) Acting City Judge. C40
  • § 18.07. (2.07) Contempts. C40
  • § 18.08. (2.08) Clerk and Duties. C40
  • § 18.09. (2.09) City Court Marshals. C40
  • § 18.10. (2.10) Selection of Jurors. C41
  • § 18.11. (2.11) Place of Holding Court. C41

ARTICLE XIX – Transitional Provisions

Included in the above Section

  • § 19.00. Effective Date of Charter. C42
  • § 19.01. Charter Supersedes Certain Laws. C42
  • § 19.02. Offices, Boards, Commissions, Bureaus and Agencies Continued C42
  • § 19.03. Officers and Employees. C42
  • § 19.04. Transfer of Personnel and Functions. C43
  • § 19.05. Continuation of Powers and Duties. C43
  • § 19.06. Pending Actions and Proceedings. C43
  • § 19.07. Laws Repealed. C44
  • § 19.08. Amendment of Charter. C44
  • § 19.09. Separability. C44
  • § 19.10. Liberal Construction. C44

[HISTORY: Adopted as L.L. #5-1977 by majority of qualified electors at referendum held 8-2-1977, effective 1-1-1978. Amendments noted where applicable.]