Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
(Charter Amendment)
Introduced by: The Council President
At the request of: The Administration (Mayor’s Charter Review Commission)
A Resolution Entitled
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council concerning
title
Charter Amendment - Charter Commission Recommendations for City Council and Mayor Articles
For the purpose of eliminating existing council district lines as a criteria for City Council redistricting; clarifying the Mayor’s powers as conservator of the peace; clarifying certain inherent responsibilities arising from the Mayor’s executive duties; deleting a redundant clause relating to the holding over of municipal officers; deleting a redundant clause relating to the prohibition on holding dual offices of profit; setting a special effective date; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the City for adoption or rejection.
body
By proposing to amend
Article III - City Council
Section(s) 7(a)
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
By proposing to amend
Article IV - Mayor
Section(s) 4 and 6(k)
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the City Charter is proposed to be amended to read as follows:
Baltimore City Charter
Article III. City Council
§ 7. Council districts.
(a) Criteria for redistricting.
The City shall be divided by ordinance into districts for the election of members of the City Council. The criteria in redistricting shall be equality of population, contiguous territory, compactness, natural boundaries, [existing council district lines,] and the standards established by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Article IV. Mayor
§ 4. General powers.
(a) Conservator of peace; Financial oversight; Report on state of City.
The Mayor, by virtue of the office, shall have all the powers of a conservator of the peace. The powers of a conservator of the peace include any action necessary and not contrary to law to keep peace during a riot, disturbance, or disorderly assembly.
The Mayor may call upon any officer of the City entrusted with the receipt or expenditure of public money, for a statement of account as often as the Mayor thinks necessary, and may at any time by expert accountants and bookkeepers, examine the books and accounts of any department, commission, board, officer, assistant, clerk, subordinate or employee.
The Mayor shall report to the City Council as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the general state of the City, with an accurate account of the money received and expended, to be published for the information of the citizens.
(b) Chief executive officer.
The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the City, shall see that ordinances and resolutions are duly and faithfully executed, and shall have general supervision over all municipal officers and agencies.
(c) [Economic] General welfare and economic development.
Subject to more specific provisions of the Charter, the Mayor shall have general responsibility for the health, welfare, and economic development of the City that arises from the executive duties of the office.
§ 6. Appointments of municipal officers.
(k) [Holding over; Dual offices of profit prohibited.]
[All elected municipal officers provided for in the Charter or other law, shall hold their offices until their successors are appointed or elected and qualified.]
[No person shall at any time hold more than one office yielding pecuniary compensation under the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.]
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That the amendments to these Articles of the City Charter shall become effective on January 1, 2020.
Section 3. And be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to the legal and qualified voters of Baltimore City, for adoption or rejection, in accordance with Article XI-A, § 5 of the Maryland Constitution, in the form specified by the City Solicitor.