Center for Research Regional Engagement and Outreach SUNY New Paltz January 26 2015 Evolution of Johnstown City Government Five charters Years of adoption or major revision 1895 1905 194849 1962 2001 ID: 205829
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Slide1
Johnstown’s Charter Development
Center for Research Regional Engagement and Outreach – SUNY New Paltz
January 26, 2015Slide2
Evolution of Johnstown
City Government
Five charters
Years of adoption or major revision
1895, 1905, 1948-49, 1962, 2001
Change also occurred in some years by amendment
The changing provisions of these charters shows how thinking has evolved regarding the desired structures and processes for governing the city.
Focal points:
Elected offices
Appointed Offices and functions
Powers and dutiesSlide3
Johnstown’s Population Change
The government was set up for a bigger place, competitive and expecting to grow
Year Population % change NYS Cities (W/O NYC)
1982 11,132*
1950 10,923
-1.9
1960 10,390 -4.9
1970 10,045 -3.3
1980 9,360 -6.8
1990 9,058 -3.2
2000 8,511 -6.0
2010 8,374 -1.6
Total (1950-2010) -23.3%
Total (1950 - 2000) -22.1% -24.4
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/research/pop_trends.pdf
* “Exhibit Showing the Enumeration of the State in Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages for the Year 1892,”
Census of New York State
.
http://
128.121.13.244/awweb/main.jsp?flag=browse&smd=1&awdid=1Slide4
Johnstown’s first charter (1895)
An act of the state legislature
Chapter 568 Laws of 1895 (141 pp.)
Formed from parts of the Town of Johnstown, including former Village of Johnstown (1808)
One of 18 New York cities created between 1880 and 1900
Amsterdam – 1895
Gloversville - 1890Slide5
Johnstown’s 1895 Charter –
Elected Offices
Citywide
Mayor
Recorder
Chamberlain
Assessor
Board of Education (9)
Justices of the Peace (2)
Constables (2)Alderman at LargeWater Commissioner at Large
From Four Wards
8 Aldermen (2/ward)
4 Water Commissioners
4 SupervisorsSlide6
Johnstown’s 1895 Charter –
Terms of Office – Elected Officials
Municipal Officials
2 year terms
No term limits
Education Board Members
3 year overlapping terms, cohorts of three
No term limitsSlide7
Johnstown’s Second Charter
1905
1905 - Revised
and replaced
the 1895 charter
Chapter
593 Laws of
1905 (135 pp)
This was the baseline document for Johnstown thru 2001Slide8
Johnstown’s 1905 Charter
4 Fewer Elected Offices
Citywide
Mayor
Recorder
Chamberlain
Assessor
Alderman at Large
Water Commissioner at Large
Board of Education Members (9)
Note: No Elected Justices of the Peace or Constables
From Four Wards
8 Aldermen (2/ward)
4 Water Commissioners
4 Supervisors (county reps.)Slide9
Amendments to the 1905 Charter
1917 – Removed sections 220-241 of the charter concerning education
(reflects statewide change separating the education function form other local government) functions)
Removes 9 elected offices from charter
1919 – Chapter 26 – Reduced number of aldermen to 4.
Removes 4 elected offices from charter Slide10
State Constitution –
Home Rule for Cities - 1923
Provided for charter change by local action, without passage of state law.Slide11
Johnstown - Local Law No. 2 - 1933
Water Board Abolished
“Section 1. The board of water commissioners and the offices of water commissioner-at-large and of water commissioners and of superintendent of water works are hereby abolished.”
Duties of:
Water Board transferred to Common Council
Commissioner-at-large transferred to Mayor
Water Commissioners transferred to Aldermen
Superintendent transferred to City EngineerSlide12
Johnstown –
Local Law 2 -1948
Revised
charter provision for elective officers to reflect 1933 Local Law No. 2 (abolition of Water Board, including all 4 Water Commissioners and the Water Commissioner-at-large
)
“Section 10. City Officers. 1. The elective officers of the city shall be a mayor, a city judge and recorder, a chamberlain, an assessor, an alderman-at-large, one alderman and one supervisor for each ward.”Slide13
Johnstown’s 1949 Charter
Incorporated changes resulting
from
adoption of Johnstown Local
Law 2 of
1948Slide14
Johnstown’s 1949 Charter
Elected Officials
Citywide
Mayor
City Judge and Recorder
Chamberlain
Assessor
Alderman at Large
From Four Wards
4 Aldermen
4 SupervisorsSlide15
Johnstown’s 1949 Charter
Elected Officials – Terms of Office
All elected officials’ terms of office are four years.
No term limitsSlide16
Johnstown’s Appointed officials
1949 charter
City clerk
City attorney
City engineer
Acting recorder
Commissioner of Public Health and Welfare
Board of Health (6 members)
Inspector of Plumbing
Fire chief and two assistant chiefsChief of police, uniformed police and special police as common council providesUp to 10 Commissioners of deeds Other appointive officers as may be authorized by general lawSlide17
Johnstown’s 1949 Charter
Major Charter Provisions
Incorporation and definition of boundaries
City officers
Powers of Mayor, Clerk and Council
Chamberlain (finance)
Assessment (taxes)
Streets and sewers
Water
Police
Fire
Health
Recorder
City Court
MiscellaneousSlide18
Johnstown’s 1962 Charter
Elected Officials
Citywide
Mayor
City Judge and Recorder
Chamberlain
Alderman at Large
(Note: Assessor now appointed)
From Four Wards
4 Aldermen
4 SupervisorsSlide19
Alternative Forms of City Government
Currently Used in New :York State
Strong Mayor
Separation of powers between executive and legislative branches
Mayor is elected chief executive
Weak Mayor
No separation of Powers – Elected Mayor serves as a member of council and presides
Most governing power resides in Council - Mayor’s executive powers limited
Council Manager
No Mayor, or ceremonial Mayor.
Governing powers reside in elected Council
Professional manager appointed by Council serves as executive
Commission (rare)
Commissioners elected citywide serve individually as heads of specific departments and collectively as City CouncilSlide20
Johnstown, like most modern cities,
uses a hybrid governmental structure
Mayor – “Chief executive and administrative Officer”
Mayor presides over the Council
may introduce and veto legislation
Affects quorum requirement, as 1 + ½ is in fact 4 (majority = 2/3)
has only a casting vote, used at his or her option
There are five other Council members
odd number and
charter definition of majority as three members
likely makes use of casting vote uncommonSlide21
Johnstown’s Current (2001) Charter
Elected Officials
Citywide
Mayor
Council member at large
City Court Judge
City Treasurer (Note: Chamberlain abolished and replaced)
Water board members (5) (Note: Reinstated sometime between 1962 Revision and 2001)
From Four Wards
4 Council members
(Supervisors from City are county officials)Slide22
Johnstown Elected Officials – 2001 Charter – Terms of Office
All are four years except:
Water board members serve for three years
Under State law, judge serves for 10 years
No term limitsSlide23
Johnstown 2001 Charter - Provisions
Incorporation and Boundaries
Elected Officers
Mayor and Council
Treasurer (Finance)
Assessment (Taxes)
Water
Appointed Officers
Administration (Specified Departments)
EthicsTransitionSlide24
Johnstown Charter – 2001
Appointed Offices
City Clerk and Deputy
City Attorney
City Engineer and Deputy
Assessor
Assistant City Court Judge
Members of Boards, Commissions and Committees
Commissioners of Deeds (# to be determined by Council)
Others as may be provided for “herein”Slide25
Johnstown Charter (2001) –
Departmental Duties Specified
City Clerk
City Engineer
City Attorney
City Court
Police Department
Fire Department
Public Library
Health Office and Board of HealthZoning Board of AppealsPlanning BoardSenior Citizen CenterPlumbing and Electric BoardsSlide26
Johnstown’s Recent Charter History
Current charter – Effective 2001
Previous charter – Adopted in 1962
Note: This was the year of adoption of the current Home Rule provision to the NYS constitution and current Municipal Home Rule LawSlide27
City of Johnstown – Trend
Number of Elected Offices
City of Johnstown - Charter
Provisions
for Elected
Offices
Office
Year of Charter
1895
1905
1917
1919
1948*
1962**
2001
Mayor
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Recorder
1
1
1
1
Chamberlain
1
1
1
1
1
1
Assessor
1
1
1
1
1
Alderman at Large
1
1
1
1
1
1
Council member at large
1
Bd. of Education
9
9
9
9
Water Commr. At Large
1
1
1
1
Justices of the Peace
2
Constables
2
City Judge and Recorder
1
1
City Ct. Judge
1
Treasurer
1
Ward Aldermen
8
8
8
8
4
4
Ward Council members
4
Ward Water Comrs.
4
4
4
4
Water Commissioners
5
Ward Supervisors (County)
4
4
4
4
4
4
35
31
22
22
13
12
13
* Local law 2 of 1948 abolished elected water board
** Continues 1905 charter as base document - Makes
no direct
changes in Water Department
Provisions
.
§319 - Leaves not inconsistent provisons in forceSlide28
City of Johnstown Trend
Length and Complexity of City Charter
1895 – 141 Pages
1905 - 135 Pages
1949 – 104 pages – 14 Articles
1962 –
2001 – 42 pages – 10 Articles