1911 Compensation. Territorial boundaries. Ordaining clause. Authority of shall have the right to subpoena witnesses to testify before the Council. No officer shall be suspended or charges or specifications sustained against him, except by a twothirds vote of the Council, and the said vote shall be by the yeas and nays and the said vote shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council. Sec. 50. The Council of the City of Plant City, Florida, shall have authority to fix the salary, compensation or fees of the respective and various officers of the said city. Sec. 51. The boundaries of the City of Plant City, Florida, shall be as follows: "Commencing at the northeast corner of northwest quarter of section 28, township 28, south range 22 east, and run west one-half mile, thence north one-half mile. thence west one-fourth mile, thence south one-half mile, thence west three-fourths mile, thence south one and one fourth mile, thence east three-fourths mile, thence south one-fourth mile, thence east one-half mile, thence north one-fourth mile, thence east one-fourth mile, thence north one and one-fourth mile to place of beginning." Sec. 52. The ordaining clause of all ordinances passed by the Council of the City of Plant City, Florida, shall be as follows: "Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Plant City, Florida." Sec. 53. The City Council of the City of Plant City, Florida, shall have control and management of all the property of the said city, that is to say any plant for the furnishing of water, gas or electricity or other public utility and all other property of the city, and shall appoint such superintendents and other managers or employees for such property as may be necessary, and shall do and transact all business for the said city, as may be neces sary and shall enter into and make all contracts for and on behalf of the said city, pertaining to any public work of whatever nature, or authorize the same to be done. The said Council may waive the right of the said city for any right or franchise or privilege where the best interest of the said city may demand and require. Sec 54. This Act shall become effective from and after its passage, and approval by the Governor, or becoming a law without his approval. Approved May 13, 1911. 1911 CHAPTER 6390-(No. 271). AN ACT to Amend Sections One, Three, Five, Six, Seven and Eight of Chapter No. 5537 of the Laws of Florida, Entitled An Act to Amend and Supplement the Charter of the Town of Punta Gorda, Florida, Designated As Chapter No. 5085 Laws of Florida, 1901; and Also to Amend Sections Thirty-three, Forty-seven, Fortynine and Fifty of Chapter No. 5085 of the Laws of Florida, Entitled An Act to Incorporate and Establish a Municipal Government for the Town of Punta Gorda, DeSoto County, Florida; Providing for Its Government; Prescribing Its Jurisdiction and Power and to Abolish the Present Corporation of Said Town, Approved May 27, 1901. Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. That Section 1 of Chapter No. 5537, Laws of Florida of 1905, be amended to read as follows: Sec. 2. That the government and corporate authority Corporate of said town shall be vested in a Mayor, a Town Council authority. to consist of five Aldermen, a Treasurer, a Marshal, a Tax Collector, a Tax Assessor and a Clerk and such other offi cers as may be appointed or elected in pursuance of law and the ordinances of said town. The offices of Clerk, Tax Assessor and Tax Collector shall be held by one and the same person. If the office of Mayor, Alderman or other elective officer of said town shall become vacant by death, resignation or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of Town Council at its next regular meeting, or a special meeting called for that purpose. All officers appointed to Vacancies. 1911 Bond issue. fill any such vacancy shall hold office under said appointment only until next regular election. Sec. 2. That Section 3 of Chapter No. 5537, Laws of Florida of 1905, be amended to read as follows: Sec. 21. That whenever it shall be deemed advisable to issue bonds of the Town of Punta Gorda for any pur pose or purposes hereinafter named; for raising money to be used in constructing and maintaining, water-works, gas works or other illuminating work; a system of sewerage; or otherwise promoting the health of the town; opening, widening or paving the streets or sidewalks, public parks and promenades; establishing and maintaining a fire department; erecting public buildings; paying off any debt incurred by said town; and for any other purpose deemed necessary for the public good, the Mayor and the Town Council, in their corporate capacity, are hereby authorized to issue bonds of said town under the seal thereof to an amount not to exceed 10% of the taxable value of the property, both real and personal, of said town as shown by the Tax Assessment Roll thereof at the time of the issue of said bonds; said bonds shall be signed by the Mayor, countersigned by the President of the Town Council and attested by the Clerk, and shall have interest coupon thereto attached, all of which shall be signed in like manner; Provided, however, That before said bonds shall be issued, the issuance thereof shall be approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the elec tors of said town voting at an election to be held for that purpose. The manner of conducting and certifying the said election shall be regulated by ordinance; the time, place and purpose of every such election shall be adver tised for not less than thirty days in a newspaper published in said town, or by posting in three conspicuous places therein three copies of such notice; one of which shall be on the door of the Town Hall. At all such elec tions only resident electors possessing the qualifications provided by law for voting at general elections in said town, who shall also own real estate within the corporate limits thereof, and who shall have paid taxes thereon for the year when such taxes were last due, shall be entitled to vote. Sec. 3. That Section 5 of Chapter No. 5537, Laws of Florida of 1905, be amended to read as 'follows: Sec. 29. There shall be a Marshal and a Treasurer, each of whom shall serve for one year and until his successor is elected and qualified. They shall be elected annually at the general election of town officers, and shall each give bond as the Council may by ordinance prescribe, and shall receive such compensation as is provided by ordinance, which shall not be changed during their term of office. The Treasurer shall receive all money paid to the town for taxes, licenses or other purpose; shall keep a correct book of account thereof; shall report monthly to the Town Council all payments made to or by him, and all balances of public funds, and shall pay out the town's funds only on warrants drawn in Council meeting, signed by the President of the Council, attested by the Clerk and sealed with the corporate seal. Sec. 4. That Section 33 of Chapter No. 5085 of Laws of Florida of 1905, be amended to read as follows: 1911 Marshal and Treas urer. lector. Sec. 33. That it shall be the duty of the Tax Collector Tax Colto collect all taxes on real and personal property in the town according to the assessment roll delivered to him by the Town Council, as required by ordinances; to collect all licenses on trades and occupations provided for in the charter and the ordinances of said town; receive all funds; give receipts therefor; make weekly payments to the Treasurer of all funds coming into his hands and take the Treasurer's receipt therefor; make a monthly report to the Town Council, or officers as required, of all receipts and collections made by him and payments to the Treas The Collector shall perform all acts required of him in the collection of taxes and licenses as provided by ordinances of said town. urer. Sec. 5. That Section 6 of Chapter No. 5537, Laws of Florida of 1905, be amended to read as follows: Assessor and Sec. 34. The office of Clerk, Tax Assessor and Tax Col- Clerk, Tax lector shall be held by one and the same person, who shall serve for one year and until his successor is elected and qualified; he shall be elected annually at each general election; his compensation shall be fixed by the Town Council, not to exceed $75.00 per month, and he shall give bond to be approved by the Town Council in the sum of $5,000.00. 1911 Duty of Rate of taxation, levies, etc. As Clerk he shall attend all meetings of the Town Council; shall keep and enter on the minutes a record of al! official acts of the Council and enter and record into books to be kept for that purpose, all ordinances and resolutions passed by said Town Council, and shall perform such other duties as Clerk as may be required by ordinance, or as is usually pertaining to that office. Sec. 6. That Section 7 of Chapter No. 5537, be amended to read as follows: Sec. 35. It shall be the duty of the Tax Assessor to make an annual assessment of all the property, real and personal, in the corporate limits of said town, and to fix the valuation thereof without regard to the valuation placed or assessed thereon for State and county taxation, and such assessment shall include the property of railroad and telegraph companies; and he shall perform such other duties pertaining to the office of tax assessor as is prescribed by the charter and ordinances of said town. The Tax Assessor is hereby vested with the authority and required to perform the duties prescribed by the char ter of the Town of Punta Gorda, with the amendments thereto, and the ordinances of said town. Sec. 7. That Section 47 of Chapter No. 5085 of the Laws of Florida of 1901, be amended to read as follows: Sec. 47. At the meeting at which the Town Council shall approve and adopt the assessment roll, it shall determine the amount to be raised by taxation and fix the rate of taxation and make the annual levies of the cur rent year. Such levies shall not in any year, for ordinary corporate purposes, exceed (ten) 10 mills on the dollar of assessed valuation; the words "ordinary corporate pur poses" shall embrace all expenses for police, streets, gas and other illuminating material, and all other purposes strictly municipal; said Council may levy annually, in addition to the foregoing tax, not to exceed five mills for water-works and fire protection, and may, at their discre tion, levy such special tax as may be necessary to pay any indebtedness of the town or the interest thereon, and to provide a sinking funds for the payment of any bonded indebtedness; provided such special tax shall not exceed ten mills on the dollar of valuation for such special purposes in any one year. |