IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I *J^||1^ \\\\\15 'J lllitt J;'. iii3-6 :il£ m 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 !.6 -« 6" — ► p>. (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END "), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole --^> signifie "A SUiVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre f'Imds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche & droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ni^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 t 2 3 4 5 6 €4> t^'C^-'-j v.. ^'^'^i t^. ■^ .^•^^■-^,. T.T5. ^'/t^a.khJ-TitKrfS "f » REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON RE- 1 VISION OF THE CITY CHARTER. Subiiiitted and read at a meeting of the City Council, Dec. 8tli, 1885, and directed to be published for the in- formation of Council. ^ Thos. Rhind, City Clerk, % • . -'. sl^ I i\ K/i" To His Worship the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Halifax: The Committee of the City Council appointed to revise the City Charter herehy report to the City Council the j)ropo8ed amendments to title one of the City Charter which are embodied in the papers herewith enclosed, and i-equest the concurrence of the Council therein. B. F. Pearson, Chairman. Halifax, Dec. 7th, A. T), 1885. Whereas, this committee recognize the necessity of a radical reform in the Government of the affairs of the City of Halifax otherwise than that hitherto provided for in the City Charter and the amendments thereof; And ivhereas, this Committee is of the opinion that it is expedient and necessary before entering upon the revision cf the City Charter and before making any material iilteration in the provisions of the law regulating the present (xovernment of the City and the administration of the laws and ordinances therein, to ascertain the opinion of the City Council thereupon ; Therefore resolved, that this Committee do report to the City Council the proposed changes in title one of the City ('barter, a true copy of which is exhibited herewith and which fairly outlines the general scope of the proposed changes, and requet l the favorable opinion of the Council thereupon. B. F. Pearson, Chairman of Committee to Revise City Charter. ^■^Kitmm **iiam TITLE I. 6. The administration of all tho fiscal, prudential and municipal aHairs of the City of Halifax, with the govern- ment thereof, shall be vested in the City Council, which shall consist of one principal magistrate, to be styled the Mayor ; and one Council of eighteen members or Aldermen, hereinafter denominated the City Council, all of whom shall be inhabitants of said City of Halifax. The said M:ointn,ent to office or promo- (0 To exact and receive fmm H,« , . ; epartments annually on or .etc otl. m '^r'"' ^'^'"^« «^" the end of each H«ca/ veai' ale 1 jl?^"*^ i'^'^^'^^^'n^' during the preceedin^r -^"rr andT ""^ -^^'V' ^'^^^^^'^ngZ City Council with all Lon .""""^ *'^^ «unie to the ti^^ught proper. »*><'«nm,endat.ons that may be eo.ve $2,000, and the Ja.t lln /il '^}'.fyo^' «h«il re- remaming members accor h,7 ' li • "^'"''^^'^ ""^"«^? ^^e lueetingsofthe IJoarc^ ^ '^ ^^''"' "^t^^dance aj the , or 1.8 of I)e , 14. The City Council shall be invested with the entire legislative functions and powers pertaining to the govern- ment of the city, and may from time to time make, alter, amend or repeal by-laws or ordinances for the good rule, peace, government and welfare of the city, and for carry- ing into effect more fully all powers, functions and offices vested in the corporation by law \ and in addition to the above, may enact, alter, amend or repeal ordinances or by-laws upon the following subjects : First. — Providing for the re-organization of the several departments of the city, so as to conform to the require- ments of this charter. Second. — To assess, levy and collect all taxes for general and special purposes and licenses ; to borrow money on the faith and credit of the city, by the issue or sale of lionds or notes, for such amounts, and for such time, and for such purpose, as may be required for cur- rent expenses, and for payment of maturing bonds ; to appropriate the money of the city for legitimate purposes, j»nd provide for its debts and expenses. Third. — To establish, open, vacate, alter, widen, ex- tend, pave or otherwise improve, and sprinkle all streets, avenues, sidewalks, alleys, wharves and public grounds and squares, and provide for the payment of the costs and I'xpenses thereof ; and also to provide for grading, light- 8 ing, cleaning nnd repairing the same, and to compel the owner or occupant of buildings or grounds to remove snow, dirt or rubbish from the sidewalk or alley opposite thereto, and to condemn }jrivate property for public use, as provided for in this charter ; to construct and keep in repair all bridges, streets, sewers and drains, and to regu- late the use thereof, and to confine, wall up, cover over, alter or change the channel of water courses ; to establish and maintain waterworks for fully supplying the city with wholesome water, and to distribute the same for public and private use, in such manner and upon such terms as shall be provided by ordinance ; to establish and maintain a sanitary system, a system of police, and a tiro de- partment. Fourth. — To erect, purchase or rent a city hall, engint^ houses, and all other necessary municipal buildings ; to estal)lish market-places and meat shops, and to license, regulate, sell, lease, abolish or otherwise dispose of the same ; and to enclose, improve, regulate or sell all parks and other public grounds belonging tc the city. Fifth. — To regulate and license the exhibitions of common showmen and shows of all kinds, and also all Kuctioners within the city ; and all ferries and tow-boats, towing-boats or other water craft into or within the harbor ; to sell ferry privileges within the city limits, and to establish ferry rates ; to charge and collect wharfage on tirewood, lumber,- timber, logs, shingles, staves, posts, laths and other articles brought to the Port of Halifax and lauded on city jn'operty ; to set aside or lease portions of said property for special purposes, but no permit to use any portion of the wharf, or any lease of the same, shall be granted for a term exceeding titty years. Sixth. — To establish and enforce laws and regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of contagious dis- eases, and to secure the general health of the inhabitants by any measure necessary ; to regulate the slaughtering of animals ; provide for the erection, management and regu- lation of slaughter houses ; prevent the driving of stock throu'jjh the city ; prohibit the erection of soap factories, stock yards and slaughter houses, pig-pens, cow stables and dairies^ coal oil and vitriol factories within prescribed limits, and to remove and regulate the same ; and to re- gulate or prevent the carrying on ot any business which 9 fegu- hlic '•■^ aa itain de- may be (Uingci'ous or (Ifitvimcnlal to the j)ul)Iic hciill!), or the niaimfacture or vending of articles obnoxious to tlie health of the inhnbitantH ; and to doelarc, prevent and abate nuisance on public or private profj^'ity and the cnu.scs thereof: and the Mayor, whenever in his opinion, a nuisance exists on public or private proi)erty, or whenever a nuisance has been so declared by ordinance or resolution of the Board of Health is authorized to abate and remove such nuisance and the cause thereof in a summary manner at the cost of the owner or occupant of the premises where the nuisance, or the cause thereof, may be, and for that purpose aiay enter upon and take possession of any J'le- mises or property where such nuisance may exist or be produced. Seventh. — To make prevision for the inspection and measurement of lumber and other building material, and to license engineers using steam boilers in said city : for the inspection of beef, pork, flour, meal, oil, coal oil, naphtha, benzine and other burning fluids, molasses, syrups, turpentine, vinegar, beer and ale, wines, whisky, rum, brandy and other spirituous liquors in barrels, hogs- heads and other vessels ; for the inspection and weighing or measuring hay or stone, coal, charcoal, flrewood and all other kinds of fuel to be used in the City of Halifax ; for the inspection of butter, cheese, milk, lard and other pro- visions; for regulating the weight and quality of bread ; the price and quality of gas ; and for the inspection and vending of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables ; to designate the place where such urticles shall be sold ; restrain and punish the forestalling of poultry, butter, eggs, vegetal)les, and fruit ; and regulate or suppress hucksters, provided that nothing in this article shall be construed so as to authorize the inspection of any article enumerated in this Act, which is to be shipped beyond the limits of the city, except at the request of the owner thereof; and provided further, that the insi)ectors under this subdivision shall be qualified by practical experience to discharge their respec- tive duties. Eighth. — To regulate and provide for the election or appointment of city oificers, required by this charter, or authorized by ordinance and provide for their suspension or removal : and they shall establish the salaries of all officers and the compensation of all employes, excepting r ''PP" 10 day laborers, respectively, for their services : Provided, That the solary of no officer shall be changed during the term for which Lc is elected or appointed, and that no other officer receiving a salary shall receive fees or other compensation for his services. Kinth. — To restrain and prevent any riot, rout, noise, disturbance, or disorderly assemblage, and amusement dangerous to persons or property, in any street, house or place in the city, and regulate or prohibit the running at lerge of cattle, cows, hogs, goats, dogs, and every other brute animal within the limits of the city, and to kill or confiscate the same when at large contrary to the ordi- nance ; t(^ prevent and remove all obstructions and encroachments upon the sidewalks, curbstones carriage- ways, streets, avenues and alleys, at the expense of the owners of the ground fronting thereon or otherwise, and to regulate and prohibit the building of vaults under sidewalks. Tenth — To impose, collect and enforce fines, forfei- tures and penalties for the breach of any city ordinance, by tine, or imprisonment, or both. Eleventh — To take all needful steps in and out of the Province to protect the rights of the city in any corpora- tion in which the city may have acquired an interest ; to have sole power and authority to grant to persons or cor- porations the right to construct railways in the city, sub- ject to the right to amend, alter or repeal any such grant, in whole or in [)art, and to regulate and control the same, as to th-^ir fares, hours and frequency of trips, and the repair of their trucks, and the kind of their raila and vehicles ; l)ut every right so granted shall cease unless the work of construction shall be begun within one year from the granting of the right, and be continued to completion with all reasonably practical speed. Iwelflh. — The City Council, through its officers, may, .'it all rensonai)le times, enter into and examine all dwel- lings, lots, yards, enclosures and buildings of every description, to ascertain their condition for health, cleanli- ness and safety ; take down and remove buildings, walls or superstructures that are or may become dangerous, or require owners to remove or put them in a safe and secure cDiidition, at their own expense; regulate the storage ot V Si ^ I 1 11 ■a gunpowder, giant powder, dynamite, nitro-glycerine and other explosive compounds, and of all combustible and in- flammable materials ; the use of lights and candles in stables, shops and other places ; remove or prevent the construction of any fire-places, chimneys, stove, oven, boiler, kettles or any apparatus used in any house, build- ing, manufactory or business which is liable to cause fires or conflagrations ; direct the safe deposit of ashes, or other dangerous rubbish or material, and order and regu- late the building of partition, parapet and fire-walls, partition fences, smoke flues, hot-air flues, smoke stacks, and the erection and cleaning of chimneys ; shall provide for the safe construction, inspection and repairs of all pri- vate or public buildings within the prescribed limits, and remove the same at the owner's expense when erected or suftered to remain contrary to law or ordinance ; compel persons to aid in extinguishing fires, or in the preservation of property liable to be destroyed or stolen, and compel owners of buildings to have scuttles on their roofs, and stairs or ladders leaning thereto. Thirteenth. — To make suitable provision for the main- tenance and support of poor persons. Fourteenth. — Finally, to pass all such ordinances not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter, or the laws of the Province, as may be expedient in maintaining the peace, good government, health and welfare of the city, its trade, commerce and manufactures, and to enforce the same as hereinbefore provided, not exceeding five hundred dollars ; and by forfeitures not exceeding one tliousand dollars; to purchase, rent or lease within the limits of the city or elsewhere, ony real or personal pro- ]^erty, and to control, manage, sell or lease, or otherwise dispose of the same for such purposes and considerations as they may deem proper for the public welfare of the city. 13. To prevent and punish horse racing, immoderate riding or driving in the streets ; to compel persons to fasten their horses or other animals attached to vehicles, or otherwise, while standing in the streets, and to regu- late places ot bathing and swimming in the waters within tile limits of the city.