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Content of Act/Resolution 1927 Vol. 1 -- Page: 1493

Sequential Number: 360

Short Title: RICEBORO CITY CHARTER.
Law Number: No. 327.

Full Title: An Act to incorporate the City of Riceboro in Liberty County, to define the corporate limits thereof, to provide for a mayor and council, to provide the manner of their election, to provide for the enaction of all necessary ordinances, to provide penalties for the violation of same; and for other purposes.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that on and after the passage of this Act the City of Riceboro in the County of Liberty be and the same is hereby incorporated as a city under the name of Riceboro.
[Sidenote: Riceboro incorporated as city.]

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the incorporate limits of said City of Riceboro: Beginning at the point where the Coastal Highway crosses the Seaboard Air Line Railway Company's tracks and right of way near the depot on said railroad at Riceboro Georgia, and running one mile in each and every direction from the center of said crossing.
[Sidenote: Corporate limits.]

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted that the municipal authorities of said city shall be the mayor and four councilmen, who are hereby constituted a body corporate by the name of Riceboro, and by said name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, purchase and hold real estate necessary to better enable them to better discharge their duties and needful for the good order, government, and welfare of said city, and by said name shall also have perpetual succession.
[Sidenote: Mayor and councilmen: general powers.]

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, that from and after the passage of this Act, Charles B. Jones of said City be and he is hereby constituted and appointed mayor of said city, and M. B. Jones, M. G. Baxter, Fred Amason, and J. B. Caswell, all of said city be and they are hereby appointed and constituted councilmen of said city. The said mayor and councilmen to hold their respective offices until their successors in office are duly elected and qualified as hereinafter provided.
[Sidenote: Mayor and councilmen named.]

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, that on the first Wednesday in January, 1929, and annually thereafter on the same day and in the same month, an election shall be held in said city for mayor and councilmen thereof, said election to be under such supervision rules and regulations (not inconsistent with the laws regulating county elections) as the council may prescribe.
[Sidenote: Election of successors.]

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, that all persons who have been bona fide residents of said city for six months next preceding an election held therein, and who are qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly, shall be allowed to vote in any election held in said city.
[Sidenote: Qualification of voters.]

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, that the mayor and councilmen, and such other officers of said city as are hereinafter provided for, shall, after election or appointment to his office, and before he shall enter upon the duties thereof, take and prescribe the following oath (which oath may be administered by any officer authorized by the Code of Georgia to administer oaths): "I do solemnly swear or

affirm that I will faithfully discharge all duties incumbent upon me as mayor, councilmen, or other officer of the City of Riceboro, according to the best of my ability; so help me God." Said oath, with the certificate of the officer administering the same, shall be filed with the officer entrusted with the records of said city.
[Sidenote: Oath of office.]

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, that the mayor and councilmen shall have power and authority to elect such marshals, clerks, and other subordinate officers as may be deemed necessary for carrying on the powers herein granted, and prescribe the duties and compensation of such officers, and require of them such bonds as they may deem necessary, payable to said city in its corporate name.
[Sidenote: Election of subordinate officers.]

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, that the council of said city shall have the power therein to lary off, close, open, and keep in order and repair roads, streets, and sidewalks for the use of the public or any citizen thereof; to prevent injury or annoyance to the public or individuals from anything dangerous or unwholesome; to protect places of divine worship in or about the premises where held; to abate or cause to be abated anything which in the opinion of the majority or of the whole council shall be a nuisance; to protect the property and persons of said city, and to preserve the peace and good order thereof, and for this purpose to appoint, when necessary, a police force to assist the marshal in his duties; to provide for the annual assessment of taxable property therein; to adopt rules and regulations for the government of its own body. The council shall have power to make and pass all needful orders, ordinances, and by-laws not contrary to the constitution and the laws of Georgia and the United States, to carry into effect the foregoing enumerated powers, and all others conferred upon said city, and to this end may prescribe, impose and enact reasonable fines, penalties, and imprisonments in the city jail or other place of confinement prescribed by the council for a term not to exceed twenty days.
[Sidenote: Powers of council.]

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, that the said city shall have the power and right to organize work-gangs, and to

confine at labor therein, for a term not to exceed twenty days, persons convicted of violating the ordinances of said city; provided, that said penalty shall be inflicted only as an alternative for failure or refusal to pay a fine imposed for such violation.
[Sidenote: Penalties]

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, that the mayor of said city shall have authority to bind over or commit to jail offenders against any criminal law of Georgia, whenever in the course of investigation before him a proper case thereof shall be made out by evidence.
[Sidenote: Commitment or bail.]

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, that said mayor and council shall have the power and authority to elect a mayor pro tem, who shall be one of the council, who shall perform the duties of mayor when, from any cause, he cannot be present to perform the duties of his office; also to fill any vacancy that may occur in the office of mayor or councilmen, or any subordinate office of said city.
[Sidenote: Mayor pro tem.]

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, that the mayor of said city shall be chief executive officer thereof. He shall see that the ordinances, by-laws, rules, and regulations of the council are faithfully executed. He shall have control of the police of said city, and may appoint special police when he may deem it necessary. He shall have the power to hold his police court for the trial of offenders of the ordinances of said city at any time he may fix; he shall have power to issue executions for all fines, penalties, and costs imposed by him, or he may require the immediate payment thereof, and in default of such immediate payment he may imprison the offender or offenders, or sentence him to a term not exceeding twenty days in the jail or work-gang as hereinafter provided.
[Sidenote: Mayor's powers.]

Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, that the said corporation shall have and enjoy all the rights, powers, and privileges incident to such corporations, and not repugnant to the constitution and laws of the State of Georgia and of the United States.
[Sidenote: General corporate powers.]

Sec. 15. Be it further enacted, that all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed.

Approval Date: Approved August 20, 1926.