ChangeDecatur Implications

	The current mayor and city council serve until the next municipal election which will be April 7, 2009. (The first Tuesday in April in odd numbered years.)
	There will be a primary election for a new city mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, and alderpersons on February 24, 2009. (The last Tuesday in February in odd numbered years.)
	The city must be drawn into 10 wards on or before January 24, 2009 (30 days before the primary) by the current Mayor and city council. Each ward must be compact, contiguous, and approximately equal in population.
	The mayor, clerk, and treasurer are elected for 4 years. Alderpersons are elected for 4 years except immediately after the first election under the new system there will be a random selection of 1/2 of the alderman who shall serve a 2 year term so that in all future elections only 1/2 of the alderpersons are elected at any one election.
	To be eligible to be mayor, clerk, or treasurer you must have lived in the city for one year, reside in the ward from which you are elected, be current in your taxes, and not be a city employee.
	The salaries of the mayor, treasurer, city clerk, and alderpersons must be set by the current city council at least 6 months before the election.
	At the first council meeting there are 6 items which must be passed:

	Define the duties of the mayor
	Define the scope of each department and division of each department
	Describe the duties of appointed officer and employees
	Fix the salaries of the appointed officers
	Set up independent auditors for the city finances
	Repeal any ordinance that conflicts with the new form of government

	The city council is an independent body. The mayor has the right to be heard at the meetings, but he does not run the meetings and cannot vote. Therefore, the council will elect a chairman who runs the meetings.
	The city council must pass each resolution by a majority of the number of alderpersons elected, so 11 votes are needed.
	The mayor may veto any resolution and may line item veto budget items. It takes 3/5 of the alderperson to override a veto which is 12 votes.