Chapter XVI.
SUCCESSION IN GOVERNMENT

Section 1.  Rights of Officers and Employees Preserved

Except as specifically provided, nothing in this Charter shall affect or impair the rights or privileges of City officers or employees existing when this Charter takes effect, or any law not inconsistent with this Charter and in force when this Charter takes effect, regarding personnel, appointment, rank, grades, tenure of office, promotion, removal, pension and retirement rights, civil rights, or any other rights or privileges of City officers or employees.

Section 2.  Continuance of Present Officers

All persons holding administrative office at the time this Charter takes effect will continue in office and in the performance of their duties until provisions have been made in accordance therewith for the performance of such duties or the discontinuance of such office.

Section 3.  Continuance of Present Offices, Departments, or Agencies

A.    Any office, department, or agency provided for in this Charter to be named or with powers and duties the same or substantially the same as those heretofore existing, are deemed a continuation of such office, department, or agency, and have powers to continue any business proceedings or other matters within the scope of the powers and duties prescribed by this Charter. Any office, department, or agency, not provided for in this Charter, heretofore existing, shall continue to exercise powers and duties as the same were heretofore exercised and have the power to continue any business proceedings or other matters within the scope of its regular powers and duties until such office, department, or agency shall be changed or abolished by the Council as heretofore provided in this Charter.

B.    The powers conferred, and the duties imposed upon any office, department, or agency of the City by state law will, if such office, department, or agency be abolished by this Charter or under its authority, be thereafter exercised and discharged by the office, department, or agency designated by the Council, unless otherwise provided herein.

Section 4.  Continuance of Appointive Board and Commissions

All appointive boards and commissions, heretofore existing, shall continue and shall exercise such powers and duties as the Council granted them until such boards and commissions are changed or abolished by the Council as heretofore provided in this Charter.

Section 5.  Transfer of Records and Property

All records, property, and equipment whatsoever of any office, department, agency, or part thereof, all the powers and duties of which are assigned to any other office, department, or agency by this Charter, or under its authority, shall be transferred and delivered to the office, department, or agency to which such powers and duties are so assigned.

Section 6.  Continuance of Contracts

All contracts entered into by the City, or for its benefit, prior to the taking effect of this Charter, shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 7.  Pending Actions and Proceedings

The adoption of this Charter shall not abate or otherwise affect any action or proceeding, civil or criminal, pending when it takes full effect, brought by or against the City or any office, department, agency, or officer thereof.

Section 8.  Ordinances to Remain in Force

All ordinances, resolutions, and regulations of the City, in force at the time this Charter takes effect, and not inconsistent with the provisions hereof, are hereby continued in force until the same shall be duly amended or repealed.

Section 9.  Inauguration of Government under this Charter

If a majority of the City’s qualified electors voting on the question vote to ratify this Charter, it will go into effect for all purposes immediately upon the approval of the Governor, as provided by state law.