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The laflorrn a don belmon elected offl-clyc"i Is apt d counicil Qt' ira cture a nyd ro-le is C511 I eAX61rat �Tom Gha n-ter 6 of thie League's 2007 Hlandbololk for Minnesota titles. The Handbook is FRED or the League's web site at wwwJrnc.org. It has information for city councils on: a the form and structure of Minnesota Cities; 1I i a b i flity, 0 f"idals, and council meetings; finance, budgeting and debt, and more. elections, of oil' Q regulatory and development functions of cities, The comerstone of city governinent in Minnesota is the elected city council- The city council fashioDs the Policies that detion-ni -nine a con.ununity's present and Riture well-being. Because people look to their local I goveriunent for leadership, much of the responsibility ff)r com.i-nunity d,eve,lopment falls on the shoulders Of eity 1..� council member s. 0 Ti perrns of offics All temas, of office in statutory cities begin on the first Monday of.Tanuary following the election. The ZD terms of the old officers end at this trine, or as soon after that as the.-Liewty elected officers qualify by, L taldD a an oath. and fling a bond, if one is required. If the newly elected officer refuses or fails to qualif ; the i.ncumbent officer continues to hold of until the council declares the of- ice vacant and appoints a successor, The length of the Nrarious teens of office is provided by staftite. B Oath of offlc(B Whether or not C)fficials need a bond, they must take and sign an oath of office before exercisim,:r any of their powe,rs. This i—'n(cludes y m ber o f _uncisc , boards, co=isssiions, and amil-1-1-inlistrative. ThiR annlie-v, to appointed as Nvell as to elected officials. The oath is as follows.- (�iiainq) do solemn ly sv�var to support the Constitution oj'tihe United States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and to dfischM-aefaifhfully the duties of the office of (insert 1,)rlqf descripf ion of office) th e 11't of (insert city), Afinnesota, to the best of n-7,yjudw77enit an ability, so help in God, "' -TIA UVIE It is the duty of the inayor, clerk, and council members to ensure the city is fulfilliner its duties under the law and lawfully exercisincT its 'poi iers. Z-- City officials can sornetimes be hold personally liable for failing to act or for taking unauthorized arCtioDS On the part of the city. To avoid personal-liability lawsuits, city officials, should gain a working knowledere of the laws t: that regulate city government. Whenever there is any doubt about the validity of an action or procedure, city officials should consult their icity attorney. mr9*01M A Good Start to Good Governance Leagae of Minnesota Cities tp