§ 30. Enumeration of powers of council.

Among the powers hereby conferred upon the council are the following:

To regulate the manner in which bicycles may be ridden in said city.

To provide a sufficient supply of pure water for said city.

To provide a sufficient and adequate water system and waterworks and sewerage system for said city.

To provide electric lights or other lights for lighting the streets, public buildings and houses of private individuals in said city.

To employ an attorney, a street overseer and such other employees as in their discretion may be required for said city and fix their compensation.

To provide for the curbing and paving of the streets and sidewalks of said city, and the cleaning of the same, to the extent such council may deem best.

To establish and regulate a market or markets in said city, and to erect or lease and use a suitable market-house therefor.

To provide proper and effectual means and regulations to prevent and extinguish fires in said city, and to provide for the establishment, organization, equipment, and government of fire companies.

To appoint and regulate city watches.

To make suitable regulations for the observance of Sundays in said city, and to provide for the enforcement of same.

To prevent, suppress and remove nuisances in said city.

To regulate the manner in which dogs may be kept in said city.

To regulate the speed at which horses may be driven or ridden through said city.

To regulate the mode or manner in which fire may be carried through said city, and the arrangement of stovepipe flues in buildings.

To regulate the manner in which animals may be kept in the city at large.

To cause all alleys, lots, cellars, styes, stables and other places of similar character to be examined, cleaned, removed or abated as may be prescribed by the council.

To prohibit all trades or occupations which are nuisances from being carried on in said city.

To establish and maintain one (1) or more public cemeteries of such size as they may deem necessary within or without the corporate limits of said city, and provide for the care and maintenance of same, and the proper regulation, control and protection thereof.

To make ordinances to prohibit or control the firing of firearms, firecrackers, torpedos and other explosive material in the said city.

To regulate the speed at which railroad engines and trains shall run within the city limits and any of the streets of said city on said streets, and to require said railroads to keep the street crossings in good repair, and to require said railroads to provide proper gates or watchmen at all crossings in said city, and to give proper alarm or signals of the approach of any and all trains at said crossings, and to require said railroads to keep in repair and erect all necessary overhead bridges in said city, when in the discretion of said city council, said bridges are necessary for the travel and passing and repassing of the citizens of said city, upon any street in said city[,] said railroad or any of them cross.

To adopt a seal for said corporation, and same to be kept by the mayor thereof.

To require all officers, appointed or elected by the mayor and city council of said city, to give good and sufficient bonds for the faithful performance of their duties, as the same is prescribed by law, in such sum or sums as the city council and mayor thereof may deem proper.

To make provisions and take all proper measures to preserve the peace and order of said city, and to execute all laws and ordinances thereof.

To enact and pass such laws and ordinances and regulations as said council may deem necessary to preserve the health of said city, and provide for the enforcement of the same.

To make provisions for licensing and regulating auctioneers and auctions in said city, and for licensing and taxing all public vendors and criers of nostrums, drugs, soaps, medicines, and provide for the enforcement of the same.

To provide licensing, regulating or restraining theatrical and other public amusements within said city, and all bill-posters and advertisements thereof, and to enforce all such provisions.

To establish all necessary inspection within said city whether of buildings or otherwise.

To lay and provide for the collection of all taxes authorized by law to be laid, levied or collected by said city, and enforce the collection of the same.

To appoint and provide for the pay and prescribe the duties of all such other officers of said city as may by said city council be deemed necessary.

To prescribe and regulate the charges for the carrying of persons, baggage and freight by omnibus, wagons, drays, carriages and other vehicles in said city, and to issue license for omnibus, hacks, carriages, drays and other vehicles used therein for the transportation, for hire, of persons or things.

To make proper provisions and take all necessary measures to preserve said city from contagious diseases or infectious diseases, and to declare and enforce quarantine and quarantine regulations therein.

To make and pass all such rules, regulations and ordinances as may be necessary for the government, control, management or operating of all electric light plants, or other lighting system, waterworks or sewerage systems, as the city council may deem necessary.

To make ordinances regulating the erection and maintenance of overhead electric or other wires; to prevent obstruction to streets and to prevent accidents to or injuries to the citizens.

To pass all laws, ordinances and regulations necessary or proper to carry into effect the intent and meaning of this act: provided, they are not incompatible with the constitution or laws of this state.

Editor's note

Due to the broad administrative and executive powers granted to the city manager by virtue of Session Laws of 1961, chapter 509, many of the powers enumerated in this section have been assumed by the manager. See also the editor's note to the title "Charter."

State law reference

Corporate powers, G.S. 160A-11 et seq.; council-manager form of government, G.S. 160A-101, 160A-147 et seq.; speed of trains, G.S. 62-239, 160A-195; safety devices at grade crossings, G.S. 160A-298; offenses relating to explosives, G.S. 14-283 et seq.; municipal regulation of explosives, G.S. 160A-183; general powers supplementary to charters, G.S. 160A-3.

Cross reference

City manager, § 16.1.