CITY GOVERNMENT OF BOYS STATE

Cities in Boys State will have a weak mayor/strong council form of government. Cities will be organized on Saturday and Sunday. The program gives the schedule of these activities. The Counselor-in-Charge shall preside until officers are selected. All city elections will be supervised by two Election Officers, known as the Election Commission, members of which can not at any time be candidates for office, but who can be appointed to minor positions. Volunteers should be sought for these positions. One must be a member of each party. With the exception of these two, any citizen may run for any municipal office.

Each city shall elect a Mayor who shall serve as the chief executive officer of the municipality. He shall appoint all minor officials with the approval of the City Council. He shall approve or disapprove all actions of the City Council, most notably ordinances and home rule petitions. The Mayor also has the obligation to prepare a city budget for presentation to the City Council, after consulting with various city officials. He also must supervise the work of all appointed officers.

Each city shall elect seven City Councilors. The City Council can formulate city ordinances, approve or disapprove the Mayor’s budget, act upon appointments of the Mayor, hear reports of all committees and appointed officials, make resolutions, and pledge the credit of the city. The City Council, working with both the Mayor and the City Treasurer, shall create a city budget, documenting the estimated costs which are necessary for the proper functioning of the city.

Each city shall elect a School Committee of three members who shall appoint a Superintendent of Schools. The committee shall discuss and propose solutions to all school issues and those issues which may concern the city’s school system. The School Committee shall consider financial aspects of the city’s school system and
prepare a budget for the year.

Each city shall have a Planning Board of no more than five members, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The Board shall be concerned with all matters of city construction, zoning, and numerous other issues.

The Planning Board may act in conjunction with the Commissioner of Public Works in maintaining parks, modernizing public transportation systems, or constructing new city facilities.

The City Council shall elect a President who will serve as its presiding officer.

The Planning Board elects a Chairman, as does the School Committee.

The Mayor, with the City Council’s consent, shall appoint a City Clerk, a City Treasurer, who shall work with the Council in constructing the city budget; a Police Chief and a Fire Chief, who shall oversee all matters of public safety and a Commissioner of Public Works, who shall work with the Planning Board, as well as any other officials deemed necessary for the functioning of city government.