Opolis: Town Hall IC

[The United Artherian Federation]

Vivian stood up as she was introduced, "Hello and thank you for electing me to this important and needed position. I, Vivian Marie Cherry, personally will make it my mission to help this town though anything and everything it may go though and need." She smiles, "Now on to what you've all been waiting for, my picks for the council, I nominate, Mr. Thompson Wyatt as my Director of Public Works, who better to run our water, gas, garbage, sewage, and power then than that of Mr. Wyatt, who for so many years diligently has ran our sewage sytem. And As my Director of Recreation, who will be in charge of our parks, tourist areas, landmarks, and historical sites, I nominate Ms. Victoria Garrett, under which her community has become a social hot spot for our young and old people alike. Also nominating Mr. Grover Denton as Director of Urban Development, in which he will be in charge of residential areas, how they change, what areas will become residential areas. This is because under him the community of Canary park has prospered, crime has lowered and education is up. As Director of Education, I nominate Mr. Ethan Himeler, because under his leadership schools in his community have reached top levels and top graduation rates. As Director of Health and Emergency Services, I nominate Mr. Ernest Everett, though he may have ran against me I still believe that he has the peoples best interest at heart and the fact his community has some of the healthiest people in it, I really do believe that he will do amazingly. And finally I nominate Mr. Desmond Fergal IV as my vise mayor. Thank you for your consideration and time." She sits back down to listen to the debates.

Ethan stood.
“Madam Mayor, I humbly accept your nomination for Director of Education.”

[Ol Hickory Ham Mike]

"Order, order. The question is on the confirmation of the Mayor's appointments to the City Council:

• Vice-Mayor: Desmond Fergal IV of Fergaland (Adab)
• Director of Public Works: Wyatt Combs of Scarrige (The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism)
• Director of Recreation: Victoria Garrett of Armitage (Van Hool Islands)
• Director of Urban Development: Grover Denton of Canary Park (Duestchstien)
• Director of Education: Ethan Himeler of Winding Creek (Artheria)
• Director of Health and Emergency Services:Ernest Everett of Flatgorge (Zjaum)

Debate will be in order for 45 minutes, then I will call the roll."

[OOC: Debate and voting begin now for 45 hours.]

[Alozia]

Joseph was seated and silent throughout the earlier part of today's ceremony. He wasn't pleased with the way Mayor walked into the Town Hall as if it were her own. As if the legislature was secondary to the executive. With his ambition and sense of duty he took it as an afront to the institution he sought to represent. He rose to speak in a manner scolding yet not offending the Mayor-elect who he saw as simply inexperienced.

"With all due respect, but I believe that we have skipped a couple of steps on the way. We're discussing the Mayor's nominations, yet she has not been sworn in. It is my understanding that our city and the Mayor herself have not faced a situation like this before. I motion to postopne the consideration of the nominations until a proper ceremony of swearing in has been drafted and executed."

[Ol Hickory Ham Mike]

Joseph was seated and silent throughout the earlier part of today's ceremony. He wasn't pleased with the way Mayor walked into the Town Hall as if it were her own. As if the legislature was secondary to the executive. With his ambition and sense of duty he took it as an afront to the institution he sought to represent. He rose to speak in a manner scolding yet not offending the Mayor-elect who he saw as simply inexperienced.

"With all due respect, but I believe that we have skipped a couple of steps on the way. We're discussing the Mayor's nominations, yet she has not been sworn in. It is my understanding that our city and the Mayor herself have not faced a situation like this before. I motion to postopne the consideration of the nominations until a proper ceremony of swearing in has been drafted and executed."

"Mr. Eliot, the County Recorder, swore in the Mayor prior to this meeting in accordance with the state constitution. If you maintain that there should be an inaugural ceremony, I am sure the Hall welcomes a bill providing for such a ceremony."

[Van Hool Islands]

"Aye."

[Zjaum]

Everett had been reviewing his notes and hadn't paid much attention. Director of Health and Emergency Services seemed good enough for him. It was a position of power, but not a corruptible one. His family and his wife can brag about it while staying off his back. What a perfect job.

"I believe this is a satisfactory appointment setup. I guess we never foresaw or made measures to counter the blending of the legislative and executive branches, but perhaps a town like this could bear an overlap fine, as we take the first steps of our new city. I will be voting for the motion (Aye), but I look forward to hearing objections. Know, however, that I will not entertain the notion that I am now buddies with the mayor, nor will I let up on any criticisms or oversteps. Checks and balances must be maintained."

[Adab]

"The sooner we get the council running, the better," Fergal said simply, not even bothering to rise from his seat this time. "Aye to all appointments."

[Alozia]

"Aye to all." Joseph responded shortly

[Bruke]

"Aye to all appointments."

[Ol Hickory Ham Mike]

"The Hall will come to order. The Mayor's appointments to the City Council are confirmed. Congratulations."

Ol Hickory Ham Mike glanced around the chamber, allowing for some light applause.

"Right, then, getting on to the rest of our work tonight. Is there any new business?"

[Zjaum]

Everett was quick on the draw. “Yes, I would like to establish a city police force post haste. We currently have no means of enforcing future laws, and we certainly should.”

[Adab]

"Hear, hear," the new vice mayor, Fergal, called out. "A law isn't a law when there is nothing we can do to enforce it."

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

Wyatt had been surprised to receive the appointment to Public Works, and sighed. He had hoped the executive and legislative would be kept separate. Not for any ideological reason, but because it meant less responsibility in the position. Nonetheless, the Union wouldn't want to pass up the opportunity to get one of their own in the City Council. Accepting his fate, Wyatt prepared to present the bill he'd drafted already, before he knew he was getting a shockingly relevant portfolio. He stood and said "I've said before, police are certainly important, but we already have neighborhood watches holding the fort, as it were. Our priority needs to be the establishment of city departments for vital utilities."

---

Establishment of the Departments of Waste Management, Electricity, and Water and Sewage Management Act

To secure the cleanliness, healthiness and overall well-being of our city,
to ensure our city's continued prosperity through access to modern infrastructure,
to defend the rights of the workers involved in these tasks,
We, the Respite Hall of Representatives, enshrine the following bill.
Author: Wyatt Combs
Sponsors:

---

Section 1: Department Establishment

1. There will be established a Department of Waste Management for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for refuse and recycling in the city.
2. There will be established a Department of Electricity for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for the generation/purchase, transmission, and distribution of electricity in the city.
3. There will be established a Department of Water and Sewage for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for the transfer and handling of water and sewage in the city, as well as maintenance of the necessary pipeworks.

Section 2: Department Management

1. The three departments established in this bill shall each be headed by a commissioner appointed by and answerable to whichever member of the City Council holds the portfolio relevant to these departments' responsibilities.
2. The departments will have autonomy in their administrations beyond directives given to the commissioners from relevant city councilors.

Section 3: Immediate Actions

1. The facilities for waste management, and water and sewage, in Scarrige, as well as the facilities for power in Montgomery Hills, will be annexed to their relevant departments, including all current staff of these facilities that choose to remain employed there.
2. All staff of these facilities will receive back-pay for their work servicing the city before the departments were created to fund them, at a rate determined by these departments in conjunction with the relevant facility unions.

[Ol Hickory Ham Mike]

"Order, the question is on Mr. Combs's bill. Is there any discussion?"

[OOC: 24 hours debate and voting]

---

Establishment of the Departments of Waste Management, Electricity, and Water and Sewage Management Act

To secure the cleanliness, healthiness and overall well-being of our city,
to ensure our city's continued prosperity through access to modern infrastructure,
to defend the rights of the workers involved in these tasks,
We, the Respite Hall of Representatives, enshrine the following bill.
Author: Wyatt Combs
Sponsors:

---

Section 1: Department Establishment

1. There will be established a Department of Waste Management for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for refuse and recycling in the city.
2. There will be established a Department of Electricity for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for the generation/purchase, transmission, and distribution of electricity in the city.
3. There will be established a Department of Water and Sewage for the city government of Respite, with responsibility for the transfer and handling of water and sewage in the city, as well as maintenance of the necessary pipeworks.

Section 2: Department Management

1. The three departments established in this bill shall each be headed by a commissioner appointed by and answerable to whichever member of the City Council holds the portfolio relevant to these departments' responsibilities.
2. The departments will have autonomy in their administrations beyond directives given to the commissioners from relevant city councilors.

Section 3: Immediate Actions

1. The facilities for waste management, and water and sewage, in Scarrige, as well as the facilities for power in Montgomery Hills, will be annexed to their relevant departments, including all current staff of these facilities that choose to remain employed there.
2. All staff of these facilities will receive back-pay for their work servicing the city before the departments were created to fund them, at a rate determined by these departments in conjunction with the relevant facility unions.

[Van Hool Islands]

Aye.

[Bruke]

Aye.

[Adab]

Aye.

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

Aye.

[White Bluff]

Aye

[Zjaum]

"Oh, for the love of-" Everyone had decided on a topic, and he had a proposal draft at the ready, and somehow this union thug undercut him. No matter; his legal child would likely be presented soon enough. He grumpily glanced over the new document. "Well, I have a few nitpicks. For example, the facilities, which I'm sure are loosely controlled by the unions, could give the workers whatever back pay they desire. Seems like a conflict of interest at the expanse of the other neighborhoods. Further, I'm not certain that autonomy would be absolutely great; we should probably establish an auditing and investigative branch next week. Regardless, I want this to be finished in due time. So long as those criticisms are on the record, Aye."

[Ol Hickory Ham Mike]

"Order, the bill is passed. It will be sent to the Council for execution."

"Is there any further new business?"

[Zjaum]

Everett jumped up as soon as he could and personally brought his bill to the appropriate facilities. Before anyone else could interrupt. "I believe this is a necessary bill, yet one that would allow both us and the people of Respite great flexibility."

---

Title

    Sponsor: Ernest Everett
    Co-Sponsors:
    Recognizing the necessity for law enforcement alongside laws,
Acknowledging the honorable work and efforts of neighborhood watchmen and women across Respite,
Stressing the need for unification, in order to tackle problems no one group could handle independently,
The people of Respite hereby:

---

Establishes a police squadron,
    Section 1:
   

Employs it to eliminate crimes and instigate criminal investigations that involve more than one district, holding it responsible for coordinating and making use of the local law enforcement resources at their disposal,

Section 2:
   

Prohibits it from targeting and entering a singular neighborhood to infringe on a watch group’s affairs unless explicitly asked by said group, given a warrant by the judiciary, or elected to intervene by a two-thirds majority of either the legislation or the set of other city watches,

Section 3:
   

Grants the new force a leader in the form of a Chief, answerable to and chosen by the legislative branch, and three merit-based Aides-de-Camp under his command, answerable to him and to the judiciary branches when the Chief is absent or considered unfit for duty by the executive, grants the four officers listed above freedom to determine the structure and composition of the force under them,

Section 4:
   

Tasks the police with management of prison systems for the city, coordinating with the Directors of Public Works and Urban Development to determine the most appropriate structures to house criminals,

Section 5:
   

Declares that, in order to prevent overcrowded prisons, jail will be sentenced only towards criminals who were found guilty of a crime and would likely continue to commit that same or a more heinous crime, as determined by the judicial branch and/or a jury of randomly-selected peers (This section will be automatically repealed once the combined Aides-de-Camp announce that its penitentiary structures can handle an steadily increasing amount of prisoners),

Section 6:
   

Appoints a Staff both to dispatch the above squadron and monitor its activity for any potential abuses of power, bringing recordings and cases to the three branches of government where applicable, and

Section 7:
   

Funds the aforementioned endeavors with a 3% income tax on households earning in excess of 100,000 [insert whatever currency we actually use here], and by voluntary donations from the entire populace.

   

[Adab]

"Aye," Fergal said, banging his cane against the floor repeatedly for emphasis.

[Alozia]

"Aye" Caldwell said, considering the possibility of taking the position of Chief himself.

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

"Representatives," Wyatt stood as he spoke. "I have a few qualms with this bill. Notably, I find it imperative to keep a separation between Police Officers and Corrections Officers. Both are vital jobs, but not interchangeable. The police department should not be running long-term prisons. I also worry for the precedent we establish if we start allowing budget appropriations and taxes to sneak into otherwise unrelated bills. For those reasons, I vote Nay." Wyatt sat back in his chair after sharing his concerns.