77.370. Elective officers--option to appoint certain officers--terms.
Elective officers--option to appoint certain officers--terms.
77.370. 1. Except as hereinafter provided, the following officersshall be elected by the voters of the city: mayor, police judge, attorney,assessor, collector, treasurer and, except in cities which adopt the meritsystem police department, a marshal.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of this section, incities which contract with another entity for police service, the citycouncil may eliminate the office of marshal.
3. The attorney shall be a person licensed to practice law inMissouri, and the council, by ordinance, may provide for the appointment ofan attorney, by the mayor with the approval of the council, in lieu ofelecting an attorney. If so appointed he shall serve at the pleasure ofthe mayor and council.
4. Whenever a city contracts for the assessment of property or thecollection of taxes with either a public or private entity as authorized bysection 70.220, RSMo, the city council may by ordinance provide that at theexpiration of the term of the then city assessor or collector, as the casemay be, the office is abolished and thereafter no election shall be had tofill the office; except that in the event the contract expires and, for anyreason, is not renewed, the council may by ordinance provide for theelection of such officer at the next and succeeding regular elections formunicipal officers.
5. The term of office for each of the officers is two years exceptthe office of mayor and the marshal which are four-year terms. Allofficers hold office until their successors are duly elected or appointedand qualified.
6. The council, by ordinance, may provide that any officer of thecity except the mayor and the councilmen shall be appointed instead ofelected. Such ordinance shall set the manner of appointment, in accordancewith section 77.330, and the term of office for each appointive officer,which term shall not exceed four years.
(RSMo 1939 § 6869, A.L. 1955 p. 290, A.L. 1957 p. 240, A.L. 1959 H.B. 166, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, H.B. 1634, A.L. 1985 H.B. 817, A.L. 1989 H.B. 785, A.L. 2001 H.B. 491)Prior revisions: 1929 § 6723; 1919 § 8210; 1909 § 9147