Montgomery (Ala.). City Council.

Sources:

Ala. Acts, p. 110 (1819).

Ala. Acts, 504, p. 591 (1911).

Owen, Thomas McAdory, History of Ala. and Dictionary of Ala. Biography (Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1921).

The city of Montgomery, Montgomery Co., Ala., was incorporated by Act of the Ala. legislature in 1819 Dec., combining the small villages of East Ala. and New Philadelphia. The act provided for the annual election of seven city councillors, who selected from among themselves an Intendent to preside at council meetings. Each member served as an ex officio justice of the peace. The council was authorized to appoint a treasurer, assessor, collector, constable, and clerk.

The council was responsible for passing laws and ordinances necessary to the preservation of health and property: providing an adequate supplly of water; establishing and maintaining streets and alleys; licensing, taxing and regulating public markets, theartrical entertainment, and the sale of alcohol; and maintaining night watches and patrols to guard against slave insurrections.

In 1837 Dec. a new charter provided for the direct election of a mayor to exercise the duties of the council-appointed Intendent. In 1916 Montgomery voters adopted the commission form of government. In 1973 the mayor/council form was re-established.