Article 3. Bonds and Oaths

§1-301   Falls City Code   §1-303

Article 3. Bonds and Oaths

§1-301 BONDS; COUNCIL MEMBER.  Each Council member before entering upon the duties of his office, shall be required to give a bond to the Municipality with two ( 2) or more good and sufficient sureties or some responsible surety company.  If the bond is given by two (2) sureties, they shall each justify that he is worth at least two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) over and above all debts and exemptions.  Such bond amounts shall be on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk and shall be conditioned on the faithful discharge of the duties of the Council member.  The bond will be further conditioned that if the Council member shall vote for any expenditure or appropriation of money or create any liability in excess of the amount allowed by law, the Council member and the sureties signing the bond shall be liable thereon.  The bond shall be filed with the Clerk and  approved by the Mayor.  Upon approval, the City may pay the premium for such bond.  Any liability sought to be incurred, or debt created in excess of the amount limited or authorized by law, shall be taken and held by any court of the State as the joint and several liability of the Council member voting for and the Mayor approving the same.  Any such liability or debt shall not be an obligation upon the Municipality.  Voting for or approving of such liability or debt shall be conclusive evidence of malfeasance in office.  Any Council member voting for such an appropriation or any Mayor approving of the same, shall be removed from office.

§1-302 BONDS; REQUIRED.  Official bonds of the Municipality shall be in form, joint and several, and shall be made payable to the Municipality in such penalty as the Governing Body may set by resolution which sums shall be on file at the office of the Municipal Clerk; Provided, the penalty amount on any bond shall not fall below the legal minimum, when one has been set by the State of Nebraska, for each particular official.  All official bonds of the Municipal officials shall be executed by the principal named in such bonds and by at least two (2) sufficient sureties who shall be freeholders of the county, or by the official as principal and by a guaranty, surety, fidelity, or bonding company; Provided no Municipal official, while still in his official term of office, shall be accepted as surety on any other official's bond, contractor's bond, license bond, or appeal bond under any circumstances.  Only companies that are legally authorized to transact business in the State of Nebraska shall be eligible for suretyship on the bond of an official of the Municipality.  All said bonds shall obligate the principal, and sureties for the faithful discharge of all duties required by law of such principal, and shall inure to the benefit of the Municipality and any persons who may be injured by a breach of the conditions of such bonds.  No bond shall be deemed to be given or complete until the approval of the Governing Board, and all sureties are endorsed in writing on the said instrument by the Mayor and Municipal Clerk pursuant to the said approval of the Governing Body.  The premium on any official bond required to be given may be paid out of the General Fund, or other proper Municipal fund, upon a resolution to that effect by the Governing Body at the beginning of any Municipal year.  All official bonds, meeting the conditions herein, shall be filed with the Municipal Clerk for his official records and it shall be the duty of the Municipal Clerk to furnish a certified copy of any bond so filed upon the payment of a fee which shall be set by resolution of the Governing Body.  In the event that the sureties on the official bond of any officer of the Municipality, in the opinion of the Governing Body, become insufficient, the Governing Body may, by resolution, fix a reasonable time within which the said officer may give a new bond or additional sureties as directed.  In the event that the officer should fail, refuse, or neglect to give a new bond, or additional sureties to the satisfaction and approval of the Governing Body, then the office shall, by such failure, refusal, or neglect become vacant, and it shall be the duty of the Governing Body to appoint a competent and qualified person to fill the office.  Any official who is reelected to office shall be required to file a new bond after each election. (Ref. 11-103 through 11-118, 17-604 RS Neb.)    

§1-303 OATH OF OFFICE; MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS.  All officials of the Municipality, whether elected or appointed, except when a different oath is specifically provided herein, shall, before entering upon their respective duties, take and subscribe the following oath which shall be endorsed upon their respective bonds:

"I ____________ do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska, against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, and without mental reservation, or for the purpose of evasion; and that I will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of __________, according to law, and to the best of my ability.  And I do further swear that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State by force, or violence; and that during such time as I am in this position I will not advocate, nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State by force or violence.  So help me God."   (Ref. 11-101 RS Neb.)