Duties of Council members, according to Arkansas law:

• Enact ordinances and bylaws concerning municipal affairs that are consistent with state law in order to promote the health, safety and welfare of the public;

• Has management and control of city finances and all real and personal property belonging to the city;

• Adopts a budget by ordinance or resolution for operation of the city by Feb. 1 of each year;

• Sets procedures by ordinance for making purchases that do not exceed the sum of $20,000 in cities of the first class;

• Sets time and place for regular council meetings;

• May override the mayor’s appointment and removal of department heads by a two-third vote of total membership;

• May override mayor’s veto by twothirds vote;

• May fill, by appointment, vacancy to the office of mayor if expired term is less than one year;

• May fill, by appointment, vacancy in mayor’s office by majority vote of aldermen or special election;

• Sets salaries of mayor, council and other municipal officials. Salaries may be increased but not decreased during the term of office except that official receiving salary may request a decrease

• Either establishes a city fire department or enters into contract (by ordinance) for city fire protection;

• Establishes a city police department and organizes it under general superintendence of the mayor;

• Sets rates for city utilities and establishes fees for city services;

• Enacts ordinances establishing sales taxes and referring same to voters;

• Takes actions leading to annexation of territory to city;

• Establishes and certifies to the county clerk the amount of property taxes to be levied within the city prior to the regular meeting of the quorum court in November of each year;

• May establish (and abolish) various commissions to manage and operate such services as parks, utilities … as provided by state law.