ARTICLE 2.01: GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 2.01.001 Charges for copies of public information.

All charges for copies of public information shall be in accordance with V.T.C.A., Government Code, chapter 552, all other applicable laws of the state, and as prescribed by the rules of the general services commission, as they may, from time to time, be amended.

(b)

The city shall post the charges for copies of public information and the procedure for obtaining the same on the official bulletin board of the city and in the office of the city clerk.

(Ordinance 94-024, sec. 1, adopted 5/9/94; Ordinance 96-012, sec. 1, adopted 2/12/96; 1988 Code, sec. 2-196)

§ 2.01.002 Claims against city.

(a)

Notice; required information.

The city shall never be liable for any claim for property damage or for personal injury, whether such personal injury results in death or not, unless the person damaged or injured, or someone in his behalf, or, in the event the injury results in death, the person who may have a cause of action under the law by reason of such death or injury, as required by the charter of the city, shall, within thirty (30) days from the date the damage or injury was received, give notice in writing to the mayor and city council of the following facts:

(1)

The date and time when the injury or damage occurred and the place where the injured person or property was at the time when the injury was received.

(2)

The nature of the damage or injury sustained.

(3)

The apparent extent of the damage or injury sustained.

(4)

A specific and detailed statement of how and under what circumstances the damage or injury occurred.

(5)

The amount for which each claimant will settle.

(6)

The actual place of residence of each claimant by street, number, city and state on the date the claim is presented.

(7)

In the case of personal injury or death, the names and addresses of all persons who, according to the knowledge or information of the claimant, witnessed the happening of the injury or any part thereof and the names of the doctors, if any, to whose care the injured person is committed.

(8)

In the case of property damage, the location of the damaged property at the time the claim was submitted along with the names and addresses of all persons who witnessed the happening of the damage or any part thereof.

(b)

Application to council required prior to filing suit.

No suit of any nature whatsoever shall be instituted or maintained against the city unless the plaintiff therein shall aver and prove that previous to the filing of the original petition the plaintiff applied to the city council for redress, satisfaction, compensation, or relief, as the case may be, and that the same was by vote of the city council refused.

(c)

Service of notices.

All notices required by this section shall be effectuated by serving them upon the city clerk or city manager at the following location: 135 1st Street S.E., Paris, Texas 75460, and all such notices shall be effective only when actually received in the office of the person named above.

(d)

Waiver of notice.

Neither the mayor, a city council member, nor any other officer or employee of the city shall have the authority to waive any of the provisions of this section.

(e)

Claimant to swear to notice.

The written notice required under this section shall be sworn to by the person claiming the damage or injuries or by someone authorized by him to do so on his behalf. Failure to swear to the notice as required herein shall not render the notice fatally defective, but failure to so verify the notice may be considered by the city council as a factor relating to the truth of the allegations and to the weight to be given to the allegations contained therein.

(1970 Code, sec. 2-4; Ordinance 84-091, secs. 1–5, adopted 12/10/84; 1988 Code, sec. 2-3; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code)

§ 2.01.003 Elections.

(a)

Generally.

(1)

In accordance with the statutes and laws of the state and the charter of the city, elections for the position of city council member shall be held in and for the city on the first Saturday in May of each year. In odd-numbered years, beginning in May of 1995, council members from Districts 4, 5 and 7 shall be elected. In even-numbered years, beginning May of 1996, council members from Districts 1, 2, 3 and 6 shall be elected. Each council member shall be elected to a two-year term. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, no duly elected council member shall be prevented from serving his full term.

(2)

The election schedule of the city is in conformity with the Texas Election Code, and is an act within the authority of the city council. All elections for the positions of city council members shall be “open” to any voter or candidate, regardless of that individual’s party affiliation or prior voting history.

(b)

Polling places.

Said elections shall be held in the designated districts within the city and at the designated polling places within the districts as follows:

(1)

District 1.

Polling place: City of Paris Public Works Building, 50 West Hickory.

(2)

District 2.

Polling place: Paris Police and Municipal Court Building, 811 Bonham Street.

(3)

District 3.

Polling place: Thomas S. Justiss School, 401 18th Street N.W.