Each city must have a board of works and safety. In a third class city, the board of works and safety consists of three members, one of whom is the mayor. The remaining two members are appointed by the mayor. Board members must be residents of the city but may hold other municipal appointed or elected offices (IC 36-4-9-8). The clerk-treasurer is the clerk of the board.
The public works and safety board has broad statutory grants of power to enable to carry out their functions. The public safety function includes law enforcement and fire protection; the specific powers are generally contained in IC 36-8. The public works function includes control over streets, sanitation, transportation and sewers.
The mayor appoints the chief of the fire department, the police chief and city engineer, who generally have day-to-day responsibilities for the administration of fire protection, law enforcement and public works, respectively. In most cities these appointees work closely with the board of works and safety.

Board of Works (BOW) – Meets the first Monday at 6:00 PM and the third Monday at 4:30 PM every month at the City Building.  If on a holiday, the BOW’s meeting will be rescheduled.