The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-03
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Full Text of the Proposed Bill.

The other day brief statement was made
that at the next meeting Of the City Govern
ment, to be held Monday evening, bill would
be presented for action constituting Board of
Public Works to consist of three commission
ers. The followingis the proposed bill:
an act additional to an "dct to confer certain
poCers on the City of Portland" approved
March oath, 1868 and the several acts add.
tiondl thereto and dmenddto1y thereof.
SECT. 1.-The Mayor with the approval of
the Board of Aldermen shall appoint three
persons to constitute the Board of Public
Works of the City of Portland, one to be APP
pointed for one year, one for two years, and
one fo7 three years, who for five years next
preceding their appointment shall have paid
taxes to the City upon real estate of a valua-
ton of not less than Sl000j aud annually there
after the Mayor shall appoint with like approx
al one person of like qualification to serve for
the term of three years. Subject to the an
prevail of thu Board of Aldermen the Mayor
may remove from office for violation of law, or
the ordinances of the City or for other miscon-
duct in office any member or subordinate of
the Board of Public Works He shall have
power to investigate their accounts and pro.
ceedings: have access to all books and docu.
ments in their offices and may examine them
and their sub0rdinates under oath as to all mat
tiers relating TO the performance of their official
duties
SECT. 2-The Board of Pablo Works shall
have the direct control and management of the
following offices, departments and public
works, viz. the laying out, widening, altering,
extending and disseminating the streets and
ways of the City, and assessing the damages and
betterments therefor; the locating, paving
making, repairing and grading of streets and
ways; the locating, building and repairing of
sewers and drains; the purchasing, placing and
lighting of the public lamps; the custody, cree.
roe, LAT, 1soJ1
occupied by the City; the building, repairing
and management of the bridges. And the
powers herein conferred shall be exercised by
said Board in the modes prescribed by the ex-
listing laws and ordinances when proceedings
have been direcled by resolution of the City
Council The Board of Public Works shall
also have the purchasing of paving, carts,
horses, harnesses and other property of the street
department as we'll as the sale of said property,
when thereto directed by the City Council; the
purchase Of fuel for the use of the City, and
the location and supervision of steam and
horse railroads: the charge, management and
supervision of the pnblic grounds of the City,
and the trees in the streets aud ways of the
City land the cemeteries of the City except
Evergreen cemetery; the inspection and survey
OF buildings erected or repaired by individuals;
the employ rnent of subordinates draw tenders,
laborers, teamsters &c.
SECT. 3-The Board of Public Works shall
preserve complete records of their meetings,
giving the names of members present, their
votes and dOings thereat; they shall cause prop-
er books of record to be kept in each depart
ment and office under their CONTROL exhibiting
IN detail all the transactions aud expenditures
OF said department or office; they shall submit
estimates of the work necessary to be doneIin the
different departments under their control, stat
ing each item of work with an estimate of the
amount OF money necessary to be appropriated
by the City Council for each piece of work, as
well as specifying the amount for salaries
wages and the purchase of property; and no
money appropriated by the City Council shall
be transferred from one department.. object or
purpose 10 another department, object or pur-
pose except by vote of the City Council. The
Board shall within three weeks after the in
auguration of the City Government, submit
estimates of work aud the cost thereof for the
action of the City Council which BODY shall
have power to enlarge, reduce or refuse any
or all of the sums asked for in said estimate.
The members of said Board shall be paid q
sum to be determined by the City Council for
each days actual servce, and no vote or reso-
luton shall be adopted by said Board without
the concurrence of at least two of the members
of said Board.
Sect mo debt or liability shall be in
Cured by any department, board or Off
Ger in said city unless there shall be at
the time an unexpended appropriation
applicable thereto sufficient to satisfy
the same and all debts and liabilities previously
incurred and payable out of such appropriation
and all contracts and engagements in contra
vention hereof shall be void. Nor shall any
debt or liability of said city be paid except out
OF money in the Treasury appropriated to the
purpose of paying such debt and liability, un-
less transfer is ordered by vote of two-ihirds
of all the members Of both Boards of the City
Council. And the said City of Portland or any
department thereof shall not grant any extra
compensation to any officer, servant, agent.
contractor. or employe. No member of the City
Council or of any Commission or Board, and
no person appointed by the Mayor Or any Com
mission or Board or in the service Of the City,
shall be interested in his private capacity,
directly or indirectly, in any purchase or con-
tract for labor Except for payment of his Off
clal services) or for materials, goods, wares or
merchandise of any description furnished to
the city, or in contracts for erecting or repair
purchase or sale. of lands by the City, Any
contract, sale, purchase or agreement made in
violation of the above provision shall be void,
and shall not BE- certified by the Auditor nor
paid by the Treasurer. Whoever violates the
provisions of this section shall be removed
from office by the Mayor, and shall be subject
to &c., sc.
In 1873, bill was drafted by the then City
Solicitor, G. f. Libby. putting the matter of
streets, sidewalks and bridges, and sewers into
the hands of three commissioners, who should
be elected by the City Council, in joint conven-
ton, on the second Monday of March, annual.
ly, and whose doings must be approved by the
City Council. This bill was laid on the table
and died natural death.