The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-26

ordinances is increasing daily. When
the day comes for the election, nc free
holder Of Roanoke need be misinformed
as to what he is expected to vote on.
Up to date Council has adopted no
safeguard whereby the interests of
the taxpayers will be protected. The
only practicable and practical plan
which will insure public improvements
has been put forward in THE TINES il
its advocacy of an advisory board. The
TIMES made the suggestion and urged it
after consulting some of tho leading
citizens, heaviest Taxpayers and best
lawyers in Roanoke. The conclusions
were reached that the advisory board
wa legal, practical, practicable and
would be satisfactory if properly con-
stituted.
Notwithstanding tho fact tina the
l combined ordinance and finance COM
mittee will report against the plan, TIE
TIMES presents the rough draft of an
!; ordinance which would create such q
board entirely within the legal powers
Of the Council and in compliance with
the restrictions of the city charter The
name advisory board" was previously
4 used that there might be no mistake as
to the character of the board, in spite
1 OF which the opponents of the plan have
seldom lost an opportunity to declare
| that The TIMES was advocating the
/ erection of Il board with illegal powers.
4 The ordinance is as follows:
4 BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
First. A board consisting of three
members, one of whom to be Il civil en-
1 gineer, one a business man and the
4 third a practical workman accustomed
4 to contract work Upon masonry and cx-
4 cavation, to hold Office for one year un-
less sooner removed by 4 two-thirds vote
/ of the Council.
Second. Their duties in general as
1 follows: To examine into and mako a de-
4 tailed rcportof all needed improvements
in the city, whether upon the streets,
sewers, lights, water or public build
ings. with suggestions as to the mode of
remedying SAID defects, such report and
4 suggestions to be submitted to the Coun-
4 Gil. When the Council shall determine
! that tho remedy of any or all of such de-
fects is urgent, the board to propose
j plans and estimates and ascertain the
mode or modes of rcmcdying said defects
and get bids upon the work, and when
Y they shall have decided what in their
opinion would be the best, cheapes. and
4 most available mode of conducting said
work, they shall make a detailed report
4 giving their conclusions and the reasons
therefor.
4 II the Council Shall adopt this report
A and order the work to be done, said board
shall let the work to contract. taking
4 proper bond with such pro visions as tho
81 Council shall direct, and during the
4 progress OF said work daily inspect it
n and see thatit is lone according to con
tract, and so as to obtain the best re-
II suits for the city. During the progress
a OF said work the board is to approve all
q bills and estimates, which shall be re-
turned to the Council for payment with
A report of the board as to the items of
II the bill for action of the Council thereon.
4 The board is to pay no money or in any
manner bind the Council by their acts,
their duties being advisory and to su por-
intend and protect the interests Of the
city under the authority of the Council.
N Third. The members of the board arc
to receive salaries large enough to COM
4 mand the time and service of compe-
a tent men.
n Fourth. 1t might be we'll to add to the
III duties of the board the work usually
performed by building inspectors, such as
81 giving permits for the erection of build
ings, seeing that the laws in regard to
/ the fire limits are observed, and seeing
to fire escapes, etc. The duties thus
enlarged would occupy all the time and
earn, if properly carried out, u liberal
salary.
III To illustrate the workings of the above
recommends alton the board would report
that Jefferson street was in need Of i'm
~provement, that it should be paved and
drained, as it was one of principal arteries
Of the city; that before the pavement
was laid all water, gas and sewer pipe
tx should hG laid and WirnQ. mt nnAnr
n. ground to prevent the surface from again
being disturbed. If this report is acted
upon by Council and tho board directed
III to proceed. the board would investigate
~ the different kinds of pavement, whether
NJ belgian block, asphalt, brick or some
3I thing else, and ascertain by bids tho
III cost of each and the best manner of
doing the work, then report these facts
III to the Council, giving their opinion as to
the advantages of each system, the
time that the work would occupy, etc.
With this report before them the
Council could intelligently determine
what would he the best thing to do.
III Having so determined, the board would
n proceed to carry out its directions by
letting the work to contract and takinC
hi proper bond, and during the progress OF
III the work constantly inspecting and see
IN ing that the interests of the city were
nj protected. Every month an estimate
ri would be made; this estimate would be
I4 approved or disapproved by the board
"a and reported to the Council with it's
Fg reason for it's actions. With this before
I'll it the Council at it's regular monthly
81 meeting would make tho necessary APP
81 preparation to meet the estimate.
A Whether this is not preferable to
the present mode OF conducting public
N $500 -.