The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-13
THE NEW CHARTER.
The Salary Roll of the City Reduced
by $4,000 Annually---The Board
of Public Works.
Six Wards Hereafter---A Provision for
Clearing the Sidewalks Of Snow
Various Other Changes.

Messrs. Jno. A. Willard, r. d. Hub.
bard and z. G. Harrington, the com.
mittee to which was finally referred
the matter of the revision Of the city
charter, has completed its labors, as
stated yesterday. They took the best
points out of the charters prepared by
the Board of TradeAnd council COM
mittees, and have added several clauses
and made many other changes that
seemed to them wise. The committee
had in view two objects in preparing
the charter amendments, as is evil
denced by the result One was the
simplification of the present city gov
eminent, and the other was an en-
deavor to reduce the expenses of the
city to as small an amount as is con-
sistentr with the proper care for the
interest of the municipality by its
officers The, result is that if the
amendments become law two members
of the Board of Public Works will be
done away with-that is, their places
will be filed by other city officers
the police force will be reduced, and
about 5000 will be saved to the city
treasury through the lessening of the
number of city officers and the reduc-
tion of the salaries of others.
The amended charter will be sent to
the Legislature the first of next week.
A section in it will provide that the
coming spring election shall be con-
Quoted in accordance with the change
of wards, thus obviating the necessity
of giving the legal twenty days notice
of the change of ward boundaries.
The new charter provides for six
wards, to be numbered consecutively
from one to six, from north to south.
The boundaries are practically the
same as those of the present precincts,
and the voting population is about
evenly divided. The present Fourth
ward will comprise the new Fifth and
Sixth. The Van Brunt'S slough and
sd" street, in Cummings addition,
will be the boundary between the two.
to six, one being elected from each
ward. Their term of office will be for
two years. The election will occur
each two years. At present the alder
men hold for four years, one-half re-
firing every two years. Under the
new plan, there will be an entirely
new council every two years, together
with new city officers.
The special judge shall be chosen by
the people at each election.
The Board of Public Works shall
consist of three members, two to be
appointed by the mayor. and confirmed
by the council. The president of the
board shall receive salary of $3.50 per
annum. The second member shall be
the city engineer, who shall receive
81, 900 per year. The city assessor, who
is chosen by, the council solely, shall
be an er-offciO member of the board,
and for his double duties shall receive
$50. The city recorder shall act as
clerk of the board, as at present, but
shall receive for such service only 500,
instead of $500 year. As recorder he
shall receive $500, in place of the pres
INT salary of 5000. He receives 5000 as |
,lerk of the municipal court, which |
will make his total income $500.
The Board of Public Works shall |
nave full charge Of the water works |
system, though the city treasurer will |
continue to collect the water rents. 1t |
will also have control of the pump |
house, but the council will continue |
% chose the engineer. The board will |
nave power to discharge him. The |
BOARD shall make and have published |
| full, itemized report of the expenses |
md receipts of the system, twice |
ear.
The board shall have the right to |
prescribe limits within which the side |
walks shall be cleared of snow, and to |
make rules and regulations to enforce |
his, and shall make and levy all as
essments for it's accomplishment, |
where property owners refuse or ne
.lect to comply with the rules.
The board shall purchase all ma
erial used by the city, care for and be |
for all tools belonging to
he city, and make monthly report |
# its stewardship, the same as now
equired of the engineer of the pump |
uS SUdUlOu. DuU uue UOdTU CduuOU eA-
,end to exceed 800 in any one month, |
lnless by the consent and direction of |
he council. 1t shall give all orders |
or purchasing material, and these |
written orders must be returned to |
he council with the bills for the ma
erial called for. This will make it |
lnown just who ordered the material |
md for what purpose. This is strictly |
n the line of more business and less |
in city affairs.
The president and engineer of the
BOARD shall each give bond of 81, 900 |
or the faithful performance of his
duties.
The city constable shall receive no
salary from the city, except $40 per
month for acting as janitor of the city
hall. His remuneration shall consist
Of fees and will probably be somewhat
less than at present.
The mayor shall appoint three day
and four night police, who shall be
confirmed by the council. This will
allow but two day police, besides the
chief, being a reduction of one. None
of them, including the chief, shall re-
ceive over $50 per month; at present
the day police receive $50 and the chief
S65. 1t is intended that the ordinary
day police shall receive $40 per month.
The city treasurer shall not receive
to exceed $500 per annum. and the city