The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-20
CHARTER MAKERS.
Work Done Last Evening by the Com
mittee on Public Works.
What the Street Commissioner and
City Surveyor Must Do-The
Latter's Deputies.

The committee of the Board of Free
holders on public works, levees, streets,
sewers, ETC., met last evening and Messrs.
LaRue, Smith, Hall, Green, Roberts,
Devlin and White were present.
The meeting proceeded to define the
powers of the Board of Trustees on pub
lie works.
Mr.. LaRue said he liked the way the
Oakland charter read on this subject.
A section was adopted making it the
duty of the board Immediately after it's
7 organization, to take possession OF the
maps, surveys, field notes, records, plans,
specifications, contracts, models, machin-
cry, tools, appliances, contract rights,
privileges, books, documents, papers.
archives and property belonging to the
city, heretofore kept by or in the offices
Of City Engineer, Street superintendent,
Superintendent of Water Works, or in
the possession Of any other officer and
pertaining to an public building or pub
lie works of the city.
Another section was adopted. giving
the board charge of all public works of
every kind not controlled by general
/ laws. and also OF the furnishing of all
material for public use, except as other
wise provided in the charter. 1t shall be
the duty Of the board TO Vigilantly inspect
all parts OF tie city, and order such work
done as they may deem necessary. The
| board shall also have charge of all public
parks, levees, the water front, streets.
sewers, etc, the construction Of telegraph
lines and numerous other things. 1t
Shall regulate, by ordinance, the con-
struction Of vaults, sinks, cutters, wells
and cesspoois, and compel the emptying
and cleaning OF the same.
The matter OF defining the powers Of a
/ City Surveyor was discussed. 1t WAS de-
! cided that he should have a practical ex-
/ perience.
Mr.. Devlin thought it should be pre-
/ scribed that his surveys should be con
/ sidereG as DJ7atu fuciu correct evidence.
/ As it was now, the City Surveyor could
not prove that his surveys We're correct
! in Il law suit The original field notes of
1 w. /. Sherman were lost, and the sur
veys were now made to conform rs near
/ as possible to the supposed lines estab-
! lished in the original survey OF the city.
! MIR. Smith considered that this was
! vital matter, and, If it was legal, the
/ charter should provide that the Sur
| Veyor'S work should be taken as abSO-
! lutely correct when a question as tc
! boundary lines might arise.
! y clause embodying Mr.. Devlin's sug-
! gestion was inserted III a section defining
! the City Surveyors duties. lie shall also
! perform such work as may be ordered by
! the board.
! A discussion arose as to whether the
! Mayor, the board or the Surveyor should
! appoint the assistants OF the latter.
! Mr.. White thought the Surveyor could
/ Go better by appointing his own depu-
/ ties. Every officer ought to have the
/ power TO select his own deputy.
Mr.. Devlin held the same views, but
! Mr.. Smith was opposed TO this plan.
| Tina ifv ~ thnSa
! the surveyors deputies should be Sc
! lected by himself, and the report was
! arranged accordingly. 1t was also de-
cided that he might appoint as many
/ deputies as were required for the per-
! Torrance of the duties of the office.
! The committee then proceeded TO de-
! fine the duties Of the Street Commits
sioner. In this connection the provisions
/ of the Oakland charter specifying the
duties of this official were thought to be
very plain, and they were adopted as a
! portion OF the report. He shall keep a
public Office in the city as provided by
the board. and should he fail to see that
| the regulations OF the board, relating to
the public highways, were properly en-
! forced, he and his sureties shall be liable
! upon his official bond to any person in
! jured in person or property in conse-
! qGence Of said official neglect.
/ 1t was thought TO give the board, when
! y =
/ TO appoint an architect to do such duty as
/ might be required Of him.
! Mr.. White advised that no such section
I be adopted. This could be provided for
/ III another way. If such a section were
/ adopted the board might take notion to
! hire an architect by tie year, and make
/ political position out Of it.
! The suggestion prevailed.
! Before awarding any contract for doing
/ work, the board shall cause notice invit-
/ ing sealed proposals for the contemplated
work TO be posted consp;cuousIy in its
/ office, and published for not less than five
/ days, and in case that the estimated cost
OF the work exceed $1,000, to be so posted
and published for not less than twenty
days; except that any repair or improve
ment not exceeding an estimated cost of
500 may be made by the board, under
written contract or otherwise, without
advertising for sealed proposals.
! After adopting a section embodying the
above provisions, the meeting adjourned.